Service Member?

[Nekosohana]

One of the things I have noticed around here is an abundance of Marine Corps representation in all forms. In addition I have noticed a lot of Army representation. I am sure I have seen some Air Force and Naval repersentation as well.

Not surprising as there are a lot of people in the military out there, and the Hayabusa is a fairly popular bike.

But I am curious. Has anyone else noticed this correlation between military service and bikes in general? When I was in Yuma there was a small series of riders and one guy who was a consistent rider. But that is a small group, there are more Marines on here that ride Hayabusas then there were riders on the whole Yuma base. And we are not even counting the other three branches yet.

So is there something about the Hayabusa specifically that draws military people to it? Or is it just sportbikes and our overexaggerated need for fast. Or just having a bike in general?

Just wondering what others think...

 

[DaCol.]

Interesting Question

, I have NO IDEA !! Except generally people with the same interest (and BRAIN MATTER) gravitate toward the same things. And maybe, just maybe it's an example of the Cream of our Society rising to the TOP

 

[VaBusa]

I'm not military, but I live in a heavily military populated area being so close to Norfolk Naval Station, Langley Air Force base and the Yorktown Naval Weapons Station...I think with so many moving to the region for a relatively short period of time, bikes are a cheap mode of transportation (well, compared to new cars, trucks and SUV's anyway), plus if I were moving all over the country, I'd kind of enjoy something small and fun to tool around town on...I know the dealerships in my region prey on the military, offering 'em overpriced bikes at high interest rates and they sell like hotcakes...I hate to see so many take advantage of our military, but they do...most non-military that live here avoid these dealerships like the plague...they cater to the military

I do think the military guys and gals are a huge segment of the biker population in my region...all kinds of sport bikes and Harleys are bought up by guys and gals serving this country...I think it's a great break from the every day for them...just my $.02  

 

[Nekosohana]

Unfortunately, I did see a lot of people who got preyed upon when they were in the service. There is no accounting for the "rocks" that I met when I was in.

One of my coworkers paid something nutty like $13,000 OTD for the TL1000 when they came out. On some level the stealerships around military bases distate their prices because they are the only ones for hundreds of miles. In Yuma, the nearest moto dealer was in San Diego, and that was a 2.5 hour drive.

At the time it wasn't my thing and one of my freinds loaned his bike to a guy who promptly crashed it. So I was in a "none for me" state until I was almost out of the military.

 

[VaBusa]

I sat on my first Busa in a dealership down in Newport News, VA over and over for months...the bike never moved, possibly because no one was willing to part with the $12,700 they were asking...we went in with $10,000 cash for it and they laughed...same with the dealership in Norfolk, same deal, same bike sitting there for months and the 2004's were about to be released in a few weeks...they would not come off their insane pricing because they were hoping to sell it to someone in the military just looking for a bike...we drove 3 hours south and got a new Busa, OTD for $9500...

It's no secret that the dealership in my region rake their customers over the coals; they count on it...impulse buyers beware, which is usually someone in the military, unfortunately...

 

[Nekosohana]

(VaBusa @ Jun. 25 2007,08:07) I sat on my first Busa in a dealership down in Newport News, VA over and over for months...the bike never moved, possibly because no one was willing to part with the $12,700 they were asking...we went in with $10,000 cash for it and they laughed...same with the dealership in Norfolk, same deal, same bike sitting there for months and the 2004's were about to be released in a few weeks...they would not come off their insane pricing because they were hoping to sell it to someone in the military just looking for a bike...we drove 3 hours south and got a new Busa, OTD for $9500...

It's no secret that the dealership in my region rake their customers over the coals; they count on it...impulse buyers beware, which is usually someone in the military, unfortunately...

I can't even tell you when I saw the first one.

I know when I saw the first significant one, but it was long after my military time. So two fun stories.

