Sorry, slam. I can't hear your laughing. I'm first in line for a 12R at my dealer (no deposit required) and couldn't be happier. If you'd read any of my posts here, at the ZX12R site or at labusas, I'm not nor will I make "excuses" for the 12R. I'm not crawling under any rocks or holding my head in shame. Any published, rumored or spoken "facts" of the 12's ablitity or inability to beat the Busa at anything, means nothing to me. Never did and never will.
Reported 1/4 mile speeds and times and top speeds are numbers attained by professional riders and journalists. Maybe I'm a wuss, but they are numbers I neither have the skill or the balls to attain. It wouldn't matter if I was on a 12R, a Busa or a Bandit. It'd never happen.
My reasons for buying a 12R are rather simple. I like it and I feel I'd be happy with it. It has nothing to do with brand loyalty. Dealer loyalty, maybe, but not brand loyalty. If you've ever read some of my posts, you'd see that I feel that the Hayabusa is, and always will be a benchmark in motorcycle design.
The only reasons it wasn't considered in my plans of buying a new bike is my dealer loyalty and that my local Suzuki dealer is probably the worst in the nation for sales, parts and most importantly, service. This is just my opinion of this dealer. My personal experiences I've had with them, with the Suzukis I've owned and currently own are why.
I could go 30 to 100 miles to another Suzuki dealer, but I'd rather not trailer my bike every time I need services I can't do myself (i.e. recalls). I am also good and close friends with the owners of the local Honda / Yamaha dealership. In 28 years of riding, I've owned a few Hondas and Yamahas, as well.
The 929 and R1 are both bikes I wouldn't mind having and they would work well for where and how I ride. I just enjoy the relationship I have with my current Kawaski dealer and their service more than the others.
Over the past 3 years, I've rode over 67,000 miles of Arkansas' back highways on my '97 7R. I've been pleased with it's performance and durability. All the modifications and almost all the repairs, I've done myself and I was always happy with the results. I hope my 12R will give me the same pleasure my 7R has, but only time will tell.
If I spend $2000 more for something that isn't as fast, good looking or what ever, as the Hayabusa, it will not wipe the smile off my face. I might be an idiot, but I'll be a happy idiot. So when you blow past me on your Busa, I'll wave. You'll know it's me. I'm the happy "idiot" with that s**t eating grin.
[This message has been edited by redelk (edited 09 February 2000).]
