Hello friends. I hate to bore you with my problems but here goes. I've ridden for 37 years. Had many bikes. I put a deposit down on a 08 busa. I thought I really wanted this bike. But the reason I got rid of my zx-11 was after nailing the gas 20 times then what? I really love the turns. The rush of acceleration is cool but after so many times it gets old. My last bike was a Buell. Handled great but just too slow. I have 4 catagories I judge bikes on. Performance, comfort, handling and most importatant, FUN FACTOR. I also really like the Yamaha FZ1. They have one at the dealer with the Busa so it be an easy switch. I know no one likes to bad mouth the Busa. But I need to know. Is it a porky brute trying to get thru the turns? If it wasn't for the motor would it be an overwieght slug? Can you say it is a fun bike to ride? Is it comfortable? I'm almost 50 and take riding serious. I do about 50/50 highway and backroads. Any input would be appreciated and please be honest. Thanks
Truth about bike
- Thread starter Doug T
- Start date
Let me try this out. I ride a modified Kawasaki zrx1200. It is a great all around bike . I could ride it any where anytime and it is "fun". One three hour ride on a Hayabusa made me realize that the zrx is quite inferior. The Hayabusa does everything so well that it is effortless. The voracious yet subtle way it eats up pavement has to be experienced. It is so competent without requiring any effort from the rider that it is in a class all by itself. I am buying a 2008 in the next week or so. If you do not want a Hayabusa then DO NOT try one. Toughest part about riding a Hayabusa is keeping it under 80 mph. It sort of slowly wakes up around there. Soon you will be well over 150 and wondering how it happened so suddenly with no fuss at all. The bike is competent,competent,competent. Porky? I think not.
More rocket than twistie machine... more twistie machine than cruiser.... more hyper than laid back...
Best sportbike: nope
Best cruiser: never
Best blend of both with a dose of ballistic qualities? IMO, yes I have not had this much fun with a bike since I bought my first 750F Honda in 81
Best sportbike: nope
Best cruiser: never
Best blend of both with a dose of ballistic qualities? IMO, yes I have not had this much fun with a bike since I bought my first 750F Honda in 81
I have had just about everthing too. I like them all but for different reasons. I went with the 08 busa for one reason. It was easier to turbo it than the zx14. I know this won't go over well here but the 14 is an all around better feeling bike. The power is great and it is like riding around on a couch, much like the zx11. It handles well for a big bike too. I don't think the FZ1 is comparable to a busa or a 14, it is just a different animal.
If you are wanting the most comfortable, great handling, and excellent power give the 14 a try. You will love it. Not to mention the power delivery and the transmission are so smooth you will catch yourself in the triple digits and not even realize it.
Just my 2 cents.
If you are wanting the most comfortable, great handling, and excellent power give the 14 a try. You will love it. Not to mention the power delivery and the transmission are so smooth you will catch yourself in the triple digits and not even realize it.
Just my 2 cents.
specialtychef
Registered
Steve,
IMHO, you are in the wromg bracket,and I do not mean web site. However there must be a kawisuki site for you out there.!!! This is for Busa riders, not kawasukis... show us the photo of your 08 turbo busa....specfics
IMHO, you are in the wromg bracket,and I do not mean web site. However there must be a kawisuki site for you out there.!!! This is for Busa riders, not kawasukis... show us the photo of your 08 turbo busa....specfics
ANIMALEONE
Registered
I believe he already did.. check the threads.....
LOL, I knew it would not go over well,,lol. I meant no harm. I promise,,lol.
I have had them all. Every bike has it's good points and bad. I am not a hater of any manufacturer, I like them all.
If anyone here has ever owned both of them at the same time and ridden them on a daily basis you would know what I mean. It REALLY does not make you a hater to prefer one over the other for certain reasons.
I have had them all. Every bike has it's good points and bad. I am not a hater of any manufacturer, I like them all.
If anyone here has ever owned both of them at the same time and ridden them on a daily basis you would know what I mean. It REALLY does not make you a hater to prefer one over the other for certain reasons.
