Thinking of a Busa

[SWSVENDING]

I am a responsible adult with Perer Pan as my idol and I am thinking of a Busa. I have been on bikes since I was 13 and am now 46. I pesently own a VTX and I am about to scrape the pegs off it. I have never owned or rode a sportbike before.(dirt bikes, crusiers and older standards) A dealer buged me into going on a 30 to 45 min. ride with him and he put me on a Busa. WOW! I thought my X was a hoss, but the Busa blew me away. Need to keep the X for touring with my significant other, but would love to have the Busa as a second bike. Will the differences between the two only serve to get me killed?

 

[jwcfbd]

Welcome to the board. I think the biggest thing is that you will just have to remember which bike you're riding. There are plenty of people that have made the switch from crusiers to sportbikes and have had little if any problems. Just take it easy and get use to the bike and you should be fine.

 

[FLCN72]

I would think that you would be fine on the Busa.  Yeah, it is very powerful and fast but if you are an experienced rider with a touch of common sense there is no need to fear it.

Heck, there are some guys on the board who bought a Busa as a first bike.  Not that I'd recommend it, but it can be done.  

In many ways the Busa is an easy bike to ride.  It has loads of torque but can be gentle if you don't get heavy-handed with the throttle.  There is always plenty of power avaliable to scoot away from trouble and proper gear selection isn't critical.  It'll pull quite well from as low as 3000 RPMs.

Though it is heavy for a sport bike, you are coming from a cruiser background and the Busa will be comparitively light next to the VTX.  It is comfy and even the passenger accomidations aren't terrible.  The bike is stable and the brakes are strong, but also smoooth and not grabby.

Yes, the Busa can get you into trouble if you aren't careful.  It gathers speed in a hurry, so those corners can come up pretty quick.  You might need to readjust your sense of timing in the twisties.

 

[Gator]

Personally, I think there are two important factors. Maturity and experience, in that order. You seem to have both.

She does tend to be a seductive misstress though. It's not that she goes so fast, its that she goes fast so easy. Take your time and learn to give her the love and respect she deserves.

Oh yea, about keeping the VTX for 2-up riding, you might be suprised, my wife loves riding on the back of the Busa. Its a very comfortable bike. The closest thing to a perfect bike I've ever ridden.

Enjoy

 

[SWSVENDING]

Thanks for the info. Sometimes a second opinion is needed, especialy when your wants and desires can overload your good sense. Don't ask my wife about the busted ribs from riding in the dirt this summer. Her reply in the ER for the reason of the accident was DUMB A**.

 

[dezzy7]

Yeah with that much experience you should have no problems. Just remember you got a lot more orque and horsepower in your right hand than you had before

 

[Revlis]

Well More Horsepower anyway, VTX makes at least equal torque. I agree with what the others have said, the Busa is not a hard bike to ride, the reason we give new riders so much cautionary advice is not because the Busa is a beast, it's because it's so easy to get in over your head on it in a hurry... But with a few good years of experiance under your belt the Busa is just a pussycat with a serious darkside.... gotta love it.

 

[pure_ego]

i think you'd be one happy dude with the busa personally.. my wife also really like doublin' on the busa.. no complaints at all.

 

[RaveCrusader]

I am thinking of one myself. I am not sure if I want a Busa or a GSX-R 1000. I am a bit torn. I rode my buddies Busa a few months ago and I like the feel better then the other GSX-R's. I am a big guy and I like the heavier feel of the Busa. I have been to all the Suzuki shops here in Vegas but I am still undecided.

I recently sold my other 2 bikes and I really want something that is not short on power. I had a 99 Katana 750 and a Magna 750. Both nice but I really got the feel that were a bit underpowered when I needed it. The Busa also seems to be a bit more comfortable to me then the GSX-R 1000. Comfort is a factor more now then when I was younger.

I still am a little gun shy about the Busa to be completely honest. That is a ton of power and I know that a little power can go to ones head very quickly. I have been thinking about it for about the last 6 months just to be sure that I am really read for this kind of powerhouse. I have rode all over the southwest on trips up to 1200 miles but this place (Las Vegas) seems to be particularly dangerous. I am not sure if it is the rapid growth or the fact that everything is under construction here but people are not keen at looking for riders. I have worked in Healthcare for about 10 years now and I am well aware of the added dangers here.

My brother, a paramedic here in Vegas, just bought a Bandit 1200. It is nice but is just not sleek enough for me. I like the purple and black paint scheme for this year the best. They have one of the special addition Busa’s still for sale but I am not to into the solid red coloring. Since my brother just bought a Bandit and one of my good friends from work is getting a Katana 750 in about 2 weeks I think that it is decision time.

Anyone else go through anything like this in their pre-Busa days or am I just a whiney bitch?

