Hayabusa

[Nzpure]

Hey there, my old man is thinking about getting back into riding. He's not actually old being only 45, but he loves his sports bikes and is looking at getting a 2008 Hayabusa:yes:. He loves the look and really loves the sound of the power it makes. He just wanted to know.
1.) How do they handle in corners?
2.) With the power they produce are they Wheelie demons?
3.) Is it a comfortable bike to ride on?
He lives out in the sticks so it's a bit hard to get into town just to try a bike out.
He has always had sports bikes but the last bike he had was a Kawasaki 1100 something. Bearing in mind he hasn't ridden anything in the last 10 years.
Anything you would like to add would be appreciated.

[mattian]

10 years away from riding? back on a Hayabusa?......... good luck.:woohoo:

[Nzpure]

Hey man the bike only goes as fast as you tell it too

[Teflon]

I was set on buying one, until...

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Wicked motors dude, but watching that video fucked that idea up for me,, so i brought a Kawasaki.. then I saw this:

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fuck.. turbo blackbird would be cool

[Edbear]

Hey man the bike only goes as fast as you tell it too

The cemetary's are full of people who said that when returning to bikes after a long break. Twice the power and a lot less weight than anything he's ever ridden means he won't know he's going too fast until it's too late!

That's the real issue. You don't know how fast you're going. The speedo gives a number, not the neccessary speed for the corner you've arrived at going 30km/h too fast for! Or on a Hayabusa, 60km/h too fast for... That's when you die!

[YellowDog]

Hey man the bike only goes as fast as you tell it too

Do your family a favour and get your dad to spend some time at a track to see if he really wants such a big and powerful bike.

Twisty bends aren't the place to learn how bikes have changed :no:

[Teflon]

If he owned a ZZR1100, he will find the Bus rides like it's on rails.. I'm sure he will be fine

[98tls]

Hey man the bike only goes as fast as you tell it too

:facepalm:Xactly,therein lies the problem,motorcycles dont cause crahes human error does.

[bsasuper]

If I was to test such a powerfull, middle of the range in the handling department bike on a track, where you would be itching to open it up, after a 10 year break from bikes----well do really have to think about what will happen:facepalm:

[riffer]

He might be fine but I wouldn't recommend it without some serious retraining.

I suggest he look at some refresher courses before getting on a Hayabusa. As others have commented the ride is sooooo smooth you just don't realise the speed you are doing until you hit a corner. And although a rider with good experience can generally get body positioning right, and push the beast into line, without the recent experience you're just not match fit so to speak.

Don't laugh but a good condition RF900R will give you 9/10s of the Hayabusa experience without the ability to kill yourself quite so quickly. Similar handling, power delivery is similar but not the same top speeds (only 260km/hr instead of 300km/hr) and it's a lot easier to trade up once he's got used to the power again.

[kiwifruit]

Don't laugh but a good condition RF900R will give you 9/10s of the Hayabusa experience

:lol: :pinch:

[riffer]

:lol: :pinch:

What - only ONE cynic?

I have actually ridden both bikes.

[porky]

depends what sort of Kwaka he came off. 10 year ago the zx and busa were pretty much neck and neck for bragging rights. Bikes have also got easier to ride and handle. How those old timers got those piles of shit around the way they did beats me. Some records still stand today. Bert Munroe is one such name that springs to mind..........He could toast himself just as easily on a 250. Now if it was the old LTD a 6 undie would be the go!

[Johnny Fartpants]

I'm 47 and have a similar situation. I bought a brand new CB1300s (I know it's not
Hyabusa fast, but it's no slouch) last year after not having even sat on a bike for 25
years. Born again biker wanting to experience my youth again. Last bike I owned/rode
was a '83 GPZ1100. I didn't even test ride it (the new Honda) - I just paid for it and rode it home. The big difference between now and 1984 is the volume of traffic and the number of cops about. This forces you to keep to sensible speeds while getting used to the bike.
One thing is for sure....if you keep to the speed limit, (and keep your eyes peeled) you WILL NOT have an accident. I've wound it up a couple of times but the fear of getting severely busted makes you back off.

I also had a real bad crash on the GPZ and things like that tend to make me ride with caution even after 25 years. It's the corners that are gonna get ya, so I tend to
go in at a really moderate speed which gives me plenty of scope to get the feel of the bike without pushing it, so now I'm finding that I'm braking later and leaning over further without having any close calls.

So, yeah - if he's careful I reckon he'll be fine.

[Nzpure]

I found out what particular bike he was riding it was a 1995 GPZ1100.
I should mention that said bike had a turbo from a D2 digger on the side of it.
He had a fair bit of experience going at speeds that my mother would have a heart attack at.
He hasn't bought the bike yet but is deffinetly swinging towards a busa.
I will be sure to forward all of the comments.
Thank you for taking the time to reply.

[Marmoot]

1.) How do they handle in corners?
2.) With the power they produce are they Wheelie demons?
3.) Is it a comfortable bike to ride on?


1) They handle very well, and don't feel as heavy as they actually are or they look. Definitely not a Fireblade or GSX-R, but they are not as cumbersome as laid-back touring bikes (Triumph Thunderbird, VFR800, cruisers, Goldwings, BMWs) either.

2) A bit tricky to wheelie, actually. The wheelbase is that long so they are not as simple to wheelie as sportbikes. Instead of pulling up, they would simply squat and accellerate madly.

3) Yeah. Damn comfortable. For the passenger too. But not a pure laidback touring bike (Triumph Thunderbird, VFR800, cruisers, Goldwings, BMWs), mind you.

