This is a direct quote from the MCN ZX1200 test. Its the part that makes a comparison with the Busa. It may be full of exageration, hype and boloney but its probably pretty close to what the other mags will say. There is no way to stop it. The ZX12R is not the piece of crap we wanted it to be.
" The firm has seen the sales benefit of the maximum speed title once before, when its 174mph ZZ-R1100
was fastest from 1990 until 1996, before it was
overthrown by Honda's 178mph Super Blackbird.
But things have moved on since then, and to become
the king of speed again the ZX-12R must topple
today's title holder, Suzuki's 194mph Hayabusa. And
first impressions after riding both bikes side-by-side
are that it's in with a shout.
If the 200mph-plus speedo readings we managed on the ZX-12R are
anything to go by, the big Kawasaki's extra 6bhp and carefully
designed aerodynamics could be enough to swing the balance of fame
from the Busa.
We won't be able to give you a definitive answer until we speed test a
ZX-12R soon under normal atmospheric conditions on a vehicle-free
testing ground back in Britain. But after the brief back-to-back
comparison in South Africa we can tell you it's the better sports bike.
Handling is the biggest advantage the ZX-12R has over the
GSX1300R. It's 5kg (11lb) lighter than the Suzuki at 210kg (462lb), the
wheelbase is 4.5cm shorter and the head angle and trail for the
Kawasaki are a sharper 23.5° and 9.3cm compared to the Hayabusa's
24.2° and 9.7cm.
Out on the road those figures have an effect on the agility of the
Kawasaki and help it turn more sharply, with far less effort than the
Hayabusa.
The Suzuki does handle well for a bike of its size and weight, but
scratching on the ZX-12R is noticeably easier. We didn't ride much on
very tight and twisty roads - there aren't many of those around
Johannesburg - but the Kawasaki will definitely have a cornering
advantage on those type of roads back home.
The Suzuki's suspension is set up slightly firmer than the ZX-12R's and
it suits fast riding. But the Kawasaki's 43mm Kayaba forks and shock
handle the bumps better. And when the roads get smoother the
ZX-12R's suspension can be firmed up to match the Suzuki.
The Kawasaki can also go in a bit harder and the ground clearance is
better. Only the hero blobs scratch the road at acute angles, whereas
the Hayabusa grinds its exhaust cans and, in extreme cases, the
engine covers.
Both bikes' power is produced quite differently, and the Kawasaki
needs to be revved a little bit more to accelerate as hard as the bigger
GSX.
But in some high-speed, high-rpm acceleration tests from 50mph to
150mph, the ZX-12R had the edge. And if this speed superiority can
be maintained then the Kawasaki could well be the faster.
At more sensible speeds, the torquier Suzuki needs slightly fewer
gearchanges to overtake traffic because of its broader spread of
power. But the difference is tiny, and really academic, because both
machines have enough grunt to rush past any obstacle with just a whiff
of throttle.
Wind protection, vital at high cruising speeds, is better on the
Kawasaki because of its taller and wider screen. But of course, the
ZX-12R's biggest advantage over the Hayabusa is its styling - it has
some!
Many riders are captivated by the mind-blowing performance of the
Suzuki, but they're simply not willing to put up with what many consider
to be one of the ugliest bikes ever - even if it is the fastest.
The curvy lines and bulbous snout have been compared to a cow - not
the sexiest animal. Those riders will now have a chance to sample
huge thrills that go along with it without making any sacrifices to style.
Expect the ZX-12R to out-sell the Suzuki when it hits UK showrooms
later this month. "
[This message has been edited by sherm (edited 11 March 2000).]
[This message has been edited by sherm (edited 11 March 2000).]
" The firm has seen the sales benefit of the maximum speed title once before, when its 174mph ZZ-R1100
was fastest from 1990 until 1996, before it was
overthrown by Honda's 178mph Super Blackbird.
But things have moved on since then, and to become
the king of speed again the ZX-12R must topple
today's title holder, Suzuki's 194mph Hayabusa. And
first impressions after riding both bikes side-by-side
are that it's in with a shout.
If the 200mph-plus speedo readings we managed on the ZX-12R are
anything to go by, the big Kawasaki's extra 6bhp and carefully
designed aerodynamics could be enough to swing the balance of fame
from the Busa.
We won't be able to give you a definitive answer until we speed test a
ZX-12R soon under normal atmospheric conditions on a vehicle-free
testing ground back in Britain. But after the brief back-to-back
comparison in South Africa we can tell you it's the better sports bike.
Handling is the biggest advantage the ZX-12R has over the
GSX1300R. It's 5kg (11lb) lighter than the Suzuki at 210kg (462lb), the
wheelbase is 4.5cm shorter and the head angle and trail for the
Kawasaki are a sharper 23.5° and 9.3cm compared to the Hayabusa's
24.2° and 9.7cm.
Out on the road those figures have an effect on the agility of the
Kawasaki and help it turn more sharply, with far less effort than the
Hayabusa.
The Suzuki does handle well for a bike of its size and weight, but
scratching on the ZX-12R is noticeably easier. We didn't ride much on
very tight and twisty roads - there aren't many of those around
Johannesburg - but the Kawasaki will definitely have a cornering
advantage on those type of roads back home.
The Suzuki's suspension is set up slightly firmer than the ZX-12R's and
it suits fast riding. But the Kawasaki's 43mm Kayaba forks and shock
handle the bumps better. And when the roads get smoother the
ZX-12R's suspension can be firmed up to match the Suzuki.
The Kawasaki can also go in a bit harder and the ground clearance is
better. Only the hero blobs scratch the road at acute angles, whereas
the Hayabusa grinds its exhaust cans and, in extreme cases, the
engine covers.
Both bikes' power is produced quite differently, and the Kawasaki
needs to be revved a little bit more to accelerate as hard as the bigger
GSX.
But in some high-speed, high-rpm acceleration tests from 50mph to
150mph, the ZX-12R had the edge. And if this speed superiority can
be maintained then the Kawasaki could well be the faster.
At more sensible speeds, the torquier Suzuki needs slightly fewer
gearchanges to overtake traffic because of its broader spread of
power. But the difference is tiny, and really academic, because both
machines have enough grunt to rush past any obstacle with just a whiff
of throttle.
Wind protection, vital at high cruising speeds, is better on the
Kawasaki because of its taller and wider screen. But of course, the
ZX-12R's biggest advantage over the Hayabusa is its styling - it has
some!
Many riders are captivated by the mind-blowing performance of the
Suzuki, but they're simply not willing to put up with what many consider
to be one of the ugliest bikes ever - even if it is the fastest.
The curvy lines and bulbous snout have been compared to a cow - not
the sexiest animal. Those riders will now have a chance to sample
huge thrills that go along with it without making any sacrifices to style.
Expect the ZX-12R to out-sell the Suzuki when it hits UK showrooms
later this month. "
[This message has been edited by sherm (edited 11 March 2000).]
[This message has been edited by sherm (edited 11 March 2000).]
I guess I have to sell my week old Busa. Not! 
The press sure does love to talk about the latest thing don't they? I've seen the press, and TV ads. I still like the looks, comfort, handling and character of the Busa. It'll be interesting to see speed comparisons, but unless it kills the Busa, who cares?