Thinking about a Hayabusa as a first bike?

[bacharles]

Quote[/b] (pure_ego @ Feb. 08 2004,00:15)]. . . *while the 40-50mph guys usually have some messed up leg/arm/shoulders to talk about. Thats a good thing when you consider the alternative though.

I can personally attest to this...

[Deputy]

Hmmm...guess I will go against the grain and disagree with the initial post. First off this thing had been debated about a gazillion times, and I don't think there IS a "right advice" or "right method" for first bike purchase. If you're an idiot rider and you buy a Busa, you will ALSO be an idiot if you buy a 125 Honda. Riding a 125 or any other bike for a year or two and then "moving up" to a Busa just means there's a delay before you are an idiot riding a Busa

If you have ZERO experience riding ANY motorcycle, or even a bicycle, then definitely you need some kind of training. I am also NOT going to jump on the MSF training bandwagon or the Code or other school recommendations. Many of those schools train you on how to drive a RACE bike on a RACE TRACK and have little to do with street driving. MSF is good IF you can get in for a course. Some areas are booked up straight through till November. I did my training in the local shopping plaza parking lot on Sundays. And learning on the bike you are gonna drive is a LOT different than learning on some powerless one-lunger and then hopping on a Busa.
On that Busa you KNOW it cost you close to $10,000 and you WILL be careful about what you do on it. Unless Daddy bought it for you

A LOT of knowing how to ride a bike of ANY kind is the maturity of the rider. Not maturity as in age, but maturity as in HOW you ride the bike. A mature person will KNOW in advance what his limitations are and take whatever steps are necessary to get those limitations corrected or improved upon. An immature person will become a statistic...no matter WHAT he is riding or driving. Thinning the herd, sorting out the wheat from the chaff, only the strong survive, there's lots of descriptions for it. But I don't think advice from anyone is really going to have much effect in the long run.

Dep

[TAZEONE]

hello y'all new member here and brand spankin new Hayabusa owner here......


My first bike was in 1988 Kawasaki Ninja RX600 (rx was the limited one), it was stolen and I didn't have insurance, so I bought the Ninja 250 which I tricked out over time and got bored with it..... I remember wanting a ZX 7 the day they dropped, but couldn't afford it.... anyways, I bought a used 1990 GSXR 1100 and rode it for a while until I moved back to Los Angeles......

13 years later I decide to get back into the game.... haven't owned a bike in over a decade, I buy a fully decked out GSXR 600 and honestly, even though bikes have changed drastically in the past 10 years, I grew outta this bike in about 8 months.... so I just sold the bike about 2 weeks ago.... for the past 2 weeks i've been debating over a GSXR 750 and a GSXR 1000 either a 2002 or 2003..... so I looked at a lotta bikes in my area and a lotta them were crappy, nothing really catching my eye. Then I go to the dealership and find a 2003 Busa for sale and I never even sat on one before and decided to sit on this one..... I love the seating position right away, much more comfortable then a GSXR and honestly I'm not a twisties kind of guy, never loved the canyons at all, i'm strictly a cruiser.... so I ended up buying a 2002 Hayabusa with 900 miles, Yoshi Dual Slip ons and chip. I've only owned it for about 2 days, but so far so good. the bike is retardedly fast and I have much respect for that..... but technically this is sorta my 1st/2nd bike all over again and I don't see this being a problem.

did I make a bad decision on goin with the BUSA?

I'm 32 years old btw.

here is my bike


oh yeah and sorry for the long dry story.
I just read this whole thread and felt like saying something.

[TAZEONE]

man Deputy, I concur with your entire statement all the way

[kmbsv650]

Hi I just thought I would give my opinion I bought my first street bike last July An 03 sv650 and I love it when I was looking the first bike I sat on was a busa and I fell in love the way the the bike looked and felt it <span style='colorrangered'></span>was amazing but after a talk with the sales man (and busa owner) I sat on the sv and didnt look back I have had a geat time on my sv and plan on a riding course this spring in a few year's maybe summer 05 I will get my Busa but for now I think I bought the right bike
Just my story

[Bronto]

Would think any motorcycle just starting to learn on can be dangerous. More then horse power was learning on a standard bike with higher handle bars, straight up siting. It just seemed easier then being hunched over feet back style of a sportsbike. Learn all the ins/outs on a comfortable ride. Horse power and weight to me atleast came in second. Busa is same and lighter in weight then standard bikes. Still riding the Standard bike now, working on building up the busa, so I haven't ridden one yet. Can contribute a stark lesson directly to a Busa.
Going over this bike with a fine tooth comb. A Busa that appears to be brand new by all indications. A Busa the Rider was killed on. Indications showing either conservative riding style or a new rider. What can I say except whatever bike one chooses try not to get killed on it.