 

[DarkerThanNight1300]

Rave,
How big ARE you? I consider myself a big guy, 6'3" 220lbs, 36 inch inseam. Youll last an hour tops on a new gixxer, 1000 or not. the 600, 750, and 1000 all have the same basic ergos....ergos that are BAD for us bigger guys!! The hayabusa sits low for sure, but is still very large body friendly. Nice and stretched out. Plus, theres a ton of aftermarket accessories to make the Bus FIT better (heli-bar risers, repositioned foot pegs, aftermarket seats, etc) plus, the gixxer (along with all the other 1000-engine-stuffed-in-a-600-body bikes out there) AINT gonna carry signifigant others on the back like the Bus if the need should arise. Take a look at the rear passenger pillion on those bikes...a JOKE! They are sometimes referred to as "maxi-pads" for a reason! Another good way to help your decision: have someone take a digital pic of you sitting on a gixxer and then on a Busa. I saw myself in the mirror sitting on an RC51 at the dealer (i looked ridiculous) and that immediately pushed me off the fence towards the Busa I have now owned and loved for 2 years.

 

[RaveCrusader]

I am 6’4â€￾ and about 250lbs. You make a really good point. I had not really thought about that. I would like to take my girl on rides and I’ll bet that the back seat on that Busa is a lot more comfortable for her as well.

I think that you are right. The Busa would be the better choice. Thanks for your input, it is a real help.

This is what I looked like on my Buddies Busa a few months ago.

 

[DarkerThanNight1300]

Looks like a good fit me, man!

 

[BigBSBusa]

Rave, I like you, had a Kat 750 and quickly felt that I had exceeded its capabilities.  I first saw the Hayabusa when looking at the Kat, but didn't like it because of the hump (I didn't realize you could remove it at the time).  After riding the Kat for a couple months I would go into the dealer and sit on the 'Busa about once a week.  It wasn't long before I started talking to him about upgrading.  I went to a few other dealers trying to trade the Kat while finding information on the web.  I wound up getting deployed to Kuwait in preparation for the war and decided my return gift would be a 'Busa.  It was a great day when I finally got it.  I'm 6'3" and about 210 and feel quite comfortable on this bike.  I love the fact that you have so much power and really don't need to use it.  I also love the fact that most other bikes give it such respect.  There is nothing I don't like about it and I'm sure you will enjoy it as well.

SWSVending, I just bought a Suzuki Volusia and had a little trouble getting used to the forward nature of the controls but not much.  I still forget from time to time, but it's not bad.  Just make sure you are careful because you are probably used to having to open the throttle much more than you would need to on the 'Busa.  Take it slow in the beginning and you will be okay.

Hope both of you enjoy the bike and welcome to the board!



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[DaddyPhatSaks]

i hae ridden a couple 1000's and a busa once! well anyway i am 6'3 205 and own a 00' r1 and have plenty of room not cramped at all same with the 1000 but i do admit the busa does feel a little more comfy not by much in book though so i think it comes down to what you want , i think just from reading your posts that busa would be a better fit for you than a 1000 anyway good luck and drive safe

 

[flyboy]

I went from a V-Rod to a Busa and will never go back. I'm 46 now and planning on riding a Busa until I can't no more. Just be careful, she is nice, but will bite! Now go get her and show us some pics.

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[DarkerThanNight1300]

I guess my arms and legs must be particularly long for my 6'3" height, cuz ive ridden and/or sat on all the new 600s and 1000 open classers and i cant see myself owning one to ride on a regular basis. The CBR 929/954s and ZX9s are the last of them that i fit on with any sort of comfort...and those bikes are history now. The old CBR900's were actually VERY comfy bikes considering their nature, but tanks by todays standards. seems like the trend of bikes is more suited to the japanese horse jockeys who ride for factory teams than for street riders. Guess im "stuck" with the Bus! Poor me!

 

[SierraFlyer]

Yeah - Poor You........

 

[VTXEPR]

I too own a VTX and just purchased a 04 Blue/Silver Busa. Im keeping both bikes and just sold a 04 Yamaha FJR1300. I kept the VTX for two up riding. Just use common sense and take it easy till you get the feel for the power of the Busa. Its a blast to ride and the most fun Ive had on two wheels. I say absolutely go for it!

 

[RaveCrusader]

Right on... I appreciate everyone’s feedback and support. The input that I have received here has been very helpful. I will certainly post up some pics of my new Busa on the strip here as soon as I pick it up. Should only be a couple of weeks.

Thanks again everyone.

 

[RaveCrusader]

Right on... I appreciate everyone’s feedback and support.  The input that I have received here has been very helpful.  I will certainly post up some pics of my new Busa on the strip here as soon as I pick it up.  Should only be a couple of weeks.  

Thanks again everyone.

I could not wait. I got mine yesterday. Purple and Black. Just another 950 miles to go until I am through the break in period.

What a bike... Holly poop that thing is powerful.