08 busa Reviews and Drag slips

[tonmarchelli]

hey fellow riders.

im bouncing between buying an 08 busa and an 08 ZX-14. so far i have been able to find a lot of literature and reviews on the zx including break in dyno runs, drag strip slips and impressions, as well as video reviews.

i havent been able to find a lot of stuff on the busa so i was wondering if you guys could supply web-links to the same kind of information you have come across for the busa.

thanks. and for people wondering, at this moment i am leaning toward the kawi but i am no where near my decision yet. basically it is going to come down to looks and comfort between the two but performance numbers and extra features will still weigh heavily on my decision.

Thanks again

 

[Warchild]

at this moment i am leaning toward the kawi but i am no where near my decision yet. basically it is going to come down to looks and comfort between the two

Well, in that case, I dunno how much help anyone can do for you.... both of your decision criteria are extremely subjective; as far as looks, only you know what looks good in your eye, and only you can determine if a bike is comfortable to you.

Still, I'm sure several of the fan-boys here will tell you the busa has descended directly from Heaven.

Oh, what the hell.... I'll toss in my

Looks are pretty far down my list of bike selection criteria... I am primarily about performance and usability. The Gen I Busa had it's share of detractors; I personally believe the Gen II Busa is a much better looking bike than the Gen I machine. The Gen I Busa kinda looked like a molded jellybean; the Gen II Busa has a lot of similar lines, but there is a number of more interesting aspects about it. The tail end tends to be polarizing; but without the heinously large fender, it resembles the business end of a wasp... pretty cool, actually.

Comfort is just too subjective to really put meaningful commentary to.... I found the pegs higher than my liking, and the reach to the bars proved to be a bit long for my liking, as well. Both are readily fixable; a set of footpeg lowering brackets and a set of Heli-Bars, and I'm set. The bike is quite smooth, although there is a RPM range or two of vibes that are somewhat noticeable. The ZX-13.5 is arguably smoother to many who have ridden both bikes. Both are pretty damn smooth for a big-bore inline fours.

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but performance numbers and extra features will still weigh heavily on my decision.[/quote]

When I was in your shoes a couple months ago, having accepted the fact Honda has turned into a massive corporate SNATCH and abandon the hyperbike market altogether (ceasing worldwide Blackbird production in 2007), it basically came down to the same two bikes you are looking at.

So it was this Kawasaki "extra feature" that convinced me to go with the new K8:

These photos were taken of a ZX-14 that had never seen a dragstrip, never seen a racetrack, never seen any stuntings, stoppies, wheelies (intentional) or anything else that could have caused this.

There have been a number of these frame cracks. Some discovered on the road, some discovered in the garage, some discovered by Service techs when servicing the bike. Hate to think of what might occur if you discovered one while transitioning during a triple-digit sweeper...

And ZX-14 frame cracks continue to happen to this day. The latest one reports was.... yesterday, Dec 29th: Latest ZX-13.5 Frame Crack - dated 29 Dec 07

So... ya pays yer nickle, and ya takes yer chances....

Good luck in your decision process.

Like I say, I was in your shoes as late as last October.... while I was leaning toward the K8 because of the many stories of engine knock (crankshaft "endplay" - shyeah, right), the above photos certainly made my decision easier.

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Thanks again[/quote]

 

[Revvv]

ZX14s have been prone to pop on the strip when a little power was added. The Busa has always been strong. The 08 Busa shows that it is and will reign as the king of hyperbikes.

Yes, I have seen them both at the track. The Busa wins hands down.

 

[BikeMasterBahrain]

Holy crap ZX14!!

I drove both bikes, and the handling will go to the Gen II Busa hands down, the kawa has nothing on the busa in the handling department. I was in ur shoes a few months ago and drove a friends Zx14 and did not like it at all.. My head still spins as how this (K8) busa handles better than some 1K bikes.
The thing i liked about the ZX14 was the comfort, it is a lil more comfortable than the Busa though,,so choice is urs!

 

[tonmarchelli]

ultimately i would like to take a ride on both. i pretty much have the busa figured out. the owner of the dealer i may buy one from bought one and will let me ride it. im sure i can find somebody on my local riders forum who has a zx will let me take a spin on theirs.

from my reading. for the 08 zx-14 they have fixed the frame problem, and really upped the power down low and midrange. so far, the zx has gotten the faster numbers on the drag strip. and has superior brakes, clutch, and comfort compared to the busa. but the busa seems to take the zx in overall HP plus handling. and "sportbike feel".

and yes, my criteria are extremely subjective, my final choice will be my preference between the two. but i will give a definite nod towards performance as me or hardly any of us will ever be able to tap out the performance on these machines.

 

[1300hemibusa]

ZX14s have been prone to pop on the strip when a little power was added. The Busa has always been strong. The 08 Busa shows that it is and will reign as the king of hyperbikes.

Yes, I have seen them both at the track. The Busa wins hands down.