And, they are blindingly fast. They go much faster than they feel, so most of the time you'd be going faster than what you think you are at. The chassis and engine smoothness are designed for that, so that they don't feel scary when going at the speed they are designed for (definitely not road legal here!).

So, bearing that in mind, if you don't have sufficient skill to handle such thing, you'd find yourself in deep trouble very easily.

If you are coming back to riding after a long absence, and are thinking about Hayabusa, I would definitely recommend some sort of intensive training. Your mental judgement would not be valid on a Hayabusa as (as said above) it would play tricks on you.

P.S.
A new post-2000 600 would beat your 1995 GPZ1100 in a heartbeat. Imagine the difference between that and a Hayabusa. And I'm not just talking about the newest version either.

P.P.S.
If your dad, as you suggested, has a tendency to ride at speeds that would give your mum a heart attack from time to time, I wouldn't trust him on a Hayabusa without proper skills. It's too easy to do but too hard to stay alive at. Within 10 seconds you'd be above 200kph, and turning around a corner at that speed (or trying to stop) can be very difficult.

[NZsarge]

Tell him he's mad if he doesn't check out a ZX14 if he's looking at Busa's, dunno what vintage Busa he's considering but I rode a '05 (was 2 years old at the time) with a miserable 15000 km on the clock and the brakes were shockingly piss poor particularly for a 300kph bike. I had a '02 Yamaha YZF1000 Thunderace at the time and the no way in hell I would have swapped ya.

[Juzz976]

I would say he would not be bike fit, its too long off biking to jump on something like a busa.

Theres more to being bike fit than physical strength and endurance.

My dad would be in a very similar position and age, no freaking way I'd let him ride my TL and its only 1000cc

[terbang]

Alluringly fast without quite having the braking and handling to deal with it (well that was the K6 version). Had a ball though saw the other side of 300K's way too many times. I also saw most of NZ comfortably from a Busa.

Had a brief ride on a new gen version and it did handle and hide its pork a bit better.

Dunno about coming back as a born again onto one though.

[Bren]

my advice....step up....get a 750 or 900 first for a year or so...then move on to the dream bike after you have got used to riding again

[DEATH_INC.]

The biggest difference between the Haybailer and a GPZ is the way they feel. The GPZ feels fast at 200kph, the Bus doesn't at 300k. At least that's what I found with the 12.

[aprilia_RS250]

1.) How do they handle in corners?
2.) With the power they produce are they Wheelie demons?
3.) Is it a comfortable bike to ride on?


1. Depends what tyres it has on....
2. Depends how hard you like to twist the throttle
3. Depends if you like to be crouched forwards

In other words he'll need to test ride one in order to see if he likes it....

[Teflon]

Haha... the Bus is such a big scary bike:sunny:. Your old man will have to go twice as fast on the Bus to get that "out of control feel" he got on the GPZ. I use to scare myself shitless on the old ZZR11's and GSXR's. Takes a lot more effort on 12 to get that feeling

[marty]

just go and test ride them. zx14 vs hayabusa

[onearmedbandit]

3. Depends if you like to be crouched forwards

In other words he'll need to test ride one in order to see if he likes it....

Have you ridden one? Ok I haven't but I've sat on a few and they don't feel like you need to be crouched forward as such.

[Nzpure]

His brother is lending him his Ducati to get used to riding again. So he's gunna put off buying a bike for a bit longer, So prolly a better idea by the sounds of it.
I coulln't give him any real advice as i have onyl just got my licence and started riding so i had to ask. Thank you very much guys.

[AllanB]

Anything over 600 cc is 'too fast' for a public road if opened out.

I'd be more concerned with his ability to cope with the size and weight of the bike.


And another thing what the hell was he thinking - if you are 45 and returning to motorcycling I thought it was actually LAW that you must buy a Harley. :yes:

[porky]

I found out what particular bike he was riding it was a 1995 GPZ1100.
I should mention that said bike had a turbo from a D2 digger on the side of it.
He had a fair bit of experience going at speeds that my mother would have a heart attack at.
He hasn't bought the bike yet but is deffinetly swinging towards a busa.
I will be sure to forward all of the comments.
Thank you for taking the time to reply.

HOLY SNAPPIN DUCK SHIT. Know the gpz 1100 well and in the day the fuckers were quick, with out the fore mentioned attachment. Tell the old prick to go buy a yamy jog, he sounds like an outa control adrenalin junky.

[schrodingers cat]

Tell him to do whatever he wants. All the scare mongers here need to STFU

Personally I think they are revolting to look at at but thankfully not everybody is like me.

You pays yer money and takes yer choice. A lovely freedom worth preserving.

[SMOKEU]

Anything over 600 cc is 'too fast' for a public road if opened out.


My 250 doesn't take too long to get into 'get your licence suspended for 28 days on the spot' kind of speeds. The difference is that on a big bike you have a good chance of getting away, if you know what I mean.

[Marmoot]

His brother is lending him his Ducati to get used to riding again.

This is good. Ask him if he likes the Ducati (what Ducati, btw?) afterwards. If he likes the Ducati, he would hate the Hayabusa.
Trust me, I know.

[PirateJafa]

My 250 doesn't take too long to get into 'get your licence suspended for 28 days on the spot' kind of speeds. The difference is that on a big bike you have a good chance of getting away, if you know what I mean.

No. The difference is that on a big bike you've attained those speeds in five seconds in first gear, instead of thirty-plus seconds in sixth gear with your valves bouncing out the top of your airbox.

[Nzpure]

I think from memory my uncle has a 900s or something i dunno i hate ducati's lol

[EJK]

I think from memory my uncle has a 900s or something i dunno i hate ducati's lol

What the hell is wrong with you?