ANIMALEONE
Registered
if i were him, id be betting also you didnt have a 08 busa already built up pretty good, and have pix already posted...LOL, I knew it would not go over well,,lol. I meant no harm. I promise,,lol.
I have had them all. Every bike has it's good points and bad. I am not a hater of any manufacturer, I like them all.
If anyone here has ever owned both of them at the same time and ridden them on a daily basis you would know what I mean. It REALLY does not make you a hater to prefer one over the other for certain reasons.
but comparing two bikes with comments made by others is crazy (busa vs 14)... buy both, try them, then sell the one u dont like, or build it up to compare with the other.
ctkiteboarding
Registered
the truth is
?? sounds like you want a gsx 1000
+1
I love my Busa and would not want anything else, but ctkiteboarding has a good point...
The GSX1000R is an incredible bike... Light and extremely powerful. Handles the backroads and twisties very well.. Sounds more like what you may want.. As for me, The Busa is KING !!!!
I love my Busa and would not want anything else, but ctkiteboarding has a good point...
The GSX1000R is an incredible bike... Light and extremely powerful. Handles the backroads and twisties very well.. Sounds more like what you may want.. As for me, The Busa is KING !!!!
Rayabusa0818
Never Forgotten
I agree that the GSXR 1K may fit your riding style better than the BUSA, but both are incredible bikes.
I love my busa. It's a cruiser and a twisty bike all in one.. and we all know straight shots is where it reins.
I'm 5'5", and even if I do weigh a "bit" more than an average woman, I can nail it around some corners... for hours.
I don't think it is a "a porky brute trying to get thru the turns". Or an "overwieght slug". And Yes it is "a fun bike to ride"... every time I ride it.
I'm 5'5", and even if I do weigh a "bit" more than an average woman, I can nail it around some corners... for hours.
I don't think it is a "a porky brute trying to get thru the turns". Or an "overwieght slug". And Yes it is "a fun bike to ride"... every time I ride it.
It is all about the rider and your own personality, I have on occasion found myself seriously contemplating buying a GSXR1K for the simple fact that I love to ride the twisties, but the one time I rode my buddies, after about 10 minutes I found myself wanting him to pull over so I can get back on her. It is funny now that I also ride with a friend that has a CBR1K, several times he has asked me "do ya want to swap bikes for a bit?", I have not wanted to yet. As for the 14, the difference also is in how a bike looks and its reliability. I rode Kawasakis for a long time back in the late 80's and early 90's, I bought a Busa because I wanted a hyperbike with no reliability worries. Just from browsing the internet I have found a lot of talk about frame problems with the 14. That worries me, not a lot though, I am already riding a Busa.
Wow, thanks for all the replies! Keep em' coming! Several stick in my mind. The one about a competent machine really hits home. A gsxr definitely wont work. Way to uncomfortable. My buddy owns one, I can last about 20 minutes. Back, neck, wrists, forget it. I see I do have one taker on the FZ-1. This is gonna be a tough one. I appreciate your honesty.
proud dad
Registered
I've had a 05 FZ1,never riden the newer one.The only reason I went to the busa was stability above 100.The FZ1 would get extremely light at 130.Busa is more stabile at triple digit speeds than it is on the kickstand sitting still.Two differant machines.If ya don't think you'll ever run above 120+ alot,buy the FZ1.It will handle,the 06 and newer will handle better than the old FZ1.More rider friendly at lower speeds.Just depends what ya want out of your machine.I've had both machines.
Ride-n-Dive
Registered
Hey Doug! I've been reading through the replies and decided to add my input. I am personally trying to decide whether or not to get an '08 14 or an '08 Busa myself. Both bikes are amazing machines although I would have to agree with Steve P as far as the 14 being more comfortable but I also agree with CBlast regarding the damn frames coming apart. Have you thought about trying the Kawi C-14 for your purposes? It is a comfortable and powerful bike and may fit more into what you are looking for. But if you like the Busa then go for it! The Busa is no slug and the '08 handles even BETTER than the old one. Despite the extra weight it has put on you really do not notice it when the thing takes flight.
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