I think you are right in expecting performance as it relates to motorcycles of this category, but you are wrong in certain respects in the way you view the Busa.
I don't know if Suzuki will introduce a new Busa just yet, if ever. I know the Busa is not the newest in terms racing technology, but remember, it is a sport touring bike...not a racer.
But it is one bike that still packs a punch right from the starting line. The torque it puts out at low RPMs makes the Kawasaki Ninja look like a bike with training wheels at low RPMs. Of course, the Ninja ZX-14 shows its true colors after , but the fact remains the BUSA is still fundamentally a monster. Add some mods, and it becomes even scarier.
The BUSA market for turbos and performance mods EASILY subordinates the ZX-14 in this respective class. So, if you really are into speed, the BUSA is still, without a doubt, a great choice for the true enthusiast. And really, what serious speed junkie keeps their bike at stock? They tweak it and modify it for their type of riding tastes, such as for example, drag racing. In those terms, when the BUSA is tuned to what a rider wants, it makes the ZX-14 not so amazingly impressive. And if you want a pure sportbike, you actually should be looking at a GSXR1000 or an R1, not a Busa.
The only thing I really like about the ZX-14 is the abs brakes. But, really, does that justify a model change? I see the Busa being discontinued and a new bike with several new features being introduced. It may not even be called a Busa, which I actually prefer. Suzuki should be designing the next revolution in bikes, and in this sense, they should think fresh. No need to constrain them with "Busa" bias.
Even if Suzuki is going to update the BUSA, with updates, a modded BUSA will still be faster than what they can churn out from the factory as a new model.
In other words, the Busa is going to be around for a long time given what it is and what it can be turned into. The ZX-14 is frankly, uninspiring.
SteelHead.
