Hi semperfi
Glad you enjoyed you time in Australia in an otherwise difficult period for you.
I've had the 'busa for a tad over a week now, as opposed to 8 months (and 14000km) on the K1200R, so my comparison will be skewed.
They both have amazing power of course and the Suzuki rules on the road at the top end. I've hit 245km/h indicated on the BMW, but being naked it gets a bit hard to hod on at that point. I touched an indicated 265km/h before I ran out of road on the 'Busa. Easy. Cuppla gears to go.
I do think though, that the BMW edges the 'Busa on mid range and hard roll-ons. It would be fun side by side where I think the BMW would quickly get the jump, then be hauled in and passed by a blur.
Brakes are all BMW. ABS, power assisted and still with better feel. I've locked the Hayabusa rear a couple of times, something I've not done on my last several bikes. Might just be this one. However, the BMW does not dive under brakes, so there is still more weight on the rear than the 'Busa, so I think it is more a matter of getting used to it.
Handling is good on the Hayabusa, better than I expected. A couple of bikes ago I had a Blackbird, which is closer in nature to the Hayabusa. I also had a Yamaha MT-01 just prior to the Blackbird so it took a while to get used to throwing the Honda around in the twisties, so expect it to improve on the Hayabusa with time and kilometres . The BMW is long, low and heavy, but despite that, it is so planted and stable at the front end it handles amazingly well. Wide bars and neutral seating position are a bonus.
Just prior to the BMW I had a K7 GSX-R750 for a year (24000km). Handling perfection. Getting on to the K1200R after that bike I thought it would be difficult to get sweet handling, but with maxo countersteering the BMW is a treat.
I haven't fiddled with the suspension on the Suzuki yet. No urgent need, as it feels good right where it is.... Standard nuts and bolts and c-spanner work involved. The BMW does have electronic suspension adjustment, which gives it the edge.
Styling-wise these bikes are worlds apart. Everyone knows the Hayabusa at a glance. Big and curvy and get out of the way. The BMW is ugly. Mean, nasty, crooked and ugly. Gets noticed though. Cagers often roll down the window to ask "what the hell is that?". Most riders have not seen one up close.
Ergos are vastly different. This year I bought my BMW a ute to take it to the track, otherwise I don't drive a car. That means commuting to work, track days, twisties and touring - the lot.
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The BMW is much better to commute on with its more upright position giving great all around visibility and with the CRG lanesplitter mirrors I get FULL rear vision. The Hayabusa gets into its own out of town though. Hard at it in the bends or hunkered down behind the screen at speed and it is superior. A note though: at legal road speeds, with no part of the bike higher than my knuckles there is zero buffeting on the BMW at all.
Conventional dials on the Hayabusa are great. The BMW runs similar analog speedo and tacho, but they are offset and asymmetrical and harder to use at a glance. Fuel gauge and km to empty give the BMW the edge on the ancillary dash. But, and its a big but.. the indicators on the BMW are stupid. 3 buttons on 2 thumbs to do what every other bike can manage with 1 button. Madness.
I understand I'm not the first to complain about Hayabusa lights ex-factory. Before I rode away at the sale, I asked the previous owner how they were. He said "not real good". He was telling the truth. Pointing down at the ground, basically. It seems that he and the first owner never bothered to adjust them properly. In addition the high beam bulb was rotated 120 deg and hanging out of the socket and consequently aiming stright up at the trees. I have installed a Narva "Blue Power" H7 (80% brighter and 20% whiter said the pack) to the low beam and a Narva "Artic Blue" H3B to the High beam. Adjusted carefully......... sensational vision. Ex-factory the BMW had good lights. I ride long overnight rides hunting bends so I fitted Osram SIlverstar bulbs for good improvement.
Pillion accommodation on both bikes is superb. Torque makes them effortless and even in ability.
Both bikes are fantastic. $28000 vs $18000, dollar for dollar the Suzuki wins easily (yeah, I know the Aussie dollar has copped a hammering in the last few weeks and now worth about a peso). Overall, at this stage I think the BMW K1200R is a better bike for me. I'm looking forward to at least an intense period of ownership (estimate 10000km in the next 10 weeks). I'm hoping to convince the financial controller that having 2 bikes is somehow a good idea.
Its a great bike alright. I rode my 06 460 miles home from the dealer after flying to Los Angeles to pick it up. Had a ball on hiway 1 and 101 all the way! Welcome to the forum!
