Are more recent 'busas' okay for touring?

[chobers]

I figure I can add handlebar risers, a taller windshield, and some side cases. Mostly, though, I like to screech around the back roads here in Maine.

My favorite bike up till now is a 2006 BMW K1200R, which has 168 HP and looks like a racing bike. It was very comfy for long trips but also was like riding a laser beam. I think the 'busa would be similar.

What do you think? I see this has been discussed about 15 years ago.

 

[pashnit]

The members that discussed it 15 years ago are all still on this site and still discussing it.
Just, we're older and more crotchety.

The winner of the last Iron Butt ride, Mike Brooke, won it on a Gen2 2008 Hayabusa, riding 13,000 miles in 13 days, think about that for a moment, - on a Hayabusa! So yes.

Recent Busas are okay for touring.

K1200R is fun for touring, but you will love the Busa more. The aftermarket is endless to set the bike up exactly how you want it to fit you for your own needs.

Oh, and welcome to the site.

 

[Hayabusa Wannabe]

Welcome to the forum @chobers.

@pashnit is a prolific tour leader. Guess what bike he sits atop as he leads his tours?

 

[chobers]

Thanks to both pashnit an H-Wannabe for the info, the pics, and the welcome. It's nice to be here.

I noticed an ad someplace for an ECU flash service (Smith, maybe?) I suspect those owners plan on using their 'busas for interstellar travel.

 

[Hayabusa Wannabe]

I noticed an ad someplace for an ECU flash service (Smith, maybe?) I suspect those owners plan on using their 'busas for interstellar travel.

Factory tunes of bikes are just terrible so a tuning by any means even on an unmodified busa can smooth the response and add power. Then there are several features that can be disabled in the ECU. For example deceleration fuel cutoff may save gas but when getting back on the throttle after slowing, the transition can be outright jarring.

I do not know which bike you seek but I know that the gen two busa fork is under-spring and the shock is sprung for around a 220+ lb rider. Jamie Daugherty knows these bikes well and will expertly build the suspension for a very reasonable price. Just one recommendation.

 

[Tony Nitrous]

My favorite bike up till now is a 2006 BMW K1200R, which has 168 HP and looks like a racing bike. It was very comfy for long trips but also was like riding a laser beam. I think the 'busa would be similar.

What do you think? I see this has been discussed about 15 years ago.

Not knocking the K12R as I did consider one as an alternative to the B-King many years ago. IMO there’s a huge difference between an older, shaft drive, FFE, naked BMW and the latest Gen-3. Not dissing the BMW but the Busa really has moved on, since the BM was marketed in Gen-1 times.

Im a bit biased as I prefer chain drive (gearing options) traditional front ends, and BMW dealerships aren’t popular places (service or prices) around here. With the end of the ZX14 the Busa really is the only big bore Japanese Sports Tourer, but despite that it’s selling on actually being a great bike not just the only choice.

Ive turned over a few bikes in the past. My dumbed down “How do I rate it” is if it was crashed or stolen tomorrow, what would I buy next. If I didn’t have my Gen-3 tomorrow, I’d buy another Gen-3.

It’s a great Sports Tourer that isn’t a barge through the twistys and fun stuff.

 

[60+ Busa Rider]

I figure I can add handlebar risers, a taller windshield, and some side cases. Mostly, though, I like to screech around the back roads here in Maine.

My favorite bike up till now is a 2006 BMW K1200R, which has 168 HP and looks like a racing bike. It was very comfy for long trips but also was like riding a laser beam. I think the 'busa would be similar.

What do you think? I see this has been discussed about 15 years ago.

View attachment 1667316

Although I haven’t toured on my gen 3 yet I have added the following so I’ll be ready. Heli bars, dropped (wide) pegs, taller windscreen, upgraded seat, tank bag and tail bag, two 38,000 mAh battery banks to power my GoPro and GPS, Cardo blue tooth, Skeen brake lights and wide view mirrors. I like my add ons a lot but would like a more comfy seat. Here’s some pics and I hope this helps you decide. I love riding my gen 3.

 

[Tony Nitrous]

I think it also depends on your description of “Touring”.

I know in another AU group here the Busa isn’t that popular. They like bikes with shaft drive, very upright riding positions, armchairs for pillions, hard long life touring tyres, more relaxed etc etc.

The Busa is a great “Sports” tourer but it definitely leans towards the sports side of touring. With a Busa I feel I sacrifice a bit of comfort, tyre life and such, and make the ride a lot more fun than just covering ground. It’s nice to enjoy the view and just travel, but the Busa can offer a more involved ride than a more serious tourer (IMO) and offered a sporty side many don’t.

 

[LC4CARL]

^^^ This.

With a double-bubble, throttle-lock and Heli-Bars I'm good on my Gen I for a 200 mile day. She is a "full size" machine that has room to carry stuff. But it's not a Goldwing.

