GSX1300 "Busa"

[Spinal]

a.k.a. the please stop me before I kill myself thread....


I've been looking at one (2000 model, before the 186mph restrictions and 20k on the clock) and am very tempted to go and have a chat with the owner...

Please tell me they are worthless, that I don't want to buy it and that they rust in a few months

I remember someone here having one - what did you think of it? Is it... "manageable"? As in, can it be used on the roads or is it really pretty much only for a track?

M.

 

[kwakdonut]

I think you'll find it is a just a tad different to your V twin Italian horse mate!

You are asking, what I feel is a rhetorical question!

 

[verytalldave]

Living in a country where the weather is inclement for at least 80% of the year I fail to see the attraction of a bike, other than as a form of commuting.
It just doesnt appeal. If however, I lived in southern Spain or similar, it would be a different matter.
Bikes like the model refered are bought for one reason alone and that is to rip tarmac.
Another aspect worthy of consideration. If you are a family man and have responsibilities to others, then I just couldnt bring my self to ever say to go and buy one. If, on the other hand you are single and only have to consider yourself, then I would say the same.
On todays crowded and policed roads, it is only ever a matter of time before you either lose your licence or become an organ donor.

 

[wemorgan]

Is your daily commute blatting up and down an autobahn?

On a race track is the GSX 1300 the ultimate bike?

Do you really need more power, or to go faster do you need a better handling bike?

....are just some of the questions I'd ask myself before buying such a bike

 

[Mactech]

I think there are a few who buy because it is that fast. But we all own cars capable of at least twice the legal limit, so why not 2.5 times?
What it does do is make a great relaxed tourer because it never has to try hard. Same with our 'overpowered' cars.
Great in straight lines! Coming from an Italian V twin owner I think that's praise!

 

[Doodle]

Basically, it's for going very quickly in straight-ish lines. Great drag racing machine.

There are far better bikes for track purposes, where handling plays a bigger part than power to a certain extent. Having borrowed a K1200S last time the GSA was in for a service, it quickly became clear that there are very few opportunities to realistically use all that power.

But if you want one, you want one.

 

[st13phil]

As others have already said, the 'Busa isn't really a track bike and there are much better alternatives if that's what you want. For road use, as long as you have the self-control of a saint then they're fine. If you don't have lots of self-control then it'll be a licence shredder.

If it's been toured and fitted with luggage and/or has a non-standard exhaust then check the rear subframe carefully as they are a bit marginal if they've been overloaded.

 

[Spinal]

I kinda want one... it's more childish want for the power after being overtaken by one

My biggest concern is the handling - I don't do tracks, and my commute is a 5 minute walk... Bikes (and cars to a certain extent) for me are more of a hobby than a need.

The only time I ever commute is a week every two months when I need to attend lectures - and I tend to take the car there as I only ride in the sun...

So I think I really shouldn't buy one... but it really is tempting... I wonder if anyone rents them

I think it's best if I save the money for the pillarless I wanted... and maybe look at getting the Ducati's fairing resprayed... does anyone know a good paint garage that does bikes?

M.

 

[Seamster15]

You only live once..

However it may kill you! Great bike but to be honest I prefer the SuperBlack Bird.

 

[Ted]

I had a Laverda Jota for a short time in the late seventies - the fastest production bike in the world at the time.
I still talk about it now - one of my greatest highs.
If you want one, then nothing should stop you.
The Busa is already a legend - it will be more so in years to come - and you will be able to say "I had one" You will never regret it.

On the other hand, you have a Duke. I think you will miss it.

Hmmm.... bike buying decisions. Don't you just love it

 

[Peter DLM]

I've owned and developed several since they appeared in '99. My orginal ending up as a 1507cc carbon fibre clad/wheeled missle and a couple of turbo busas with 350hp and 600hp respectively.

They are still the ultimate in silly grin inducing road based machinery. There are a few problems with the earlier models, I'd recommend going for a 2005 model year, or later. Earlier problems should all have been sorted by now though, having said that.

They respond very well to a few cheap and easy modifications to brakes and suspension to get the best out of the hp available.

You should definitely own one, even for a short time. Road based performance opinion tends to get rewritten pretty quickly and comprehensively for Hayabusa owners.

 

[kwakdonut]

I kinda want one... it's more childish want for the power after being overtaken by one

My biggest concern is the handling - I don't do tracks, and my commute is a 5 minute walk... Bikes (and cars to a certain extent) for me are more of a hobby than a need.