Nah I'm just messin with ya ;-)

[Gibbo89]

Get him keen on something that your also keen on in the mean time before he gets him Busa. Then when he wants to go for the Busa you can get his bike that he got back to riding on. Simple!

[blackdog]

Tell him to do whatever he wants. All the scare mongers here need to STFU

You pays yer money and takes yer choice. A lovely freedom worth preserving.

one sensible post outta three pages....kb for ya

[Nzpure]

Get him keen on something that your also keen on in the mean time before he gets him Busa. Then when he wants to go for the Busa you can get his bike that he got back to riding on. Simple!

Problem is i really want a busa LOL. I spose its my old mans influence but i have wanted a busa since they started coming out.I'm going to get one too, I'm going to do the training courses in advanced handling and racing training at Mainland driving school and there's a couple others really learn how to handle a bike. Then move up to a busa, I have been taking my mates GSXR750 out and i'm not all that impressed lol =D (still has the crap in pants factor to it tho) but helps me get used to a 750 rather then jumping from a 250 to a 1300

[Gibbo89]

A gsxr750 does not impress you compared to your hyosung? That doesn't seem right eh

A jump from a 250 to a 1300 Busa seems pretty nuts too. Each to their own I guess.

Edit: On the 750, do you still find it unimpressive after taking it to the redline? (I'm not recommending it or anything)

[Marmoot]

I sense that you might be more of a danger on a Busa than your born-again old man...

[Toaster]

Hey there, my old man is thinking about getting back into riding. He's not actually old being only 45, but he loves his sports bikes and is looking at getting a 2008 Hayabusa:yes:. He loves the look and really loves the sound of the power it makes. He just wanted to know.
1.) How do they handle in corners?
2.) With the power they produce are they Wheelie demons?
3.) Is it a comfortable bike to ride on?
He lives out in the sticks so it's a bit hard to get into town just to try a bike out.
He has always had sports bikes but the last bike he had was a Kawasaki 1100 something. Bearing in mind he hasn't ridden anything in the last 10 years.
Anything you would like to add would be appreciated.

The Hayabusa is a fantastic bike for the money. Smooth, fast and has a look its owners just love.

Simple, treat the bike and the roads with respect. Fail to take it easy to start with and the bike will punish you. If you get one, make sure you use the C and B mode power settings first and get used to the bike at a range of speeds. Then use the full A mode.

It is a solid bike and quite a bit heavier than its smaller siblings. All the Suzuki sports bikes are quick and handle well. The best in corners was the 750cc IMO. The Busa is better for the bigger rider.

The Busa, MV, BMW and Kwaka are all incredibly fast. Anything over the 600cc mark is getting up there anyway and all need to be ridden with respect.

Ride smart, ride safe and keep the hooning for the track.

If he does buy a GSX1300R, I recommend a rider training day or two. I have done one and will likely do a couple more to keep working on skill, techique and confidence. I know I will never be as capable as my bike and I ride accordingly..... within my skill level. Trackdays and training sessions are a good place to stretch beyond that - in the safest possible environment with help and advice on hand.

Hayabusa is awesome.

[Dschubba]

If its anything like the zx14 its easier to ride than the litre bikes. Not quite as agile but very versatile and comfy.

But i would never loan a car/bike to my kid... I know what i used to do in me mums car!

[Banditbandit]

The cemetary's are full of people who said that when returning to bikes after a long break. Twice the power and a lot less weight than anything he's ever ridden means he won't know he's going too fast until it's too late!

That's the real issue. You don't know how fast you're going. The speedo gives a number, not the neccessary speed for the corner you've arrived at going 30km/h too fast for! Or on a Hayabusa, 60km/h too fast for... That's when you die!

And it's real easy to fuck up the throttle and be going faster than you want instantly - and in very bad situations ..

[Banditbandit]

one sensible post outta three pages....kb for ya

He asked for advice .. people gave it ...

[Edbear]

And it's real easy to fuck up the throttle and be going faster than you want instantly - and in very bad situations ..

Perzackery! I had a bad moment after returning on a GSX600F with only 80hp. Twice the power of my previous bikes meant it was accelerating much quicker and I arrived at a corner, (playing with an Audi Quattro), going about 30km/h quicker than I should have been. I managed to avoid becoming embedded in the bank thanks to handling and brakes being way better than the old bikes' and sheer luck I think. Woke me up!

I used to ride around the 160km/h + in the old days so wasn't a stranger to speed on a bike, but it was the accelleration and approaching corners that I wasn't "up to speed" on!

Now the venerable old GSX600F is nothing like a Hayabusa! At the top speed of the 600, the Hayabusa rider would be just changing into third gear having got there a lot quicker!

[Nzpure]

oh no in comparrison to the 750 my hyo feels like a push bike with one of those little motors on them lol. I just think im getting a little over-confident on bikes and i thought the 750 would go far better it did. Mind you know my mate he has prolly stropped the crap out of it and its half dead.

[Toaster]

Now the venerable old GSX600F is nothing like a Hayabusa! At the top speed of the 600, the Hayabusa rider would be just changing into third gear having got there a lot quicker!


Apart from both having two wheels..... yep.

Third gear? Nah.... still in second ;)

[Katman]

I just think im getting a little over-confident on bikes and i thought the 750 would go far better it did.

You're not painting a very good picture of yourself.

[Edbear]

Apart from both having two wheels..... yep.

Third gear? Nah.... still in second ;)

Yeah, possibly, the GSX-F was tapped out at 220...

[imdying]

If its anything like the zx14 its easier to ride than the litre bikes.I must take one for a spin... The concept of something even easier to ride than a litre bike is a fantastic one :yes:

[Crazy Steve]

The Hayabusa is a fantastic bike for the money. Smooth, fast and has a look its owners just love.

