It's funny thing about Hayabusa, everyone seems to have an opinion about them. I have heard them referred to as handling pigs. "Impossible to ride on the street because they are to powerful "189 Horse Power" The reality is that it appears that VAST majority of those throwing these opinions around have never spent any real saddle time on one.
Before I go on I should tell everyone what prompted my purchase of a busa. It was 2005, I was 47 years old and had at the time a Tweaked out Victory Cruiser and a 1000 V-Strom ( I am a MORON for selling that bike) I wanted a sport bike but was LIMMITED by my size, You see at that time I was 6'2 and roughly 360 lbs ( I have since lost 130 lbs) I wanted a R1 very badly but the ergo's were impossible and the suspension changes would have been a nightmare. After calculating power to weight ratios I knew if I was going to run with the sport bikes at all it was going to need some help. So I walked into a local shob and bought a 05 LE Busa knowing that quite shortly I would turn it into a heavy breather. 40 days later it was running a Hahn Stage 1turbo putting down an Honest 235 RW HP Heli Bars and dropped the pegs using the Buell XB12 pegs. Oh and I upgraded the brakes( proving yet again that I am a moron I did this after the turbo kit) I have since losty the weight tweaked the Busa a bit further into making 267 on the rear wheel so it can be an insanely fast machine when I pour it on. (it is not an exaggeration when I say it will pull so hard it will give you tunnel vision ask Z06boy he has ridden it)
But here is the thing both the Busa bashers and the Busa worshipers both seem to miss.
This is a one of the best sport touring platforms ever made (which makes sense cause it was built to compete with Honda’s Blackbird) The low end torque makes riding in traffic a dream there is no need to dance through the gears. The longer chassis and extra weight go a long way towards eating up the bumps and the stock suspension is track worthy in the right hands.
When I go out the garage in the morning I can choose from
My 06 Goldwing, which is a great bike for changing time zones or riding in less than ideal weather (the stereo heated seas and grips, along with the GPS and CB make it great for the long hauls)
The Busa which has a great ride, and handles well. It can be as quick as I want it to be at the same time it is as well mannered and easy to ride in traffic.
My 05 999 which is great in the twisties but will pound you on rougher surfaces and the ergos make traffic difficult . I tend to ride this one when I want a thrill.
Or my 01 Victory Cruiser which is a great “Cruiser†nice for a lower speed roll thru the country side to watch the leaves turn color or work on my bikers tan.
I love all these bike but most days what I ride for my 102 mile round trip commute to work is the Busa cause it is the most versatile of the lot. I try to ignore the busa bashers ( although last year on my way to work I had to take time out of my busy morning to crush some yahoo on a R6 who was telling his friend what a pig Busa were over breakfast at Bickford then after we both left , kept the dancing back in forth beside me till I pulled the trigger and without down shifting and left him a mile or so behind me.) and the irrational Busa Worshipers who think that the Busa is the only bike in the world. (BTW I don’t get the whole stretched swing arm if you aren’t drag racing.) I like my Busa because it is the most versatile of the lot that I currently own. My philosophy is ride everything for at least 1 day then buy what you like and ride it till the wheels fall off.
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