MSlater, you speak with some authority when you compare the Busa and the XX. I don't know anyone else who has both bikes. Still, your conclusions are subject to likes, dislikes and subjective interpretation, like everyone else.
I have no quarrel with the idea that the XX is superior in some ways to the Busa. Anyone who is rational and has any experience knows that Hondas are slick, smooth, bullet proof, and for general use are the best bikes in the world. Are they the most exciting, best handling,fastest or most fun? Generally, no.
In 1997 I almost bought a XX. Wrung one out for almost an hour. I came away disgusted, because of the huge hole in the mid-range and the linked brakes. I was also less than thrilled with the huge,tall,top heavy feel of the thing. Despite those things, it was smooth, fast,had more leg room, and was beautifully finished.
I knew that the flat mid-range could be sorted out, but that still left the linked brakes and the size.I realize that the Busa is not much lighter,but it carries its weight lower and has a more compact feel.The linked brakes could be removed, but the concensus was that it would be difficult and expensive.
This brings me to the main reason why I would not own a XX.The linked brakes. I am aware that they are improved this year, just as I am aware that the FI has sorted the mid-range. In '98 Honda put the new version of the linked brakes on the VFR, and I have a lot of miles on one of those. Under certain circumstances, the linked brakes can stop quicker than most standard systems. A straight up,good road,non leaning stop from 60-70mph would be one area that they would do well. At higher speeds, leaned over, or in poor traction conditions, they can kill you. That's why the Brit-bike mags complain so bitterly about them on both the XX and the VFR.They have caused many crashes. There are times when you are pushing the envelope that the application of the wrong brake can be disastrous.As an example, a couple of years ago I was at 135mph on a winding,unfamiliar road. Had trouble getting by a car, so I was hustling to catch my buddies.Just about caught up when I noticed they were slowing more than I expected for a curve. About that time I remembered that there was a nasty decreasing radius turn on the road and obviously this was it. Applied both brakes hard, when the rear started to dance I got off the back and it settled down.I stayed hard on the front, doing a series of minor stoppies ,and somehow made the turn.With linked brakes, I could not have released the rear without getting off the front, and I could not have made the turn if I released the front. I would have crashed.
Sometimes when leaned over a bit in the rain or on sand or gravel, the merest whiff of front brake is enough to send you off road. If a little rear starts a skid, it's easier to control. Linked brakes give you no choice.
Linked brakes on the Honda are the result of the same muddled thought processes that gave us the crappy clutch on the Busa. Build a missile of a bike, then screw it up with a bunch of add-ons to try to protect the incompetents, some of whom will be attracted to it. The linked brakes,have a place on touring bikes, but don't belong on state of the art sport bikes.
You may find an occasional racer who is impressed with linked brakes.Most are not. I suspect that those who like them have never learned the fine art of using the rear brake with the front at high speed on the track. It is tricky, and many racers never use the rear for that reason. I learned early on in the dirt that the front does most of the work, but that initial use of the rear shortens stopping distances.
I guess the bottom line is that if I kill or injure myself on a bike I want it to be completely my fault, not even partially the result of some good-intentioned but poorly thought out safety device intended for the inept.When you made the blanket ststement that the linked brakes on the XX were better, I might agree if we were talking about touring bikes. On sport bikes, you are dead wrong.
[This message has been edited by SlowHand (edited 16 December 1999).]
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