Simple, treat the bike and the roads with respect. Fail to take it easy to start with and the bike will punish you. If you get one, make sure you use the C and B mode power settings first and get used to the bike at a range of speeds. Then use the full A mode.

It is a solid bike and quite a bit heavier than its smaller siblings. All the Suzuki sports bikes are quick and handle well. The best in corners was the 750cc IMO. The Busa is better for the bigger rider.

The Busa, MV, BMW and Kwaka are all incredibly fast. Anything over the 600cc mark is getting up there anyway and all need to be ridden with respect.

Ride smart, ride safe and keep the hooning for the track.

If he does buy a GSX1300R, I recommend a rider training day or two. I have done one and will likely do a couple more to keep working on skill, techique and confidence. I know I will never be as capable as my bike and I ride accordingly..... within my skill level. Trackdays and training sessions are a good place to stretch beyond that - in the safest possible environment with help and advice on hand.

Hayabusa is awesome.

Meh I think Hayabusa's are for old Men that can't ride very well...:)

Hayabusa YAWN ! ! Hayabusa SNORE ! !

Wheelsatnds at 260kph blah.......Try riding a real bike like a DR650 ! lol

Crazy Steve.

[Nzpure]

You're not painting a very good picture of yourself.

I know but i'm a little worried about myself lol. I just need to take it a bit easier, The acceleration is a little addictive specially when all a 250 really has is acceleration. I'm sticking to traffic ( makes me behave) and i love riding up on the summit road, the down hill corners scare the shit out me and i love it but i'm not confident to push it which is good it think. Quiet roads on the flat, there's too much temtation.

[Stylo]

1) They handle very well, and don't feel as heavy as they actually are or they look. Definitely not a Fireblade or GSX-R, but they are not as cumbersome as laid-back touring bikes (Triumph Thunderbird, VFR800, cruisers, Goldwings, BMWs) either.

2) A bit tricky to wheelie, actually. The wheelbase is that long so they are not as simple to wheelie as sportbikes. Instead of pulling up, they would simply squat and accellerate madly.

3) Yeah. Damn comfortable. For the passenger too. But not a pure laidback touring bike (Triumph Thunderbird, VFR800, cruisers, Goldwings, BMWs), mind you.

And, they are blindingly fast. They go much faster than they feel, so most of the time you'd be going faster than what you think you are at. The chassis and engine smoothness are designed for that, so that they don't feel scary when going at the speed they are designed for (definitely not road legal here!).

So, bearing that in mind, if you don't have sufficient skill to handle such thing, you'd find yourself in deep trouble very easily.

If you are coming back to riding after a long absence, and are thinking about Hayabusa, I would definitely recommend some sort of intensive training. Your mental judgement would not be valid on a Hayabusa as (as said above) it would play tricks on you.

P.S.
A new post-2000 600 would beat your 1995 GPZ1100 in a heartbeat. Imagine the difference between that and a Hayabusa. And I'm not just talking about the newest version either.

P.P.S.
If your dad, as you suggested, has a tendency to ride at speeds that would give your mum a heart attack from time to time, I wouldn't trust him on a Hayabusa without proper skills. It's too easy to do but too hard to stay alive at. Within 10 seconds you'd be above 200kph, and turning around a corner at that speed (or trying to stop) can be very difficult.

Good message and a degree of mental re-calibration is a good start when you're on something like a 'Busa or a ZX 14, the latest 1L sportbikes may have some numbers HP wise , but they dont have anywhere near the magic torque numbers the big guns have ( along with bigger HP's ) and that's what scares the shit out of you with a 'Busa when you're not expecting it. I'm only 49 and on my second 'Busa now and ...would'nt trade it for anything else ...except of course a ZX14 .....maybe

50 Cents .....

[Marmoot]

The acceleration is a little addictive specially when all a 250 really has is acceleration.
250 don't have accelleration when compared to a Busa.


the down hill corners scare the shit out me
Wait till you have to do downhill corners on a Busa....

[Nzpure]

Yes but its a couple of years riding before im aloud to even contemplate buying a busa...Thats i lie im contemplating buying a busa now but you get my drift.

P.S
I still going very slow around downhill corners..because they scare the crap outa me.
One of the reasons i looked at a busa is im 1.92cm's tall so im pushing nearly 6'4" im a rather big guy so i not that keen on most of the 650s and 750's but i don't want to ride a cruiser or a tourer i love the sports bike but need the room a tourer has so a hayabusa sports tourer is a good comprimise.

[Nzpure]

Well my old man has gone for his first ride in 10 years on the ducati. Loved the ride..Hates the bike lol apparently its gutless compared to his old kawa...Thats prolly because it was turbo lol.

[allycatz]

.


Wait till you have to do downhill corners on a Busa....

Huh, wait till you have to PILLION downhill on the BACK of a Busa:facepalm:

[SMOKEU]

Meh I think Hayabusa's are for old Men that can't ride very well...:)

Hayabusa YAWN ! ! Hayabusa SNORE ! !

Wheelsatnds at 260kph blah.......Try riding a real bike like a DR650 ! lol

Crazy Steve.

I thought that was the touring BMW bikes.

[ishkur]

[QUOTE=Nzpure;1129932352] but he loves his sports bikes and is looking at getting a 2008 Hayabusa:yes:. He loves the look and really loves the sound of the power it makes. QUOTE]

dunno if its worth mentioning, but as with most of the new crop of GSXR's from Suzuki, the 2008 Gen2 Busa comes with the 3 different power maps, what they call S-DMS .. Drive Mode Selector .. putting the bike in 'C' mode throttles it back to something like 750cc power?
The idea is to limit the power for wet conditions etc, never used it on mine, but could be useful for someone trying to ease back into motorcycling?

