Doodle
MB Enthusiast
Indeed, but unfortunately it doesn't corner itself. It can get you into trouble very very quickly, but you have to get yourself out of it...which you can't do if locked stiff with fear
Indeed, but unfortunately it doesn't corner itself. It can get you into trouble very very quickly, but you have to get yourself out of it...which you can't do if locked stiff with fear
Having riden bikes for the past 25 years, I loved my Busa and I miss it to this day!
I spent a lot of time on road and track riding a CBR600 which had a blade engine, great handling and v.v. fast- def. wolf in sheeps clothing.
Had a Blackbird from new in 1998 and found it boring and also no feel, I had no idea how far I could get it over in a corner and on trackdays it was a liability.
Bought the Busa new in 1999 from a garage in S. London for £7k and used it to commute to work from Witham into Lower Thames street in London every day for a year, I also used it for fun on Sundays when I used to blast around the Hertfordshire/Essex borders for that year, great lazy bike to ride- could really take the corners well but had more fun letting the chancers take me on the corners and then fly past them on every straight!!! It eventually got stolen from outside my door, exactly a year to the day that I bought it!!! All chained up and alarmed but picked up at 4am and thrown in the back of a transit van- never seen again.
Then with the insurance money I bought an R1 which was o.k. but boring after the Busa.
So I say get one while you can- by the way I have never come a cropper while riding on the road and I do not ride slowly. Maybe coz. I used to ride Motorcross GP before!!!
I spent a lot of time on road and track riding a CBR600 which had a blade engine, great handling and v.v. fast- def. wolf in sheeps clothing.
Had a Blackbird from new in 1998 and found it boring and also no feel, I had no idea how far I could get it over in a corner and on trackdays it was a liability.
Bought the Busa new in 1999 from a garage in S. London for £7k and used it to commute to work from Witham into Lower Thames street in London every day for a year, I also used it for fun on Sundays when I used to blast around the Hertfordshire/Essex borders for that year, great lazy bike to ride- could really take the corners well but had more fun letting the chancers take me on the corners and then fly past them on every straight!!! It eventually got stolen from outside my door, exactly a year to the day that I bought it!!! All chained up and alarmed but picked up at 4am and thrown in the back of a transit van- never seen again.
Then with the insurance money I bought an R1 which was o.k. but boring after the Busa.
So I say get one while you can- by the way I have never come a cropper while riding on the road and I do not ride slowly. Maybe coz. I used to ride Motorcross GP before!!!
Ted
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CBR600! Lovely bike
Daughter No1 had a beauty which she let me ride occasionally.
Daughter No1 had a beauty which she let me ride occasionally.
V12
MB Enthusiast
I grew up with my dad having stupidly fast bikes like the old zzr-1100 and i remember the first time i got on the back of his blackbird back in 1997 and remembering thinking that it was impossible to go so fast...
Now that i've ridden a fair few bikes i've come to learn that you get used to almost anything you ride.
Big, really powerful bikes really can't be used to their full potential on our roads but i do feel a lot safer doing high speeds on a blackbird or a busa than even my own CBR600. After the modifications i've had done it's been dyno'd at 128bhp, which is still so so much lower than a busa but i use my bike daily to commute and it's brilliant at what it does.
It's worth getting one so that you can simply blip the throttle to pass 12 cars on a country road
Now that i've ridden a fair few bikes i've come to learn that you get used to almost anything you ride.
Big, really powerful bikes really can't be used to their full potential on our roads but i do feel a lot safer doing high speeds on a blackbird or a busa than even my own CBR600. After the modifications i've had done it's been dyno'd at 128bhp, which is still so so much lower than a busa but i use my bike daily to commute and it's brilliant at what it does.