600+ 1/4 passes on my 06 zx14 and a bunch of them on the spray and no pop.....Only pop is the Busas trying to keep up with me ...

 

[NightCrawler]

Get the Busa.

No matter what, a Kawasaki will always be a Kawasaki (crap). There's a reason why even though the 14 was deemed faster and more comfortable than the Busa in '06 &'07, The Busa still outsold it 2 to 1.

 

[Got-Busa?]

ZX14s have been prone to pop on the strip when a little power was added. The Busa has always been strong. The 08 Busa shows that it is and will reign as the king of hyperbikes.

Yes, I have seen them both at the track. The Busa wins hands down.

600+ 1/4 passes on my 06 zx14 and a bunch of them on the spray and no pop.....Only pop is the Busas trying to keep up with me ...

Wait aren't you the same guy running a NONE factory motor....

Weren't the Florida guys claiming that you hurt the factory motor or something and had to find another to run while you rebuild the original.

 

[Tybalt71]

 

[Mr Bogus]

<div class="iF-Passage"><div class="QUOTEHEAD">Quote:[/Quote]<div class="QUOTE clearfix"><span class="quoteBegin"> </span>
Still, I'm sure several of the fan-boys here will tell you the busa has descended directly from Heaven.[/quote]at the risk of being a "Fan-Boy" I will reserve comment on either bike.... sheesh the drama never stops some days...

 

[1300hemibusa]

ZX14s have been prone to pop on the strip when a little power was added. The Busa has always been strong. The 08 Busa shows that it is and will reign as the king of hyperbikes.

Yes, I have seen them both at the track. The Busa wins hands down.

600+ 1/4 passes on my 06 zx14 and a bunch of them on the spray  and no pop.....Only pop is the Busas trying to keep up with me ...

Wait aren't you the same guy running a NONE factory motor....  

Weren't the Florida guys claiming that you hurt the factory motor or something and had to find another to run while you rebuild the original.  

True i picked up a wrecked 06 blue zx14 to have a spare motor to build a stroker...By having a spare motor i would have no down time and could keep racing non stop ..You know we race year round here in fl ..I pulled the motor that came in my zx14 and put in the spare motor and i'm now building my factory motor to 1530...It made more sense to take my stock motor with 3000 race miles and build it than tear down a motor with less than 600 miles on it ... I have friends that run Busas and have 5 or 6 extra motors... But for some reason you find it strange that i have an extra motor and not stange to own a busa with 5 or 6 spare motors?

If i get a deal on another zx14 motor i will buy it also ... I plan on owning my zx14 for a long time, I was going to pick up a new Busa but it's not any faster or better than what i have right now...

 

[Got-Busa?]

I guess I'm the only one that thinks pulling a perfectly good stock motor out to install another stocker to rebuild the original into a stroker with more miles seems odd...

You have friends with 5 or 6 BUSA motors swapping them out to race....okay dude!

Continue with your continuous hating on the BUSA as you always do because clearly you have something to prove.

 

[The Big Red One]

hey fellow riders.

im bouncing between buying an 08 busa and an 08 ZX-14.  so far i have been able to find a lot of literature and reviews on the zx including break in dyno runs, drag strip slips and impressions, as well as video reviews.  

i havent been able to find a lot of stuff on the busa so i was wondering if you guys could supply web-links to the same kind of information you have come across for the busa.  

thanks.  and for people wondering,  at this moment i am leaning toward the kawi but i am no where near my decision yet.  basically it is going to come down to looks and comfort between the two but performance numbers and extra features will still weigh heavily on my decision.

Thanks again

Performance wise they're very close..it'll come down to riders and mods done if you plan on street racing. The busa's a more "sporty" ride...not quite as comfy (especially for bigger guys) but more curve oriented. The 14's much nicer to bigger guys and is a much more comfy long ride bike that still handles very well. The 14 has no vibes anywhere..and crazy sensitive front brakes...the busa has some vibes in the middle rpm's, and the brakes aren't quite as strong as the 14's. In my opinion neither one is overly good looking...but they both look good enough to own and enjoy. Its really going to come down to your own personal preferences

 

[1300hemibusa]

I guess I'm the only one that thinks pulling a perfectly good stock motor out to install another stocker to rebuild the original into a stroker with more miles seems odd...

You have friends with 5 or 6 BUSA motors swapping them out to race....okay dude!  

Continue with your continuous hating on the BUSA as you always do because clearly you have something to prove.  

I have been racing 34 years and most of drag bikes have been zooks and i have nothing to prove to you or anyone else ..I'm just telling you the facts on why i changed motors... If you knew me or raced with me you would know the truth ..I'm 52 years old and have no reason to tell you stories or anyone else for that matter. I was the one that posted on the other Busa website that i changed my motor and why i changed it...I have nothing to hide or reason not to post that i changed it . If you knew me you would know if i blew up a motor because i would be the first one to post about it ..34 years of racing i only blew up one motor , my 81 GS1100 blew the clutch right out of the cases ..I try  to stay on top and head off problems before they become a problem ..I can rebuild a motor with some wear but you can't rebuild a motor that has holed a case when it has spit all the parts out... 600+ passes and countless top end runs you are pushing your luck on any motor..I don't know about you but at 8.50s @ 164 MPH the last thing i want is to blow a motor and take a ride down the track in my leathers..

