2024 Hayabusa for sport touring?

[LC4CARL]

I know I repeat it like a broken record, but I still say there’s a market for a Busa-GT.

Similar to what Kawasaki did with the H2 SX. a centre stand, factory frameless ignition key operated luggage, slightly higher screen and bars, smart cruise control. It could all be done based around an existing bike without a huge investment or a new design.

It’d be a better bike than a H2 SX or ZX14 and wouldn’t mean trying to mod and add stuff to get a highway hauler with Busa benifits.

I really like the GSX-S.

 

[zxreed]

Welcome to the forum @zxreed.

For real world stories feel free to check out the adventures of @pashnit who leads tours.

Tours 2025

Tours 2024

Personally, I suggest that you skip the formalities, purchase a Hayabusa in your favorite color and request that the administrators change your username to busareed. Everything will work out fine. Trust me!

After 3 years with a H2 SX SE I ruled out the ZX14 partly due to its lack of cruise control. I’m in my 60’s with quite bad arthritis and the proper factory cruise control has become very welcome, I don’t use my other bikes for long hauls now. Along with other features the Gen-3 is the only modern, big bore, Hyper Sport / Sports Tourer out there.
The ZX14 is long overdue some updates, the H2 SX SE has too many issues and is somewhat overrated. Hard to think of an alternative that isn’t outdated, or not sporty.

I like sporty tourers, the Gen-3 is by far the best of the ones I’ve had.

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I completely agree about the H2 SX SE, my biggest concern about them is the SC. It is well known about the maintenance that is required on this bike and on the SC in particular. The shop rate goes up when any of the bikes nomenclature starts with H2. I had completely ruled it out although I rode a buddies H2 and the power is crazy. I think it has 290hp at the tire on a tune only.

 

[zxreed]

Welcome to the .org! Great intro. Pics would have been great, though. The Gen3 is a great all-around bike that you could easily set for touring. There are individual threads here that talk about what some have done for bags and other touring items. @pashnit is our tour guide (pardon the pun) and has lots of information about what he has done to his bike.

I will post some picks soon, I am in Malaysia for MotoGP race.

 

[zxreed]

I test rode the 1300 GS, and it is fast and comfortable. GSA is just too big for me.

The Busa shifter is, in my opinion, slightly better than the GS, but having said that, the shifter is not in the comparison matrix. Both just work.

The BMW has radar cruise control, so for long highway runs it wins.

When I tested the GS, the Busa was not on my radar at all. I wanted a KTM 1390 Super Duke GT, but got tired of waiting.

I had considered a Super Duke as well but after their financial issues, I have some concerns about their parts availability. The dealership that sold them close to me isn’t even technically a dealer anymore. They’re just trying to sell off their old stock. I wasn’t sure how much I was gonna like that radar cruise but just like anything you will get used to it I guess.

 

[zxreed]

I really like the GSX-S.

I haven’t ridden one, but I wanted to have a little more torque than what it probably makes.

 

[zxreed]

I know I repeat it like a broken record, but I still say there’s a market for a Busa-GT.

Similar to what Kawasaki did with the H2 SX. a centre stand, factory frameless ignition key operated luggage, slightly higher screen and bars, smart cruise control. It could all be done based around an existing bike without a huge investment or a new design.

It’d be a better bike than a H2 SX or ZX14 and wouldn’t mean trying to mod and add stuff to get a highway hauler with Busa benifits.

My understanding is that it is too hard to get it to pass the European emission standards. That’s the same reason why they haven’t done anything too revamp the ZX-14R.

 

[zxreed]

f one was going to tour, having cruise would be a big advantage......I personally would probably never use it as I never tour anymore and spend my time on back country roads....
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I raced CMA here in Canada but I held an AMA license as I did the California Superbike course and raced once in the US on an RG250......it was a fluke that I was asked to race it as their regular rider got hurt and the pit crew supervisor recognized me.......I managed to get into third place and get taken out by the second place rider thus ending my debut...........

