My buddy got a Busa

Chain · 08-24-2003, 6:46 PM

A 40th Anniversary Commemorative Edition at that! (Okay okay, so I get a little excited about 'busas. I love 'em, what can I say.)

I realize now that I've committed a cardinal sin in not photographing his motorcycle in direct sunlight. It's so full of metal-flake it actually casts the pavement next to it in an orange hue (when the sun's hitting it). Absolutely dazzling! You have to see it in person to believe it.

We had a great morning ride. It was still relatively cool then, and he laid out a superb route. Plenty of pretty scenery, some rolling hills, a couple long straights to exploit the power between the two of us ( ~300 rwhp between those two motorcycles, ahhh the delicious excess! ) with a few stops for cigarettes and leg stretching. *

We swapped rides for about 15 miles and we both enjoyed the other guy's machine alot. It was fun to be back on a Hayabusa, and the steam turbine power that behemoth possesses as low as 3-4k is stellar - 1300cc's worth of ground pounding grunt. When it sits and idles, the whole bike just throbs. That's the fourth Hayabusa I've ridden and it's still impressive.

While he was piloting the Honda, Larry blitzed me in a shrieking 2nd gear pass from about 60 miles per hour. I clicked down on the Suzuki and was somewhat surprised that I couldn't get him reeled in. (A buck-forty on either machine is pretty damned easy.)

After coming to a stop at a gas station up the road so we could buy some bottled water, Larry could smoke, and we could switch back bikes, he seemed genuinely surprised.

'I've ridden a 929, but never a 954. *That really rips hard when you spin it!'

How could I not take that as a huge compliment coming from a guy who's used to riding a 165 hp ICBM on two wheels? (This is his second Hayabusa.)

Chain · 08-24-2003, 6:47 PM

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Chain · 08-24-2003, 6:47 PM

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Chain · 08-24-2003, 6:48 PM

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Chain · 08-24-2003, 6:49 PM

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maxib · 08-24-2003, 6:54 PM

Maybe it's just me, but I didn't like sitting on one in the showroom. I guess the ergos weren't right for me.

As for Behemoth, got that right. Just look at that pic with both together. I rather like the 600 sized 954.

I'll bet that color is awesome in person. Gotta get better pics chain.

Am I correct...did he put Throttlemeister bar ends on it?

Chain · 08-24-2003, 6:58 PM

Quote:

maxib : I'll bet that color is awesome in person. *Gotta get better pics chain.

Am I correct...did he put Throttlemeister bar ends on it?

The color is stunning in person.

I'm kicking myself for having taken such poor shots (in the driveway, no backdrop of interest, poor light from being in the early morning shadows, etc), but I'll get some good ones out in the sunlight next time we go out. We were in a hurry to hit the road.

Yep, those are the 'heavy polished' version of Throttlemeister bar ends. I've got the same things in brushed.

Bacchus · 08-24-2003, 7:12 PM

What mods does he have in mind? *Perhaps these? *
.http://www.fireblades.org/iB_html/up...busa_trike.jpg

Chain · 08-24-2003, 9:21 PM

Check out the disc lock on the front wheel Bacchus! Like someone would steal that piece of

pczach · 08-24-2003, 9:31 PM

Chain, did I hear you correctly? Did a Hayabusa owner actually say the 954 'rips' when you spin it. I'm glowing and the compliment was for your bike! I think we all come up with a mental image or idea of how other bikes would feel for bikes we havn't ridden, so we are suprised when we actually get to ride one for the first time.

Glad you enjoyed your ride.......Busa lover!

Chain · 08-24-2003, 9:40 PM

Quote:

pczach : Chain, did I hear you correctly? Did a Hayabusa owner actually say the 954 'rips' when you spin it. I'm glowing and the compliment was for your bike! *I think we all come up with a mental image or idea of how other bikes would feel for bikes we havn't ridden, so we are suprised when we actually get to ride one for the first time.

Glad you enjoyed your ride.......Busa lover!

Yep, you read that right.

My buddy has had the good fortune to have scores of big, powerful bikes take harbor in his garage over the years. A veteran Hayabusa pilot, he doesn't throw around compliments for the sake of hearing himself talk and he's also known to let me know if I'm full of sh!t when he thinks so. The point is, I did take it as a big compliment that he said what he did about the 954.

Holeshot · 08-24-2003, 10:52 PM

Damn, that thing looks huge compared to the 954 and it's parked *behind* it! Facinating color. The Busa is one bike that is still on my 'to-do / to-own' short-list.

ND4SPD · 08-25-2003, 12:42 PM

Speaking of 'Busa's....

Sitting at a rest stop yesterday taking a quick break one of the workers comes up to us and asks us if we rode all the way down from Ohio(this was in Beckley WV) So we tell him what's going on, blah blah blah. Then he asks us what we think about Hayabusa's. First question out of my mouth: 'have you ever been on a sportbike before?' He says, no, but I know the difference between street and dirt riding. At this point I could barely keep a straight enough face to tell him that he should start on a 600 and take a few years to really get to know the bike before stepping up.

SuperDave · 08-25-2003, 1:35 PM

Interesting post Chain. Unfortunately it doesn't sound like 15 miles was long enough for a more detailed riding opinion. Couldn't reel him in when he was on your 954? Nice bike, personally I'm not crazy about the color scheme or front end, but I'm always curious about different rider's reviews on other bikes.

Serial Thriller · 08-25-2003, 2:27 PM

Admit it Chain, your favorite thing about that bike is that the plastics are a solid color. (hey, you've got a reputation)
I bet if it were solid black it would be in your garage right now.

ND4SPD · 08-25-2003, 3:04 PM

Quote:

Serial Thriller : Admit it Chain, your favorite thing about that bike is that the plastics are a solid color. (hey, you've got a reputation)
I bet if it were solid black it would be in your garage right now.

The XX comes in black

Chain · 08-25-2003, 3:11 PM

Quote:

ND4SPDSHO : Quote (Serial Thriller @ Aug. 25 2003, 2:27pm)Admit it Chain, your favorite thing about that bike is that the plastics are a solid color. (hey, you've got a reputation)
I bet if it were solid black it would be in your garage right now.

The XX comes in black
The XX ain't no Hayabusa. Great bike, different animal (I've ridden both).

And the 'bus did come in a limited edition all black variant last year, the so called Midnight Busa. That actually is the last bike my buddy Larry had before he bought the orange jet above...

Serial Thriller · 08-25-2003, 5:11 PM

Yes, I've seen the midnight special. And while it's the best looking 'busa available IMO, I'm still not a fan of it's shape. But hey, that's why there are so many different bikes available, right? Something for everyone.

Zeeman · 08-26-2003, 6:34 AM

I've seen that colour in person, and it doe slook good. I have never reall ybeen a Busa fan - not into large bikes, but I would still like to ride one I think it is a 'must ride one before you die' type bikes.

Z...

ccwilli3 · 08-26-2003, 9:14 AM

why is this ZOOK trash being posted here??

Chain · 08-26-2003, 11:25 AM

Quote:

ccwilli3 : why is this ZOOK trash being posted here??

Broaden your horizons, willi. Suzuki makes some quality machines.

Besides, it's OFF TOPIC, right?