  Oh yes  ...  Happy New Year ....

 

[lacker]

 

[silverfreak]

kind of reminds me of the phantom 12 guy days.

 

[mokaw]

kind of reminds me of the phantom 12 guy days.

There's no comparison between Phantom 12 and 1300hemibusa. Lee's been a member here for a few years. He's owned a couple of Busa's and now he has a 14. He still likes Busa's. He doesn't come on here to brag. He states facts. He's been drag racing for years and he's good at it. If anyone has any questions on dragging their bike, he'll help you as much as he can. I think it's people that criticize the 14 that turns him off. If you go to bikeland's ZX14 site, you'll find out that there are guys on there that ride ZX-14's and Busa's. No one bad mouths the other. Some guys on there went from a Busa to a 14 and back to a Busa. Not because they didn't like the 14, because they like the new Busa and want to try it out. They're both good bikes, these are bike forums, and wouldn't it be nice if we all got along?

 

[4 time busa owner]

ZX14s have been prone to pop on the strip when a little power was added. The Busa has always been strong. The 08 Busa shows that it is and will reign as the king of hyperbikes.

Yes, I have seen them both at the track. The Busa wins hands down.

600+ 1/4 passes on my 06 zx14 and a bunch of them on the spray  and no pop.....Only pop is the Busas trying to keep up with me ...

Wait aren't you the same guy running a NONE factory motor....  

Weren't the Florida guys claiming that you hurt the factory motor or something and had to find another to run while you rebuild the original.  

True i picked up a wrecked 06 blue zx14 to have a spare motor to build a stroker...By having a spare motor i would have no down time and could keep racing non stop ..You know we race year round here in fl ..I pulled the motor that came in my zx14 and put in the spare motor and i'm now building my factory motor to 1530...It made more sense to take my  stock motor with 3000 race miles and build it than tear down a motor with less than 600 miles on it ... I have friends that run Busas and have 5 or 6 extra motors... But for some reason you find it strange that i have an extra motor and not stange to own a busa with 5 or 6 spare motors?  

If i get a deal on another zx14 motor i will buy it also ... I plan on owning my zx14 for a long time, I was going to pick up a new Busa but it's not any faster or better than what i have right now...

The topic was, is the new 08 busa or the new 08 13.5 kawi the better bike.( I call the new kawi 13.5 because it's only 1356cc.)
This of course depends on your perspective of what constitutes better. In every catagory, according to my run ins with the new kawi, 2 of them to be exact so far, the new busa is more powerful. From 0 to 180 the kawis stayed with me in 1st and 2nd gear and that's mainly because i had trouble keeping the bike down, the busa walks up easily in those gears. But 3rd gear on, where i can keep the throttle wide open, I'm moving away from the kawis like their running on 3 cylinders. When I get out of it at 180 and look back, and of course they stay in it and pass me, but from where I can first see them I'm at least 10 lengths ahead of them. And from a second gear roll on to 180 from 70MPH it's all Busa. There is no comparison in the roll on. I don't know how far I was ahead of them on that one but it was way more than 10 lengths. From comparisons I've read on the handling of the two bikes, the Busa is rated better than the kawi. My own experience tells me the new Busa handles better than the old. So you will have to figure that one out for yourself. But I have read the new kawi is more comfortable. Also as indicated by above pictures by War, kawis have frame problems. And I've read about that problem too, so now you have two people pointing this out to you. But ultimately you have to decide what to spend your money on. I've spent my money on four of these of these bikes now, and I haven't been disappointed yet. Well that's my two cents.

Jim

 

[TruWrecks]

I don't really dislike the ZX14, but the looks don't do anything for me. I didn't think I would like the new Busa until I look at it in the dealership. The gray/black combo just looked so sexy on that bike. I bought it the next business day the dealer was open.

 

[Tybalt71]

I am a loyal busa guy, i love he bike, gen I and gen II, i still give respect to the 14, it s a great bike, give it the respect it deserves, both bikes are awesome, in the end, it is personal choice, I love the Busa for me, the zx-14 is an awesome bike , great to see bike wars, they can only do better to improve and remain at the top, for us the consumer its a good thing, it keeps them on thier toes, the 14 woke suzuki up zzzzzz who were sleeping for the last 9 years to get back that title, suz was too comfortable and sitting back on its laurals, zx-14 put new life into the r&d busa guys at suzuki to take the challenge, they woke up and have taken on theproject with great sucess. In the next years we will be seeing a better product to remain at the top, competetion is good and healthy.