Daily rider Busa owners?

O

OB_Cisco San Jose

Registered
Everyday Rain or Shine,top speed 80mph in the rain no problems and have to slow down on the turns.Never ride fast on the first down pour due to the oil coming up on the road way.Don't like cars due to California allows splitting lanes in traffic,depending on speed of traffic.Had more close fights while driving my car now I just cruz pass the traffic on the bike.Finding parking space is another problem with the car.Only problem in California is you have to look out for people using Cellphones while driving and FOB's or JOJ. FOB=Fresh Of the Boat; JOJ=Just Of the Jet.The Hayabusa handles great in the rain and you always have to look out for fresh sand or trash on the road that is washed there by the rain and new pot holes that seem to spring up on the freeways.Ride Safe.

[This message has been edited by Cisco San Jose (edited 28 January 2000).]
 
...I would agree that the Busa handles preety well in the rain...just dont try radical lean angles, be carful with the gas and don't try any stoppies, and you can go as fast as you like...been to well over 100mph in heavy rain on VFR, TL100R, and the Busa with no problems, on well drained roads...cross winds are another story...this bike is too sensitive to strong cross winds for me to have confidence at speed in any kind of marginal wheather, but other, more expierenced riders have said that it is not so bad compared to some other bikes of recent vintage...got caught in a heavy stom with sleet and hail in it on my DR650 recenty, and with no fairing and a dirt helment, exposed skin took quite a beating, but I din't have to slow too much...in fact, if I went to slow, my goggles would start to fog up...Joe Roket gear kept my body warm and dry, and the the brush guards did a good job at protecting my hands...too bad about my feet though...try to take a MSF class in the rain...very enlightening...
 
Apart from when the bike has been in the shop having work done, I have ridden it every day sine getting it in April last year. It is my only form of personal transportation, but the trains are so good here we ***** if we wait more than 5 minutes.

Warm dry weather the bike is capable of handling far in excess of what I can do to it. In the wet I found the Bridgestones lacked traction a bit, but compared to the Dunlop 207's they were great. No confidence in the wet with Dunlops. Avon next. At speed in the rain is great still, just gotta remember how much power can break free on the corners.

That's enough from me, I'm off to ride the beast again.
 
I don' tget the chance to ride every day. Have to go in suited and booted, bah humbug!
This is giving me problems with the bikes power, see my battery hassles post. Strange that only my Suzy is playing up though, the Hondas are boringly reliable ....
 
To answer your question, i ride every day, rain or shine by choice. I feel safer on the bussa than in a cage, including my truck.
This bikes great in the rain. No Problems other than chains and sprockets.

"Straight outta'LA"-ducmanic
 
How many of you ride your bike as your main form of transportation? If you had the chance to drive a car instead would you? Lastly do you ride your Busa in the rain and if so how does it handle?
 
I ride about 5 to 6 day's aweek, I do ride in the rain some times, but the wife get on me about that so sometimes I will take the ferry in to work. That about 34 to 60 mile aday ? It handles better then the fireblade that I had before, although the wind does get to you (45+mph) on the bridge and the little valley north ( It get buffited around )
Still on my first set of tires ? call me a fool :)

[This message has been edited by mrabusa_h (edited 28 January 2000).]
 
Was riding mine everyday, over 10,000 miles since June but now winter's here and I only get it out once in awhile. :(
I've ridden in the rain but I wasn't laying it down in the corners. I take it easy. I haven't fallen in the snow yet either. Also got Pilot Sports.

[This message has been edited by viol8r (edited 28 January 2000).]
 
Pilot sports will be available in Japan from March ! Tried the next best recommended the ME3's but they are not available here either. Anything to discourage big bikes in Japan !!!
 
My other bikes were my sole form of transportation, I was forced to ride regardless of conditions. With the busa, I borrow the car from the wife when the weather goes south. Although that doesn't happen much in Southern Cal.. I know, I've gotten soft, but I don't need the hassle of riding in the rain anymore. Plus I don't want my bike soaking wet and grimy if I can help it.
 
I ride my Busa everyday (the poor abused R1 is getting a rest these days.) starting to see a few drier days at the moment so speeds are creeping up (170 on a little A road yesterday!) at the said 170 over white lines in dampish conditions, my Busa was rock stable, my bro's ZX9-C2 (usually utterly faithful) was starting to get rather twitchy, my R1 would have lobbed me into the scenery in the same conditions.

I've done 140MPH in bad rain (racing an Impreza!) the bike was steady as a rock even fairly cranked over at that speed (slight curves on motorway (freeways) don't half look like corners at speed!) Saying that I wouldn't have even tried that on the Bridgestones, I'm on Michelin Pilot Sports now (190 rear) and they are confidence inspiring wet or dry.

Can't wait until the 1st of April (my first trackday of the year) and to embarrass a few full on sport bike owners round the twisties.

What a great bike.
 
I used to ride everyday to work on either my ST1100 or the Busa (depending upon how I felt or the weather). The ST has more weather protection and better vision to the rear. I also have auxiliary PIAA driving lights on the ST which is nice late at night.

I've put blind spot mirrors on both bikes but I still cannot see directly behind me on the busa - which is something I like.

Lately, however, the weather here in Seattle has taken a turn towards icy conditions. I have no problem what-so-ever riding in the rain but I won't ride in snow or ice.

In the rain, as has been stated in other posts, just take it easy in the turns, stay in either the inner or outer third of your lane, avoiding the center where oil tends to fall, and you shouldn't have any problems. Take it easy on your starts and stops. The busa - as you know - has alot of power and is easy to break loose. Not good in the rain.

Make sure you have some anti-fog method for your helmet visor. I use Fog City's and I clean my visors regularly.

I use a Darien jacket and pants with either my Gerbing or my Widder electrics on cold days. I've ridden in 17 degree weather with no problem. There have been times I had to do that without benefit of my electrics but I don't recommend it. ;-(

I hope this helps. Riding in the rain is second nature to me now. Just be easier on the throttle and brakes and corners. Be wary of other vehicles - even more so than normal and you shouldn't have any problems.

Joe Zulaski
Living in the Great NorthWet
 
Yep, ride her everyday to work (the bike, that is ;-))...she's parked out front right now. Best commuter bike on the planet, in my opinion. Wife takes the econobox so I have no choice. But I refuse to ride in the rain...nothing is more miserable (except riding in the rain at night).
 
Ride every day. Do a sunset ride with the wife, rain or shine. Have encountered one major problem ... in rain, with the double bubble wind screen and tank bag, I get spray under the windscreen, when open, even slightly, to the point my glasses get spray on them ... can't see very well!!!
Anyone else have problem???
Alan
 
I ride every day - wet or dry.
Have had no problems with side winds - find that i can just relax and let the bike sort itself out - no problem!
Have had occassions when after a series of short journeys (less than 3-4 miles) over a couple of days have found the bike running a bit roughly - traced to the engine breather pipe filling with water and affecting the fuel injection - easy solved by draining the pipe!
Its a great bike
 
I'm a sicko. I seek out bad weather to ride in. Heavy rain, hail, and small tornadoes turn me on. I have the OEM Bridgestones, if the Mich Pilot Sports are better rain tires I'll get those next time.
I ride to work all the time, unless I have to carry "stuff', then the Bronco.
 
With the price of gas approaching $1.40 I may be forced to commute on the 40 mpg bike as an economic necessity.

Thinking about it, that's not much of a problem.
 
I ride in all kinds of weather, to work. The bad thing about rain is that you don't get the erotic puff of tyresmoke when you put the front down after a wheelie as you would in dry conditions.
 
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