It's worth getting one so that you can simply blip the throttle to pass 12 cars on a country road
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A great description of the insanity that is a 'Busa. I still think that the way the horizon leaps towards you as you accelerate is one of the most astonishing and addictive motoring sensations
rf065
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Looking at the Hayabusa, it struck me how bikes have changed drastically in the last few years, not so long ago this was a fast bike, but looks like a relic compared to modern machines. After the introduction of radial tyres for bikes, they seemed to progress rapidly.
Russ
Russ
Sp!ke
Administrator
The other major difference is the comparison in the way they handle.
Your GPZ1100 would have been a real handful to ride spiritedly, requiring a great deal of input from the rider and at times, quite some muscle whereas a modern sports bike feels really light and nimble (yes, even a busa) and you can literally 'think' them round corners without ever needing to do much in the way of controlling it.
The hardest part is restraining your right wrist.
The jelly mould CBR 600 from 1986/7 was the first bike to fully fair itself IIRC.
Your GPZ1100 would have been a real handful to ride spiritedly, requiring a great deal of input from the rider and at times, quite some muscle whereas a modern sports bike feels really light and nimble (yes, even a busa) and you can literally 'think' them round corners without ever needing to do much in the way of controlling it.
The hardest part is restraining your right wrist.
The jelly mould CBR 600 from 1986/7 was the first bike to fully fair itself IIRC.
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I can certainly understand the pull of a 'busa. There is no doubt having ridden a few that they are silly quick in a straight line.
But I have ridden many bikes that make you smile in different ways.
Oddly the biggest smile I got was on one of the smallest bikes.
I had paid for it and prepared it for my son to race, so just had to have a go after the race season on a GP125 race bike....the corner speed is outrageous!
This is me at Paddock Hill Brands…only the dark visor hides the grin!
But I have ridden many bikes that make you smile in different ways.
Oddly the biggest smile I got was on one of the smallest bikes.
I had paid for it and prepared it for my son to race, so just had to have a go after the race season on a GP125 race bike....the corner speed is outrageous!
This is me at Paddock Hill Brands…only the dark visor hides the grin!
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Doodle
MB Enthusiast
Russ, the big Zed is now nearly 30 years old. Compare it to some Brit iron from the 50's and there will be a similar gulf in technology.
shorty
MB Enthusiast
I have only riden a Busa once , about 3 years ago , and WOW ! there fast , but they are also comfortable and have a low seat . I am looking out for one at the moment ,the Blade that I have is a great bike and as quick as you will never need , Ihave seen 180mph on the speedo , but it really lacks comfort , but the Busa , ther comfoy ,and fast .
All modern sports bikes are fast , but it donn't mean they need to be ridden fast all the time , owning a Busa is I think as much about going as being able to go fast if you chose . If I where you I would go for the bike , but with 20k on the clock check the down pipes and rear shock , if these have not been changed they soon will need to be , also expect to do a fork rebuild
All modern sports bikes are fast , but it donn't mean they need to be ridden fast all the time , owning a Busa is I think as much about going as being able to go fast if you chose . If I where you I would go for the bike , but with 20k on the clock check the down pipes and rear shock , if these have not been changed they soon will need to be , also expect to do a fork rebuild
lil.smartie
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Quick bike but bloomin heavy (OK I'm a girl but still!) I loved my CBR6 Rossi Rep but I worked for a few bike shops so rode some nice toys too Loved the look on a blokes face when he'd just been out ridden by a girl, we had good contacts at Thruxtons so got track time quite often and I know the track pretty well!
Very different to your V-Twin which may or may not be a good thing!
Kate
Loved the look on a blokes face when he'd just been out ridden by a girl, we had good contacts at Thruxtons so got track time quite often and I know the track pretty well!Very different to your V-Twin which may or may not be a good thing!
Kate
rf065
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Appreciate that but mine was bought new in August 1983 & as Sp!ke says, the CBR600 was out in 1986/87, so big changes in looks around that time alone. I still reckon radial tyres totally changed bikes around the same time, allowing higher speeds and more grip. Suspension & chassis technology changed track completely to take advantage of the new tyres levels of adhesion.
