" rode a Kawi KZ650 in '78 - '80. Sold it to have money for my honeymoon. Bought the Busa 6 months ago without riding since '80. The salesman acted like he wasn't going to let me ride it home. It's a much heavier bike than I had ever been on. I took it real easy like the book says the first 600 miles and easy the first 2500. You do have to respect this bike in everyway. But I wouldn't have anything else. "
The busa is heavier than a 650 from the late 70s/early 80s?
No offense, but I would need some data to back that up. I would bet that the KZ650 and the busa are within 20 lbs of one another on weight. I had a 1980 CB750 that weighed more than the busa does....
Now, back to the topic of TL vs the busa. I think it depends a lot on the type of riding you do. The TL is a 2 cylinder bike, and it's going to have a power curve thats a lot different than the busa. Down low, it's gonna pull, and hard. Get it wound up though, and it'll fall on its face. If i were debating between the two, and did a lot of riding in the twisties, I think I'd lean towards a TL. However, the BIG drawback to the TL, as has been mentioned, is availability of aftermarket parts. If you don't want to do a lot of customizing, then it won't be an issue for you. If you do, however, I wish you luck.
The busa is going to have a GREAT parts availability, especially since the bike has gone essentially unchanged since 1999. The hugger that fits my 2006 will probably bolt right onto someone else's 1999, etc etc.
In the end, determine your needs, determine your finances, and figure out what's going to work best for you. if possible, get some seat time on both of them so you can determine if the bike feels right to you, and go with what works.