When I was in the Marines, I can't believe some of the things I missed... as a poker player, I missed an excellent opportunity with the indian casinos out there who spread poker games years before I started to play. And the second part was the Zuki stealership had the TL1000 out in front of their shop every time I drove by. All I could see was that rear seat cover and think. "Who would buy a 1 person motorcycle? And who would want to go that fast?" Now I am headed back that way this fall for a trip to test out the Needles/Laughlin/Las Vegas run and see if it really is as flat and fast as I remember it being.

As for the first Hayabusa I ever remember seeing? I had a VTX1800 for about 2 years when I bought my Hayabusa. I had been wanting a sport bike for a while, but I had an issue with touring distance. I saw one on the street one day, and the guys were talking about how fast it was. So I started with a little research on it, and talked to people for about a year. In April of last year, I met a guy at one of our happy hours. He pulled up on one and I darted over and grilled him on everything that was important to me. He let me sit on it, and that was pretty much the end for me.

One interesting point. I was talking to a friend about them and he said "Well, it's nice looking, has really good cruising distances (comfort), and it has the added benefit of being able to out run helicoptors."

I bought one the next Saturday.

 

[VaBusa]

LOL Love the added benefits

Hey, everything needs benefits, right?

It's funny, but when I was just looking at 'em and we found ourselves in Norfolk one Sunday afternoon, we pulled in to Sunrise Cycles to just peek through the windows having never really seen a Busa on the streets...some guy walks up to do the same and I see he's got the Busa's kanji tattooed on his arm...I couldn't help myself, so I asked him "do you own a Hayabusa?" and he just looked at me odd, wondering where I was from I guess, why did I ask...I pointed to his tattoo and he said "you're the first person to know what that symbol is from!" and I'm sure he laughed to himself thinking "sure you're getting one..." LOL

 

[Nekosohana]

(VaBusa @ Jun. 25 2007,09:22) LOL  Love the added benefits

 Hey, everything needs benefits, right?  

It's funny, but when I was just looking at 'em and we found ourselves in Norfolk one Sunday afternoon, we pulled in to Sunrise Cycles to just peek through the windows having never really seen a Busa on the streets...some guy walks up to do the same and I see he's got the Busa's kanji tattooed on his arm...I couldn't help myself, so I asked him "do you own a Hayabusa?" and he just looked at me odd, wondering where I was from I guess, why did I ask...I pointed to his tattoo and he said "you're the first person to know what that symbol is from!" and I'm sure he laughed to himself thinking "sure you're getting one..."  LOL

Call me mildly frightened of someone who would get a tatoo of the Busa on their body. If I did that with every bike I would already have almost as many tatoos as I do years riding.

I was looking at your pics in your sig, great pics, I especially love the blended paint on your frame. Very cool.

 

[VaBusa]

(Nekosohana @ Jun. 25 2007,12:35) Call me mildly frightened of someone who would get a tatoo of the Busa on their body.  If I did that with every bike I would already have almost as many tatoos as I do years riding.

I was looking at your pics in your sig, great pics, I especially love the blended paint on your frame.  Very cool.

Careful, we have a ton of guys on here with the kanji tattoo!

I wouldn't mind getting one, but with kids and toys, well, tattoos are last on the list...

Thanks for the compliments...hubby had the frame painted for my birthday last year...

Where are all of the military guys?! Sorry about all of the thread-jacking; kind of what I do around here

 

[DaCol.]

(VaBusa @ Jun. 25 2007,09:39) Where are all of the military guys?!

We are just a bunch of HUMBLE, SHY, WONDERFUL people

 

[VaBusa]

(DaCol. @ Jun. 25 2007,13:25)

(VaBusa @ Jun. 25 2007,09:39) Where are all of the military guys?!

We are just a bunch of HUMBLE, SHY, WONDERFUL people

I'll give you the WONDERFUL description, but the rest of those are bogus!  

 

[rockadaous]

Air Force here. I know of at least 5 Busa on base. I see more gixxers than anything. Quit a few cruisers also.

