Re: Coming from the cruiser world, how difficult is it to ride and get used to a Busa
I was on a long ride with a group of friends headed for an overnight stay where we could cruise the mountain twisties. One of the tag-a-longs or 'friend of a friend' who was with us was riding a 2012 Street Glide. He commented at a gas stop how difficult it must be to ride my Hayabusa and that it wasn't something he would ever be interested in doing. Before I responded, my buddy jumped in and said, "Have you ever ridden one? That thing's a p@ssy cat. I'm also giving him credit to how well he's got it tuned, but it's flawless and seamless throttle response. It's like butter. Now if you roll the throttle open wide, that another story. You better be pointed in the right direction, because when you look at the farthest point down the road, you're gonna be there, now!"
I can't say it any better. No it doesn't handle as good on a back road as my GSX-R1000, but it doesn't require much more work especially if the suspension is set up correctly and you choose the right tire. Tire profile makes a huge difference. If you haven't tried a Busa with a set Michelin Pilots mounted up, try one before you buy a new set of sneakers. I rode several others and found that the Pilots give the Bus very neutral steering and make the stockers and others feel like 2x4s wrapped around the rim.
I ride much longer distances now in order to ride the fun roads in northern New England. The Busa allows me to enjoy those roads as well as the ride to and from them.