[Toaster]

Meh I think Hayabusa's are for old Men that can't ride very well...:)

Hayabusa YAWN ! ! Hayabusa SNORE ! !

Wheelsatnds at 260kph blah.......Try riding a real bike like a DR650 ! lol

Crazy Steve.



I prefer "middle aged"...........

[Toaster]

250 don't have accelleration when compared to a Busa.


Wait till you have to do downhill corners on a Busa....

True on both counts. I remember my 250 had nothing on any of my bikes, let alone the Hayabusa.

Downhills are not my favourite. Lots of practice seemed to improve that a bit but it still feels like a lump at times.... the bike that is.

[marty]

having had a couple of buses and a couple of litre v-twins, both are vastly different types and riding styles.

my next big bore will be a v-tiwn - just for the sound and delivery. the bus is almost too easy to ride - it just does whatever you want, whenever you want it, and in an instant. a gixxer/r1/zx10 etc will give you plenty of speed and cornering ability and will do everything the bus will do and more probably, but each to their own

if your old man wants a busa, tell him to buy one. it's highly unlikely he'll be disappointed. if he bails at 200km/h does it matter if he's on a busa or a ducati or anything else? at around 2/3rds of it's top speed, i know which bike i'd rather be on.

[300weatherby]

In the SOUTH, we have real roads with real hills and corners, paradise squared!

I am considered old by young puppy Rossi wannabies, but two up on my 06 Busa I can stay with or get away from, anyone I want, on whatever they ride, in the tight twisty stuff, uphill or down, and do it Safely! (that comment excludes those who have no grasp of the boundries of the real limits of fast in the real world- odd that we never see those guys on the track....) Learn correct line selection, learn the dynamics of your bike, learn to set up your suspension, learn to control your visual perception and select brake and turn markers on the fly and it does not matter what you ride. (Harlies excluded...)

Some on Busas are straight line merchants with no cornering skills,NOT THE BIKES FAULT!, but they can be found on R1's, ZX10's, and pretty much anything else with two wheels also.

When you understand the bike, the Busa handles. Nothing will ever save the Massy Davidson tractor though.

Coming back to bikes after a long layoff (as in the start of this thread), the bike is not the factor, it is the willingness to understand bikes have changed and the skills or experience you thought you had, is no longer relevant and you need to relearn everything about riding- most of all, JUDGEMENT!.

[Mudfart]

wow you really like being lectured.
want my missus? shes knows nothing, as proven over 1 million times, but thinks she knows everything, apparently, which has yet to be made evident.

[gatch]

I just think im getting a little over-confident on bikes and i thought the 750 would go far better it did.

Last time I heard that, a guy died shortly after.

Stick to your 250 for life if your nuts are bigger than your brain.

[Nzpure]

Last time I heard that, a guy died shortly after.

Stick to your 250 for life if your nuts are bigger than your brain.

Mate, 250 still goes plenty fast enough to kill me. You would have been better to tell me to stay away from bikes but then again that would never happen either

[Morepower]

Dis not read all the answers .... get the Bus , great bike , handle well comfy for trips , small engines = small power and I am of the opinion that a powerful bike is safer than an underpowered one.
You can go 160 kmh on a 250 , 70 kmh can kill you easily .. simple ... bikes are unsafe at any speed . get what is right .

[Nzpure]

Dis not read all the answers .... get the Bus , great bike , handle well comfy for trips , small engines = small power and I am of the opinion that a powerful bike is safer than an underpowered one.
You can go 160 kmh on a 250 , 70 kmh can kill you easily .. simple ... bikes are unsafe at any speed . get what is right .

Well said that man!

[Gremlin]

Except a busa will do the 160 in 1st, and quicker than your brain can actually comprehend. When people say you can't handle it, they're trying to say you don't have the skills for when it goes wrong, nor the brain capacity to calculate the speed etc.

Its hard to explain that a big bike will lose traction in the wet in 5th or 6th, doing 80-100kph, just because you opened the throttle a bit, or ran over a white line while changing lane.

[Marmoot]

To quote what my brother said when he changed up from cbr6 to cbr1k, the "1k is more thinking than the 6. While with 6 you can go all out everywhere [context: on the backroad twisties] and simply brake if you overspeed into a corner, the 1k is less forgiving. Braking midcorner is not as easy due to the higher speeds everywhere and compounded by the added weight and less speed sensation [i.e., you feel you're going slower than what you are doing] while the tyre limitations remain similar".

That is exactly why sudden jump from 250 to 1.3k can be very dangerous if you don't have the mental patience and respect for the bigger one to treat it with utmost care for the first year or so you're on it. Not impossible, but definitely requires a lot more care. That's where the rider's attitude and personality comes to play.

[Nzpure]

Well i personally think braking mid corner is probably a bad idea anyways and here's a tip every now and again dart your eyes at your speedo, It only takes a milli second and you will know exactly what speed your doing. It will save all those needless speeding tickets.
And to all those people who say its too dangerous to look at your speedo, so's coming into a 35km rated corner at 130km/h. Its easy, if you don't know the bike,don't push it.If you don't know the road,don't push it. If the weather conditions don't suit, don't push it. If your skill isn't up to it don't push it. Simple use your brain, you can avoid alot of dangerous situations.

[Katman]

Well i personally think braking mid corner is probably a bad idea anyways and here's a tip every now and again dart your eyes at your speedo, It only takes a milli second and you will know exactly what speed your doing. It will save all those needless speeding tickets.
And to all those people who say its too dangerous to look at your speedo, so's coming into a 35km rated corner at 130km/h. Its easy, if you don't know the bike,don't push it.If you don't know the road,don't push it. If the weather conditions don't suit, don't push it. If your skill isn't up to it don't push it. Simple use your brain, you can avoid alot of dangerous situations.