That sounds about right for that 250 class. I had an opportunity to race Rich Oliver's bike in 89 or 90 when King Kenny had him on a 250 GP bike since John Kocinski was injured. I think I qualified 6th and had moved to 4th going into turn one and then I was on my head. A guy came storming up from 10th and couldn't make the corner because I was apparently in his way. Needless to say Rich never called again. I was happy to get back on the 4-stroke 750's, I was a little to big for those little 250s. Have you stopped racing?

 

[Tony Nitrous]

My understanding is that it is too hard to get it to pass the European emission standards. That’s the same reason why they haven’t done anything too revamp the ZX-14R.

Current ZX14 would needs quite some work and mods to get through Euro-5+, I’m sure it could be done but they seem more interested in focusing on the H2 SX and SX SE. It’d be interesting to see a new 14 as they’d have to do something similar to the Gen-3’s cams, stacks, triple cats etc and make it reversible as the Busa is, or it wouldn’t be competitive.

The Gen-3 has always met Euro-5 and now 5+ in markets where it’s required, UK, EU etc, a GT / Touring version wouldn’t be effected by this.

 

[Bumblebee]

That sounds about right for that 250 class. I had an opportunity to race Rich Oliver's bike in 89 or 90 when King Kenny had him on a 250 GP bike since John Kocinski was injured. I think I qualified 6th and had moved to 4th going into turn one and then I was on my head. A guy came storming up from 10th and couldn't make the corner because I was apparently in his way. Needless to say Rich never called again. I was happy to get back on the 4-stroke 750's, I was a little to big for those little 250s. Have you stopped racing?

Yes, I stopped racing about 35 yrs ago.....for a while I was receiving Suzuki manufacturer track day notices but after a while they stopped coming....

The last time I was on a track was in 2008 and I wanted to ride the then new Gen 2 Hayabusa but the lines were too long to get on it...so I spent my day on the GSXRs.....

I raced a GSXR 750 that I got from Suzuki delivered to my local dealership.....I ordered the same bike in the same color for my street ride so for years I had both the race bike and street bike in my garage....I went through a clearing out blitz and sold off all my bikes except my Hayabusa...My GSXRs went as a pair to a person in Michigan......he drove all the way up here with his enclosed trailer, never haggled for one penny and handed me cash.....it was then that I realized that I sold them for too little...LOL!

I sure did like my 2 strokes though, that little 250 was a lot of fun.....I almost bought a Walter Wolf 500 but it was burnt in a fire and there wasn't any more of them to find to buy....

 

[LC4CARL]

I haven’t ridden one, but I wanted to have a little more torque than what it probably makes.

After a 'Busa, it would be hard to go back. I do love the "In thrust we trust, no matter what gear" torque.

 

[stgatev]

I had considered a Super Duke as well but after their financial issues, I have some concerns about their parts availability. The dealership that sold them close to me isn’t even technically a dealer anymore. They’re just trying to sell off their old stock. I wasn’t sure how much I was gonna like that radar cruise but just like anything you will get used to it I guess.

Yeah, that is a consideration. I bought a KTM 500 EXC just as KTM was in the deepest hole, and so far I have been able to find parts, although they were mostly consumables and aftermarket add-ons. The dirt bikes are sold in higher volumes and parts are replaced often, so if KTM keeps one production line open, I guess it will be the dirt bikes. But I am still hopeful that we might see the 1390 SD GT next year.

 

[wellcraft]

I know I repeat it like a broken record, but I still say there’s a market for a Busa-GT.

Similar to what Kawasaki did with the H2 SX. a centre stand, factory frameless ignition key operated luggage, slightly higher screen and bars, smart cruise control. It could all be done based around an existing bike without a huge investment or a new design.

It’d be a better bike than a H2 SX or ZX14 and wouldn’t mean trying to mod and add stuff to get a highway hauler with Busa benifits.

I'd be one of the first in line to give Suzuki my money if they built a sport touring bike around the Busa engine.