My XR650R touring bike. +/- 1,000 miles from Phoenix to Baja and back. It was terrible. I loved it.

 

[hayabuser]

A friend of mine bought a K1300R new... he's now got just over 100,000kms on it from touring. He loves the thing.

From my past (short) experience working as a tech at the local BMW shop, the K1200 is a crude vibey mess compared to the K1300... BMW seriously refined the bike going from the 12 to the 13.

Although I guess the K1300R was never sold in the USA, eh?

Ugly bike contest... his K-bike vs. my old B-King:

 

[chobers]

Factory tunes of bikes are just terrible so a tuning by any means even on an unmodified busa can smooth the response and add power. Then there are several features that can be disabled in the ECU. For example deceleration fuel cutoff may save gas but when getting back on the throttle after slowing, the transition can be outright jarring.

I do not know which bike you seek but I know that the gen two busa fork is under-spring and the shock is sprung for around a 220+ lb rider. Jamie Daugherty knows these bikes well and will expertly build the suspension for a very reasonable price. Just one recommendation.

Hey, this is terrific. Thanks for all the information and insight. I've had 4 BMWs over the years and I've liked all of them, but they're not all there is out there. I'm interested in the new technology, so I'll probably get a reasonably new Hayabusa. I like the idea of having the bike set up for me by experts, even though I may never see a track day.

 

[GMbusa]

If it was me with a new bike I'd put a few hundred miles on it before I voided the warranty with a tune. It was different when the bikes were around $10k, but now with them almost double that it's worth it to prove the parts work first.
I still break mine in using the Motoman steps.

 

[WuzzaCBXRider]

Hayabusas, even 17 year old antiques ridden by old men are quite accomplished sport tourers. So is the nekkid 948cc Z900RS. Monument Valley, the Navajo Res, the Moki Dugway and several high mountain passes and deep canyons all over NV, AZ and UT can attest.

 

[ottafish]

Me and pillion have only recently finished a 9 day, 2600km tour.
Granted my gen2 is modified, but it makes an awesome two up tourer

 

[Bumblebee]

Hey, this is terrific. Thanks for all the information and insight. I've had 4 BMWs over the years and I've liked all of them, but they're not all there is out there. I'm interested in the new technology, so I'll probably get a reasonably new Hayabusa. I like the idea of having the bike set up for me by experts, even though I may never see a track day.

Welcome......

You have a big decision to make.....take your time and do lots of research on what you want as you are the one that will have to live with that decision.....

Almost anyone on this site who rides them any distance has had to change them to do so by changing bars, pegs, seat, windshield, etc...then you will need some sort of detachable luggage...the Gen 3 is the better base platform to start with as it has all the electronic suite and cruise control...but it is still first and foremost a sport bike.


Our own @c10 set his beloved Ram Jam bike up for touring but it took a lot of effort and time to do so and even then he found it a challenge to tour on so went to a different platform....

 

[chobers]

If it was me with a new bike I'd put a few hundred miles on it before I voided the warranty with a tune. It was different when the bikes were around $10k, but now with them almost double that it's worth it to prove the parts work first.
I still break mine in using the Motoman steps.

I agree; thanks for the reminder. I looked up "Motoman" and got industrial robots. I'm thinking that's probably not what you meant.

 

[chobers]

Welcome......

You have a big decision to make.....take your time and do lots of research on what you want as you are the one that will have to live with that decision.....

Almost anyone on this site who rides them any distance has had to change them to do so by changing bars, pegs, seat, windshield, etc...then you will need some sort of detachable luggage...the Gen 3 is the better base platform to start with as it has all the electronic suite and cruise control...but it is still first and foremost a sport bike.


Our own @c10 set his beloved Ram Jam bike up for touring but it took a lot of effort and time to do so and even then he found it a challenge to tour on so went to a different platform....

"Gen 3 is the better base platform to start with as it has all the electronic suite and cruise control...but it is still first and foremost a sport bike."
This is exactly why I landed on the Hayabusa. I spend 90% of my riding locally on back roads. Leaning over is my favorite thing to do.
Of course, if you want a bike to do everything, you're going to have to compromise.

 

[Bumblebee]

"Gen 3 is the better base platform to start with as it has all the electronic suite and cruise control...but it is still first and foremost a sport bike."
This is exactly why I landed on the Hayabusa. I spend 90% of my riding locally on back roads. Leaning over is my favorite thing to do.
Of course, if you want a bike to do everything, you're going to have to compromise.

So you have a gen 3 now or are you still shopping around?

I agree, finding one bike to do everything is a hard ask...

 

[Dnyce]

Motorman break in is basically run it hard from mile 1, change the oil, run it hard, change oil, live life lol

That bs don’t go over 5000rpm for 5000 miles or whatever it is, is forgotten about.

 

[chobers]

So you have a gen 3 now or are you still shopping around?

I agree, finding one bike to do everything is a hard ask...

I don't have it yet; I'm still in the research phase.