[HayaConn]

I currently have 4 Bikes, and I agree that the busa would not be a great first bike. I am hoping that this is going to be the LAST bike I buy for a few years!

[FLCN72]

We as Hayabusa enthusiasts cannot save the idiots from themselves. *Some fools will go out and get themselves killed or maimed regardless of which bike they chose as their first motorcycle. *It doesn't matter if they get a 50cc scooter or a Busa. *Their mindset and judgement will doom them, not their choice of bikes.

I have neither the obligation nor the inclination to attempt to save them from themselves. *However, I am of the opinion that such people are in the minority. *And that many prospective motorcyclists are level-headed folks who can demonstrate good judgement. *

These people are researching the bike they might buy. *They are reading web boards and magazines for information. *They might be asking friends and other riders for opinions. *In short, they are trying to be well-informed.

It is these people I have tried to reach in this thread. *Hopefully they'll give some thought to what I've written and how it might relate to them. *Which doesn't mean they must agree with me. *None of what I've written is more than my own rambling opinions. *But in the interest of helping those who want to be informed, I have provided those opinions for their consumption and consideration.

[GanjahMan]

Hey guys, I read through some of this thread, its pretty big, but I wanted to get some advice. I want to get my Busa in the next 4 months, I have not rode in 10 years, and back then I was on a Honda CB750, a CBR1000, and a 250 Suzuki enduro for 8 years with no problems. I have always been a cautious rider, and always new my limits. So now Im 31 and want to get back into it, what are your opinions on getting this bike with the experience I have? Ive also looked at the ZX11, TL1000R, and a 1000 GSXR, but found the Busa to be most attractive. Also, it seems that the other bikes are a bit small for me in size, Im 6' 3" and 200lbs and even riding the CBR1000 seemed like I was too big for the bike....

[MET]

You will be fine just take it slow and brush up on your riding skills take a refresher course also. They are for everyone.

[nightnarc]

This bike shouldn't even be considered as first bike. Buy a Katana and not the 750!

[GanjahMan]

errr * *"back then I was on a Honda CB750, a CBR1000, and a 250 Suzuki enduro for 8 years with no problems" * This wont be my first bike.... it would be the first bike in about 9 years tho... *



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[BigDawg_03Busa]

Very well spoken, after >10k on my baby, I'm still reminded occassionally not to disrespect her power. Very good information for future Busa family members.

Remember a very old saying "you must first crawl before you walk" To take it further.
Crawl: SV 650
WALK: R6/gixxer 600
RUN:R1/ZX12R/gixxer 1000
FLY:BBBBBUUUUUUUUUUUSSSSSSSAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!





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[drednin]

just wanted to say i found this post very helpful just got the call from my local suzuki dealership that my 04 se busa has arrived and will be assembled by monday or tuesday cant wait to ride i have owned quite a few street bikes but this is my first sportbike having read the post on this board has made me even more aware of the respect and caution this bike should be shown i will post picks when i get the bike home

[Twin Kat]

Hey Everyone. The Busa is definately my Dream Bike Right now i have 2001 Katana 600. I have been riding this for almost 3 years and love it. Within the next 2 years i will be moving up to the Busa. I even have a high seat cowl on my Kat. It looks like a baby Busa. From what i've read so far, this site seems pretty cool and some great advice for Busa wannabees. So i hope you guys dont mind a little Katana rider hanging around.

[alnleslie]

Howdy All, *I've been a member of all the Hayabusa boards I could find since I bought my first one in 1999, and this one is the best. *I don't post very often because I burn up all my "free time" reading everyone else's posts. *This is the best Busa site I've found, keep up the good work!