The only time I ever commute is a week every two months when I need to attend lectures - and I tend to take the car there as I only ride in the sun...

So I think I really shouldn't buy one... but it really is tempting... I wonder if anyone rents them

I think it's best if I save the money for the pillarless I wanted... and maybe look at getting the Ducati's fairing resprayed... does anyone know a good paint garage that does bikes?

M.

I bought my z1000 because I love the way it looks and the power is just turbine like - I finish each ride with the biggest grin!

Yes, it has 125bhp
Yes, it can do almost 150mph (not that you would want to do that on a naked bike!)
0-60? 3.14 seconds apparently......
Yes, I think it looks superb and I love it to bits.
Yes, its no good in the wet
Yes, our weather is pants most of the time

But what the hell, on a lovely sunny day, it's the dogs........

 

[st13phil]

My biggest concern is the handling

What are you concerned about in that respect?

 

[Spinal]

What are you concerned about in that respect?

I feel that I don't have the skills to do anything more than go straight on a bike that big/powerful... that's my main concern (oh yeah, and my life )

On the other hand, you have a Duke. I think you will miss it.

I wouldn't sell the Ducati... I already have 3 bikes (all Italian) and would refuse the sell the 750... It just fills a special place in my heart-ehm, I mean garage

I think I'll wait and gain more confidence... I'm still not bored with the 750; it has more than enough power to scare me; my skills aren't at the level where the v-twin is boring...

Maybe in a few years I'll find that I've outgrown the 750 and need something more

M.

 

[Sp!ke]

Here's my old one.

The 1999 models were the full power versions. These machines are completely mental, so much so that I can't even begin to describe how fast they are to someone thats not ridden one.

Were talking 5 second 0-100mph times and 9 second 150+mph standing quarters straight out of the box. But these times mean nothing until you've experienced them for yourselves. Nothing can prepare you for the sheer power of a Busa. To give you an idea, a Hayabusa produces more torque at 3000rpm than a Yamaha R1 does at its peak at 9000 rpm.

However, a warning should come with these bikes. You *will* break the speed limits all over the place. You will also find yourself the wrong side of 180mph as soon as you find a road that will allow it. Longer term, consider that you will either kill yourself or get sent to jail if you are anything like me on a bike.

My advice if you do get one (and I recon every biker should own one of these bikes once), is to head over to www.200mph.net and enter some of their flyers or sprints and see how fast you can go legally and with relative safety. Theres a flyer coming up soon so you need to get your skates on and sign up to it pronto if your serious.

I sold the above bike 2 years ago for a mere £3000 if that helps at all with pricing. (My front brakes alone were over a grands worth). If you want me to give a prospective bike a once over let me know as I know all the places where you should be looking.

btw, the handling is actually superb. They have a long wheelbase so they are not as flickable as a dedicated race bike but they turn in very nicely and are more stable than anything else I've ridden - ever.

 

[Ted]

I'm grinning from ear to ear just looking at that!!

 

[kwakdonut]

I feel that I don't have the skills to do anything more than go straight on a bike that big/powerful... that's my main concern (oh yeah, and my life )

I mostly believe that, with respect to handling/cornering, that you will chicken out long before the bike does!!!

Unless your name is James Toseland of course.....

 

[kwakdonut]

I'm grinning from ear to ear just looking at that!!

Ditto!!!

 

[A210AMG]

0-150in 9 seconds...


Cars must be just dots in the way


Awesome

 

[mattc]

A place where i used to work had 2 ZXR 600's, a blackbird, a 595, an LT1200 and a Huyabusa. I had just done the DAS scheme (necessary to join the company) and was immdiately sent to do 2 days 1-1 with an ex police rider. The bos was the happy for me to take any bike out of the garage an time i wanted.

I went out on all of the above and the huyabusa was SCARILY fast and despite being a much nicer 'seat' for me (at 5'8") than the blackbird it simply frightened me to death. I realised I was out of my depth on that machine and the bikes abilities would soon overwhelm my very limited talents. After that I stuck to the 600's (which were still good for a genuine 150mph).

Do ask yourself what the desire is about - there are better handling bikes out there which give more pleasure....(must get myself an Aprilia 250 for track us). Whatever you decide do factor in your ability and how quickly the red mist descends for you when hedgerows and trees are just a blur - I guess I am rambling and just saying stay safe and within your own abilities.