 

[Sloto200]

I remember reading something along the lines about what your asking about a year ago. Seems that all the 20 something year old guys in the military want after a deployment ( to keep that adrenalin rush going from not being in combat anymore ) is to buy a sport bike. Most of the time we all know what the out come is from a rookie getting on a sport bike with no experience, hence why the military has gotten so strict with the rules on riding anything with two wheels. That is just one explanation i've read over the last few years. These young guys come home from long deployments with FAT wallets and huge signing bonus's and they want to be cool on their new gixxer 1000... sadly the story usually ends up with at least a wrecked bike and hurt/dead rider. I recently had a young airman in my squadron have a bad accident while riding. I'm a teacher, and one of the first people these young airman see right out of basic training. Long story short, bought a gixxer 1000, went to fast into a turn, totaled the bike and broke his neck. He is way lucky because he didnt die. He has fully healed and, you guessed it bought another new gixxer 1000. Some people neer learn i guess, others learn the hard way...

 

[Skywalker]

Air Force here as well and welcome to the Org.  Best web site on the planet... my reason for buying the Busa.  Love at 1st sight and it just fit!  What a beautiful machine!

 

[smonroe86]

Army here yaaayay.......... One of my E-6s had one and it was chromed and stretched with nos... i mean he had everything and he was giving the motorcycle safey since it was saftey stand down day... but i was lookin her over and i then told myself i love you and so i went to salina, kansas and bought my busa there...

 

[rays06busa]

Navy here. Active duty E-6. I'm in Recruiting now working in downtown Dallas, TX. Love it here in Texas. This area is not heavily populated with active military. The patriotism Texans have is amazing. People walk up to me and shake my hand and thank me for my service all the time, and it makes me very proud to serve.

 

[Nekosohana]

(rays06busa @ Jun. 26 2007,06:55) Navy here.  Active duty E-6.  I'm in Recruiting now working in downtown Dallas, TX.  Love it here in Texas.   This area is not heavily populated with active military.  The patriotism Texans have is amazing.  People walk up to me and shake my hand and thank me for my service all the time, and it makes me very proud to serve.

I'm from Dallas too. The reason is because the only place to work around here is the NAS Fort Worth station.

I was offered active reserve at NAS Fort Worth in MALS out there. I just didn't want to do that drive every single day from Dallas to Fort Worth.

 

[dadofthree]

(smonroe86 @ Jun. 26 2007,08:15) Army here yaaayay.......... One of my E-6s had one and it was chromed and stretched with nos... i mean he had everything and he was giving the motorcycle safey since it was saftey stand down day... but i was lookin her over and i then told myself i love you and so i went to salina, kansas and bought my busa there...

 

[rays06busa]

(Nekosohana @ Jun. 26 2007,07:08)

(rays06busa @ Jun. 26 2007,06:55) Navy here.  Active duty E-6.  I'm in Recruiting now working in downtown Dallas, TX.  Love it here in Texas.   This area is not heavily populated with active military.  The patriotism Texans have is amazing.  People walk up to me and shake my hand and thank me for my service all the time, and it makes me very proud to serve.

I'm from Dallas too.  The reason is because the only place to work around here is the NAS Fort Worth station.

I was offered active reserve at NAS Fort Worth in MALS out there.  I just didn't want to do that drive every single day from Dallas to Fort Worth.

I know what you mean. My wife likes to go to the commisary out there and I dread the drive. I would definitely not like that drive every day. I look forward to meeting you on the "mod and ride" day.

 

[Warrior58d]

22 year Army guy here. I have only seen about 3 or 4 other Busa's in town (colorado springs) and I have only seen one other on on post. It was a real nice looking bike streched and turboed. I left the guy a note in his helmet wanting to know where he got the mods done but he never replied and I haven't seen the bike again. Most guys around here go for the 600's due to cost of the bike itself and the cost of insurance since most are a couple of years younger then me. Why do I have mine....well it's like my women...beautiful, fast and comfortable to ride.