Anyway, I've been riding for about 32 years (minus 6 for when kids were born), and I've owned (mostly used) 13 bikes. *The wife and I started touring in 1975 on a new Kawasaki H1F 500, and have been on the "sporting" side of the bike world ever since. *It seems like we always had a Kaw in the garage until I was looking for a larger, smoother touring replacement for our 1984 Kaw 750 Turbo. *we had always wanted a ZX11, and went up to the dealership to buy one. *They had one in stock, when the (younger) salesman said "as long as you want a big sport bike, take a look at the new Hayabusa" *Once we sat on it, it was all over. To tell you how I ride, we got 10k on the first rear tire. (No threads showing, either.) *Getting to my point, after 3 years on the Busa, I *bought an SV650 for me to use as my "mid life crisis" machine. *I can run her to redline, pull the front wheel up when I'm feeling goosey, and I'm not at 120mph when I toe it into 3rd. *We are on our second Busa now, have toured two-up with soft luggage on 3500 mile trips to Americade, and I still treat her with respect. *It's not the speed, it's the "ohmagod power" available everywhere, and the ability to make 100mph two-up, seem like rolling across a parking lot. *At least the SV makes you AWARE of the effort. *I love my SV, and I'll probably keep it as long as I have a Busa.

Side-note...If you have a Busa, and you like it, NEVER get rid of it, you'l regret it and have to go in hock for another. *Been there, done that!

Al

[FHL]

Quote[/b] (Revlis @ Feb. 06 2004,00:45)]the NO speed garage "oh crap the sidestand folded" tip over...that most humans cannot catch.

SO TRUE. I dropped my GSX-R600 in front of my dads car at night 3 days after I bought it cause he was *****ing at me to put my glasses on (20/30 vision). I parked it in front of the car slightly downhill (stupid) and extended the sidestand.

I didn't extend it enough and as I was putting it down it rolled forward off the stand and I actually go up off the bike and started to tip it over when I realized that it wasn't going to be pretty anymore.

[FHL]

13 years later I decide to get back into the game.... haven't owned a bike in over a decade, I buy a fully decked out GSXR 600 and honestly, even though bikes have changed drastically in the past 10 years, I grew outta this bike in about 8 months.... so I just sold the bike about 2 weeks ago.... for the past 2 weeks i've been debating over a GSXR 750 and a GSXR 1000 either a 2002 or 2003..... so I looked at a lotta bikes in my area and a lotta them were crappy, nothing really catching my eye. Then I go to the dealership and find a 2003 Busa for sale and I never even sat on one before and decided to sit on this one..... I love the seating position right away, much more comfortable then a GSXR and honestly I'm not a twisties kind of guy, never loved the canyons at all, i'm strictly a cruiser.... so I ended up buying a 2002 Hayabusa with 900 miles, Yoshi Dual Slip ons and chip. I've only owned it for about 2 days, but so far so good. the bike is retardedly fast and I have much respect for that..... but technically this is sorta my 1st/2nd bike all over again and I don't see this being a problem.[/QUOTE]

You describe my exact position right now. I have "carved" the canyons once and that was enough for me. I am in no way ready to wreck my 5000 dollar bike riding over the speed limit in some silly little curves. I couldn't give a **** less about racing but yet I love motorycycles. I love the feeling of being on them, I hate the riding position on my 600, and I hate the powerband. I sat on a 'Busa for the first time today and I decided that's what I want. It might be a while before I can get one, but that is my ultimate goal.

[k5fan]

It was my first and I have been beating her since no problem.

[PastorJeff]

Quote[/b] (FLCN72 @ Feb. 18 2004,01:30)]It is these people I have tried to reach in this thread. *Hopefully they'll give some thought to what I've written and how it might relate to them. *Which doesn't mean they must agree with me. *None of what I've written is more than my own rambling opinions. *But in the interest of helping those who want to be informed, I have provided those opinions for their consumption and consideration.

First let me say thank you for this thread. I have been looking at bikes for years, and now am financially in a position that I will be able to purchase a bike. After much studying and searching, I fell in love with the Hayabusa...nothing else comes close.

But I do have to admit that I am an inexperienced rider. In High School I used to run around on a scooter (woohoo), and tooled around on any bike that I could get my hands on...but that was 15 years ago!

I read this post and have decided to wait on purchasing my 'Busa until a later date. I have an old (and I mean OLD) two stroke Kawasaki in my Dad's garage that I will get tuned up (been sittin' there for over 8 years!!) and start playing around with.

I am going to look into the motorcycle saftey course and take that as well.

I am going to go to the Suzuki dealer and ask them what else I need to do to prepare me for my purchase.

Probably not a big deal to you guys, but I sit here thinking to myself..."God, I could have killed myself!" Thanks so much for this article.

Is it o.k. if I keep posting and reading until I get one?

Thanks so much...I appreciate your honesty in this article. Hopefully more newbies will read this and learn as I did.

Jeffrey