Maybe there's hope for you yet.

[Gremlin]

Maybe there's hope for you yet.
Just wait till he gets on, and starts riding it...

People that have only ridden a 250 truly can't comprehend the ability of the bike, even if you're careful.

Reminds me of that thread with the guy that bought a ZX10R for Waiheke. He said he would keep it under the limit etc, but then admitted I was correct. First slightly open area, he went over the limit easily, without really wanting to, but he gave in to the power :devil2:

[Marmoot]

Well i personally think braking mid corner is probably a bad idea anyways

Not saying it's a good idea either. I was talking about the emergency ones.
Like in a decreasing-radius corner that catches you unaware, for example. Yes, that does happen from time to time. Maybe not that often, but it does happen and we normally only need ONE f**k up to crash really.

Meaning, the bigger bikes increase the odds of crashing (or margin-of-error envelope) due to the increased speed envelope (takes less time to go that fast, average speed would be faster, goes faster for the same feel as if you're on a smaller bike, etc etc) if you don't really know what you're doing.

P.S.
I don't know what I'm doing here talking about that. Sorry about that. I'll stop now.
Get what you want, really. Just be careful, that's all.
If you crash, you're spoiling it for everyone. We always get tarred with the same brush.
Just remember, power corrupts.
And absolute power absolutely corrupts.

[nadroj]

Busa owners rule No1: Respect it, and because it can't respect you back respect it double!

Even after 6 years on the Busa (97k) it is still very easy to arrive at a corner quicker than anticipated.

[gatch]

Just wait till he gets on, and starts riding it...

People that have only ridden a 250 truly can't comprehend the ability of the bike, even if you're careful.

Reminds me of that thread with the guy that bought a ZX10R for Waiheke. He said he would keep it under the limit etc, but then admitted I was correct. First slightly open area, he went over the limit easily, without really wanting to, but he gave in to the power :devil2:

I test rode a 97 tls a few years ago, while my everyday ride was a honda spada (250cc). It was like drugs without taking drugs. 4-5x the HP and about 1.5x the mass of the spada. Not a rocketship by any means but by far the fastest thing I'd ever ridden.

I'm glad I didn't get approved for the loan, else I'd probably have died before I could pay it back. The sudden acceleration is simply intoxicating. I can only imagine what a new busa would be like.

[Nzpure]

BTW remember this thread wasn't about me getting a busa a? It was my father getting the busa who's had 30+ years of riding experience. The next bike im getting will probably be a Yammy V-star 650 sexy!!!!

[Gremlin]

Alright then, back to your father. Returning bikers have one of the highest incident rates amongst bikers. At the minimum, please make sure he understands this.

[nadroj]

And that his reactions won't be as good as he thinks they were!

[Nzpure]

Well whilst everyone has been telling me why i shouldn't get a busa my fathers moved his sights to a different bike, I'm not sure what it is but its essentially a naked Goldwing. What does everyone think of those bikes?
While riding the ducati i think the riding position has set his sights on more of a custom/tourer riding style.

[Marmoot]

its essentially a naked Goldwing.

Honda Valkyrie? They are great bikes if you like touring and staying on the motorway. Not so bad in the twisties, but definitely not a sports or sports tourer bike.

Much better handling than a Harley Davidson for sure.

And it wheelies just fine. Plus, it was actually good fun and giggles on Puke track. :)

[sinned]

It seems your old man needs to take a few smaller bikes for a test ride and then he will appreciate how much bikes have improved and how much more power they have. Old riders (I am one but consider myself past the returning bit now) have no idea of how much power and acceleration a litre sports bike has. Until they ride one they think they will be able to handle power and nothing is too powerful? Well sorry to disappoint but most big bikes have more power than most riders can use - even in a straight line.

My advice, having done the return thing and starting back on too big a bike (SV1000S), is get a 600 to start with. What I miss, having sold a speedtriple for a busa is the fun of working the bike up through the gears on full throttle. I did that a lot on the speedy - but the busa just accelerates too hard and goes far too fast in 2nd and 3rd let alone the next 3 gears. However, it is a great bike to ride and do the longer runs on. I just need another bike for the fun stuff - a 600 would be nice.

[Marmoot]

Funny that despite the Hayabusa's speed potential and the design, it is mostly enjoyed by the more-sedate and mature tourer riders rather than the speed junkies.

The speed addicts normally go with the 600s, or 1000s pure sportsbike, regardless whether they are canyon carvers or straightline rocket highway riders.

[Stylo]

Funny that despite the Hayabusa's speed potential and the design, it is mostly enjoyed by the more-sedate and mature tourer riders rather than the speed junkies.

The speed addicts normally go with the 600s, or 1000s pure sportsbike, regardless whether they are canyon carvers or straightline rocket highway riders.

And most of the replies here comparing the 'Busa to a sports bike seem to have overlooked the massive torque difference between the two types , it's the torque that pulls your pants down on the 'Busa from early Rev's that takes your breath away and it keeps your pants down all the way through. Plus the extra CC's ...of course.....

An R1 or a GSX100 etc are great fun but you need to rev them to the moon to have some fun. That's a short stroke race derived motor for you = a different kettle of fish so don't just look at peak HP numbers . From memory a 'Busa has around 30% +
more torque than 1 liter Bike and even more than a ZX14, but not much more.

