Wondering what the big deal is

[gsferrari]

Been riding single cylinder bikes in India since 1994, rode a couple of 600s, 1000s belonging to friends (never more than a couple of hours), attended MSF beginners and advanced, rode an early bird ZX-14 and Hayabusa along with friends from Texas to NC (longest time ever in a saddle of a hyperbike). Bought a Hayabusa less than a month ago.

I can safely say that I could have skipped the 600s, 1000s and the other bikes in between and gone straight from my Royal Enfield Bullet 350 to the Busa.

The Enfield:

1962 vintage
350cc
1 cylinder
2 valves
20 bhp
4 Gears (Right side gearshift)
Top speed = 120 kmh / 75mph
Front brakes = Drum Type = NEVER worked
Rear Brake = Drum type = on/off switch-like


I rode that bike for nearly a decade without [front brakes, decent suspension, powerful engine, headlamps] without having any major incidents. The minor incidents usually resulted in more damage to the object collided with...rather than my own bike.

I never used gear in India (just not a part of the culture there...even today) and I am still alive. Roads there are far worse and the traffic is unbelievable...no order...pure chaos with animals, people, trikes, buses/trucks, cars and bikes vying for tarmac real-estate.

There are more bikes in india than cars. Cagers drive around in fear there

Bikes own the roads! (Buses and Trucks really...and the cattle/wildlife that spend most of their time on the streets)



Phew...


Basically - The Busa is not any "harder to ride" or "more dangerous" than my Enfield Bullet. It has more safety features than the Bullet and the power to get me out of tricky situations.

Truth is - only YOU can get yourself into trouble on a Busa...the bike by itself is quite easy to ride at a decent pace. Finding that extra pace on a consistent basis is where skilled riders will flourish and squids will get killed.

 

[LABusa]

Very well put, maturity, not age, will keep you on good terms with this machine.

 

[TALYN]

Very well put, maturity, not age, will keep you on good terms with this machine.

+1

 

[gwhunran]

I had a little surprise today. I was in pretty heavy traffic stopped at a traffic light, in a left lane that merged in (ran out) a couple hundred yards past the light. So, my intention was to take off a "little fast," to merge ahead of the pack. Well, I got on the throttle a little too heavy and up comes the front wheel after about 20 yards. I did not intend to do it and was a little embarrassed. I'm sure all the surrounding traffic got a favorable impression of me and my busa. Luckily there were no police around at the time. So, yes the bike can surprise and scare you if you aren't careful.

 

[moeluv]

to much throttle can lead to to late.... ride safe the busa is a bike that you cannot panic on if you do it will bite you. a simple bump and a wuick pull of the throttle and off you go

 

[rc51ny]

I think I probably started riding when most of the guys here were still wetting themselves. Got the 'busa in January '06 after owning many other bikes. All I can say is this: If I owned this bike when I was in my 20's I would be dead now! I'm speaking for myself, not others. Even now, I find myself "turning up the tourch" every now and then. It just happens so quick and effortlessly, that it's easy to do. I find myself stretching the limits---and then I smack myself in the head and return to normal. In the end, this bike will lull you into a feeling of "GO FOR IT" riding. Just be careful!!

 

[gsferrari]

I agree on the "smack myself on the head" part - TOTALLY!

I do this repeatedly when I ride...talk to myself to stay within my limits and skill level.

I encourage everyone to try this - when you think you are going sligtly over the limit - talk yourself down and back off. The Busa is so amazing to ride even at slow speeds that I dont feel the urge for high speed blasts on public roads.

The problem is that when cagers see a bike - they want to go faster than it. I've had kids in beemers and souped up imports try and race me off the lights. Happens almost EVERY time...

I simply let them win and go home happy...

The knowledge that you have the power and the maturity to CHOOSE whether to exercise that power or not - that is the difference between you and the rest. You have nothing to prove by winning a drag against an import

 

[TheDude27]

The big deal is Torque + Corrner + piss poor cornering technique (on/off throttle) that just about every noob has = much worse on this bike. Also the smoothness and weight makes it easier to overshoot a corner.

Yes, unless you are completly inept you can probably ride it fine in a straight line.

 

[busa_bill]

Wow! This thread is still going !?!?!

I think everyone has different goals. Mine is to have a fantastic looking DD that also scratches the occasional thrill itch.
Just because I don't corner like a kid on a CBR600RR, don't make me less. If going in a straight line and slow twisties makes me happy, its all good.

The reason for this thread was to inform the less than experienced rider who carries a sense of maturity that there is nothing to fear from this bike. Somebody who rides a Busa to carry the front wheel every time they're out needs to understand not everyone rides that way.

To each his own.