Before the Yamaha DT1 came out around 1967-68, there were dozens of motorcycle manufacturers who tried to cash in on the dirt bike craze by clamping high-pipes, cross-braced handlebars and trials tires on portly ill-designed street bikes.
These motorcycles were so dangerous both on and off of the dirt, the mind boggled. We ask ourselves, what were they thinking?
Here are a few examples of those almost-dirt bikes, some so dangerously engineered you have to wonder if the designers weren’t trying to manifest mass suicide amongst motorcycle riders of the period.
The first example is the Yamaha Big Bear Scrambler. Produced in 125, 250, and 350 cee cee configurations, the Big Bear was pipey, heavy ill-handling porker that had the tendency to tank-slap at the least provocation. The Big Bear pinned many unsuspecting riders under its enormous girth and giant chromed up-pipes, leaving the rider scared for life with permanent cross-hatch tattoos from the heat shields branded onto his skin.
The 125 model weighed in at around 300 lbs, while the big one, the 350 weighed right up there with Buick Roadmasters. Sitting on one was like straddling an oil drum, with sharp protrusions sticking out from every surface, just waiting to harpoon the rider if he went down. Also, the gigantic chromed up-pipes weighed at least 75 pounds combined, and put the center of gravity up somewhere around the riders neck. Not fun at all. 
1965 Yamaha 350 Big Bear Scrambler.
The second example of a fake dirt bike was the Honda Scrambler Series from anywhere between 1964 & 1973. Although pretty much indestructible, they handled horrible and were heavy to begin with. One of the best (worst?) examples was the 1964 Honda 305 Scrambler. Tipping the scales at just under 350 lbs. the Scrambler scrambled many riders into plaster casts and wheelchairs, making it one of the most evil handling motorcycles that ever existed. I know, having owned a couple myself. One time I tried to go for a sedate trail ride on my CL350, and hit a small rock going about five miles an hour. The resulting impact ripped the handlebars from my hands, and at the same time bounced me off the pegs, five feet into the air. Lucky for me I landed on the giant chromed luggage rack, that saved me from falling into the soft dirt. Pure evil.
1966 305 Honda Scrambler
Yet another example of a good street bike gone bad in scrambler form was the 1966 Suzuki X6S Hustler Scrambler. A fast twin cylinder 250cc two stroke with six gears, the Hustler made a name for itself on the street by smoking the big Brit bikes of the time with ease, but when a set of up-pipes and wide bars were bolted to it, it became a danger to man and the environment alike. Gigantic dual leading shoe brakes and drums that worked so well on the street weighed both wheels down like a safe, and made directional changes on cobby dirt surfaces anything but certain. It too was wide enough to cause pelvic cramps, and the peaky motor combined with rigid rubber covered footpegs turned many a baritone into a soprano. Ouch. 
1966 X6S Hustler Scrambler about to go down. Is that fear or boredom on the rider's face?
But the most insidious example of an almost dirt bike must be the Bridgestone 350, in faux-dirt attire. With dual rotary valves, and high pipes that exited on either side of the frame, it must have been like straddling a Nash Ambassador with handlebars. I can’t imagine anyone seriously thinking, “I want to ride this motorcycle in the dirt” it’s just too silly a proposition. And with Bridgestone’s infamous “rotary” shifting that let you shift from sixth gear to first without thinking about the consequences, this motorcycle was not only dangerous, but a true menace. 
Scary to look at, worse to ride.
Thankfully we have real dirt bikes and real street bikes now, and even a good handling dual-sport now and then. These evil handling machines are gone, but not forgotten.
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