I'll stand to be corrected but the current model 'Busa has an even higher compression ratio than a cross plane R1 , Only my 5 cents ...;-)

[Marmoot]

And most of the replies here comparing the 'Busa to a sports bike seem to have overlooked the massive torque difference between the two types , it's the torque that pulls your pants down on the 'Busa from early Rev's that takes your breath away and it keeps your pants down all the way through. Plus the extra CC's ...of course.....

An R1 or a GSX100 etc are great fun but you need to rev them to the moon to have some fun. That's a short stroke race derived motor for you = a different kettle of fish so don't just look at peak HP numbers . From memory a 'Busa has around 30% +
more torque than 1 liter Bike and even more than a ZX14, but not much more.

I'll stand to be corrected but the current model 'Busa has an even higher compression ratio than a cross plane R1 , Only my 5 cents ...;-)

You are correct, in numbers.
But for everyday, to most of us mundane mortals the difference in pull on wide-open throttle between modern litre bikes and Hayabusa would be minimal. At least this is what I got from my 2005 Hayabusa vs. 2005 CBR1K. And as far as speed goes, CBR1K didn't have any problem reaching 295kph at all (speedo-indicated, of course). Both bikes have the torque curve vs. weight so high above the level where most of us would be able to discern.

[ducatilover]

Wait a sec.... the 95 gpz1100 (detuned ZZR1100 motor? 129hp) with a d2 turbo on it? Were the D2's ever made with turbos? They were introduced in 38 and my memory doesn't serve any reference to a turbo d2 model, either way, any turbocharger off a large diesel wouldn't work. Many would be water cooled, one problem, the A/R would be bloody massive when you would struggle to spool up a small turbo (td04/ IHI rhb51) :facepalm:

Anyway, stupidity aside. The Busa will be spastic after nigh on anything.

I call the BS card anyway :innocent:

[popelli]

the only real hayabusa is parked up in a aircraft museum in wanaka, its so rare they can't get insurance to fly it, but it taxis quite happily about 6 foot clear of the runway

all the rest are mere imitations

[Toaster]

Funny that despite the Hayabusa's speed potential and the design, it is mostly enjoyed by the more-sedate and mature tourer riders rather than the speed junkies.

The speed addicts normally go with the 600s, or 1000s pure sportsbike, regardless whether they are canyon carvers or straightline rocket highway riders.

Agreed, well said.

[blackdog]

Wait a sec.... the 95 gpz1100 (detuned ZZR1100 motor? 129hp) with a d2 turbo on it? Were the D2's ever made with turbos? They were introduced in 38 and my memory doesn't serve any reference to a turbo d2 model, either way, any turbocharger off a large diesel wouldn't work. Many would be water cooled, one problem, the A/R would be bloody massive when you would struggle to spool up a small turbo (td04/ IHI rhb51) :facepalm:

Anyway, stupidity aside. The Busa will be spastic after nigh on anything.

I call the BS card anyway :innocent:

pretty sure there was a mid-eighties gpz750 turbo from the factory?

[BMWST?]

No. The difference is that on a big bike you've attained those speeds in five seconds in first gear, instead of thirty-plus seconds in sixth gear with your valves bouncing out the top of your airbox.

are you mad?Any modern 1000 cc plus bike will do way way over 100 k in first....,prolly in about three seconds(or less)

[vifferman]

LOLzah. All this talk about "the old man", and I was thinking about this old dude wobblingly getting used to riding a modern speed demon. Then I realised I'm actually older'n him. :facepalm:

[jrandom]

226994

Hayabusas are choice, just tell the old fulla to get one and be done with it.

[Mully]

Don't laugh but a good condition RF900R will give you 9/10s of the Hayabusa experience without the ability to kill yourself quite so quickly. Similar handling, power delivery is similar but not the same top speeds (only 260km/hr instead of 300km/hr) and it's a lot easier to trade up once he's got used to the power again.

*ahem*

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=342582724

[jrandom]

*ahem*

Dude, you just swapped your RF for a naked bike with an aircooled engine that is much faster than the RF, but still only makes almost exactly half the power of a Hayabusa.

You of all people should not be supporting that frankly ridiculous statement about RFs. They're wheezy twenty-year-old teapots. Jesus.

[White trash]

Dude, you just swapped your RF for a naked bike with an aircooled engine that is much faster than the RF, but still only makes almost exactly half the power of a Hayabusa.

You of all people should not be supporting that frankly ridiculous statement about RFs. They're wheezy twenty-year-old teapots. Jesus.

On what planet is the undoubtedly amazing GSX1400 faster than an RF900?

[Voltaire]

How those old timers got those piles of shit around the way they did beats me.

I used to ride those 'piles of shit' still do most weekends........
Roads were a lot less busy then...and cars slower.
...twin shocks...19/100 tyres....drum brakes..carbs..points..heavy controls.....:love:
I do have a modern ish bike a 900ssie...its a lot easier to ride and way more comfortable...:yes:

[jrandom]

On what planet is the undoubtedly amazing GSX1400 faster than an RF900?

What sir wants to be doing before he goes any further with that train of thought is putting both of them on the same dyno.

The RF has a slightly higher eventual top speed due to being fully faired, of course, even in spite of its comparatively geriatric and asthmatic nature (which you can hardly blame it for, given the age difference) but that's not what I call 'faster'.

Good bike in its day. Not anything you'd want to compare to a Hayabusa with a straight face, though.

[Madness]

What sir wants to be doing before he goes any further with that train of thought is putting both of them on the same dyno.

The RF has a slightly higher eventual top speed due to being fully faired, of course, even in spite of its comparatively geriatric and asthmatic nature (which you can hardly blame it for, given the age difference) but that's not what I call 'faster'.

Good bike in its day. Not anything you'd want to compare to a Hayabusa with a straight face, though.

Nice to see you darkening the corridoors of KB once again, Mr Random.