Brit iron from the 50's was stuck in a time warp & would still be the same today if the Japs had not come along. Look at Harley Davidson in the US for example.
Russ
Doodle
MB Enthusiast
Mmm...once the Japanese machines arrived, things started moving ahead...the CB750 especially gave the world a kick up the backside. But because the GPz11 appeared not long before a "big leap" it seems even more outdated. It's still visually very similar to the Z1 some 10 years earlier; the technology has moved on a little but not by huge amounts.
1985 and the GSXR turns up - the beginning of the race rep era.
1987 brings the CBR6 (so not the first fully faired )
The Fireblade moved things on again in 1993.
etc etc etc
1985 and the GSXR turns up - the beginning of the race rep era.
1987 brings the CBR6 (so not the first fully faired
)The Fireblade moved things on again in 1993.
etc etc etc
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rf065
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Doodle
MB Enthusiast
Yup...first disc brakes and first "across the frame four" on a mainstream machine. Suddenly everything else (exotica excepted) looked like horse-drawn carts in comparison.
kraftwerk
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I have this 1999 model in rare factory Suzuki racing colours.
Bought to replace the Blackbird I sold when I bought the SL. Taking it to Europe in June - France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland. Can't wait. The Hayabusa makes no sense whatsoever in town, but I use this every day...
Honda CB1100 SF-Y X11. A superb, rare and underrated bike. The perfect town tool, in my opinion.
Also have this for the odd hoon...
Bought to replace the Blackbird I sold when I bought the SL. Taking it to Europe in June - France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland. Can't wait. The Hayabusa makes no sense whatsoever in town, but I use this every day...
Honda CB1100 SF-Y X11. A superb, rare and underrated bike. The perfect town tool, in my opinion.
Also have this for the odd hoon...
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Ted
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MODS!!!! ban that man for posting porn!!!!!!
Leemc2008
Active Member
Hayabusa's are awesome bikes.. and make in my opinion.. they are closer to a sports tourer than an out and out sports bike.
Yes, they are very very very fast.. but your the rider and you control the throttle..
My Dad bought a new one couple years ago.. and still says even after selling it buying an FJR1300 now that the Hayabusa was the best bike ever, and most comfortable. I'm looking at one but after my accident and losing my 3 years NCB.. will have to wait another 3-4 years before I can get insurance.
Get a newer one.. after the restriction..
K2/K3 age.. if you can afford it.
Yes, they are very very very fast.. but your the rider and you control the throttle..
My Dad bought a new one couple years ago.. and still says even after selling it buying an FJR1300 now that the Hayabusa was the best bike ever, and most comfortable. I'm looking at one but after my accident and losing my 3 years NCB.. will have to wait another 3-4 years before I can get insurance.
Get a newer one.. after the restriction..
K2/K3 age.. if you can afford it.
OP
OP
Spinal
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Insurance is another issue... 23 with an accident 4 years ago... still no blame decided ironically enough!
The busa is on hold for now; I have a pretty large want-list
(Including a few days at the california biking school, which cost almost as much as the gsx1300!)
M.
The busa is on hold for now; I have a pretty large want-list
(Including a few days at the california biking school, which cost almost as much as the gsx1300!)M.
CE230
Active Member
Buy it and when you finally become scared of it stick the engine in a Smart. 
I had a gorgeous full power V-Max about 10 years ago and although it cornered like a barrow load of wet cement the straight line speed was awesome. Left a 55 AMG dead on the A38 at silly speeds even though the wobble (Induced by a bad frame design) was trouser staining the grin is returning as I type.
Not mine but the same colour and model
I had a gorgeous full power V-Max about 10 years ago and although it cornered like a barrow load of wet cement the straight line speed was awesome. Left a 55 AMG dead on the A38 at silly speeds even though the wobble (Induced by a bad frame design) was trouser staining the grin is returning as I type.
Not mine but the same colour and model