[Mully]

Dude, you just swapped your RF for a naked bike with an aircooled engine that is much faster than the RF, but still only makes almost exactly half the power of a Hayabusa.

You of all people should not be supporting that frankly ridiculous statement about RFs. They're wheezy twenty-year-old teapots. Jesus.

I support the RF being a good "returning to riding" bike, which is what OP's father is looking for, isn't it? Their relatively "wheezy" nature making it easier (note; "easier" not "easy") to avoid becoming deaded in the first five minutes.

And yet with minor tweaks (suspension, mainly) and the right rider (i.e. not a pig-tailed girl like myself) they are a very quick bike.

It's all about horses for courses, dude.

OP's dad could spend ~$4K on an RF, scare the living shit out of himself and decide to give it up and recover ~$4K on an RF

[jrandom]

OP's dad could spend ~$4K on an RF

He'd be silly to.


recover ~$4K on an RF

He'd be lucky to.

[sinned]

LOLzah. All this talk about "the old man", and I was thinking about this old dude wobblingly getting used to riding a modern speed demon. Then I realised I'm actually older'n him. :facepalm:
I also have that problem and with each year it gets worse.

[Mully]

He'd be silly to.



He'd be lucky to.

Yep - that's precisely the point my post was making.

[Nzpure]

Wait a sec.... the 95 gpz1100 (detuned ZZR1100 motor? 129hp) with a d2 turbo on it? Were the D2's ever made with turbos? They were introduced in 38 and my memory doesn't serve any reference to a turbo d2 model, either way, any turbocharger off a large diesel wouldn't work. Many would be water cooled, one problem, the A/R would be bloody massive when you would struggle to spool up a small turbo (td04/ IHI rhb51) :facepalm:

Anyway, stupidity aside. The Busa will be spastic after nigh on anything.

I call the BS card anyway :innocent:

The d2s water cooling is irrelevent as you can and he did use water/methanol injection For cooling (not that great on alloy but hey) As you may not know diesels use comparatively small turbo's due to the slow revving slow velocity exhuast gas release, Also the turbo didn't even start to kick in till around 6k rpm so no it wasn't the greatest choice is turbo size and most of the boost would be generated beyond his rev range but i assure you the relativly small amount of boost it created was compensated in the fact the volume of air moved by the turbo is massive for a bike.

Besides the fact that your clearly one of ""those"" people who say ""can't"" before actually looking into something then making a educated comment. I couldn't care less for your comments. I have met many people like you (your probably a mechanic) and proved them wrong. I have a turbo 97 Holden VS V6 commodore running a gt35r @ 12 psi running super6 injectors, 500hp fuel pump and standard ECU (tuned) and been going for maybe 2 years now still all good and i was told i couldn't do that either.

[vifferman]

I also have that problem and with each year it gets worse.
I guess you (like me) still feel 20-summat inside your head, and think "WTF?!?!" when you see pix of yourself at age presentlyish. (Although I do look youngerer than I yam, despite being hirsutically challenged (on my bonce, at least) and being told repeatedly by my MutantTroglodyteSpawn that I am old).

[ducatilover]

The d2s water cooling is irrelevent as you can and he did use water/methanol injection For cooling (not that great on alloy but hey) As you may not know diesels use comparatively small turbo's due to the slow revving slow velocity exhuast gas release, Also the turbo didn't even start to kick in till around 6k rpm so no it wasn't the greatest choice is turbo size and most of the boost would be generated beyond his rev range but i assure you the relativly small amount of boost it created was compensated in the fact the volume of air moved by the turbo is massive for a bike.

Besides the fact that your clearly one of ""those"" people who say ""can't"" before actually looking into something then making a educated comment. I couldn't care less for your comments. I have met many people like you (your probably a mechanic) and proved them wrong. I have a turbo 97 Holden VS V6 commodore running a gt35r @ 12 psi running super6 injectors, 500hp fuel pump and standard ECU (tuned) and been going for maybe 2 years now still all good and i was told i couldn't do that either.

Interesting.
By water cooling I meant the exhaust side of the housing was probably water cooled.

Diesels run a smaller turbo in comparison to a same sized petrol motor purely for the relative lack of CFM they flow. A turbo used on a D2 would no doubt have over a 1.00 A/R as it's still a fairly large motor. I'm not saying it can't be done, I just don't see the point in using a large A/R turbo when one would want relative flexibility. I learned this on a 250 with a ct12a on it, 9krpm and just nudging boost. then, pop. Was fun.
Who would suggest that a VS couldn't be turbocharged? The Ecotec loves boost, everybody knows that. The only problem would be squeezing a turbo in the engine bay and a gt35r isn't exactly big. Are the injectors 36Lb items? I imagine they will happily flow enough, btw, how much power is it making on 12psi? :yes:

[*caution*]

So did he buy one?

I bought a 2008 one recently and it was my 2nd bike, I only had 2 years experience ridding an SV650 before I bought it.

With good self control I've never come any closer to killing myself than I did on my 650. Same as someone said early, the thought of walking home with no license does a good job of keeping my speeds down. Most bike will have you walking home or dead anyway if you ride with the wrong attitude, so why not get a Busa.

Its absolutely awesome, I would recommend it to anyone, drinks a lot of gas, I don't care about that though, but I'm 6'4" and find it a little uncomfortable after about an hours riding, have added some bar risers which helped, but the main problem is the knee room. I wanted a sporty bike, I looked at Litre bikes but they were too uncomfortable, so I went for the Hayabusa, still sporty, bit more comfortable plus a lot more Newtons.

[avgas]

The cemetary's are full of people who said that when returning to bikes after a long break.
What he said.
To be 'born again' some feel they have to die first