Sport Rider.

[fallenarch]

I think hp and spped are not the only measure of a bike. To me, the magic of a hyperbike is that it can be civilized, tour, run sporty twisty roads, AND out run anything on the road. That was the point with the Blackbird and the Busa has always represented that magic ability to master everything a bike is called on to do. If hyper bikes are going to remain "hyper-bikes" they must:

1. Be faster than a 1000 in a straight line
2. Have hyper performance accessible to the casual road rider
3. Handle as well as a modern sport bike (if not as well as the current state of the art sport bikes).
4. Be comfortable for long distance
5. Run out to the 189 agreed limit with comfortable easy

It's not just about power anymore. There are tons of bikes that can hit 189 mph with minor mods. Assuming they don't get legislated out of existance, the next game changing hyperbike will have:

1. 210-240 hp off the showroom floor.
2. Traction control, ABS, maybe even stability control
3. Cruise control
4. Amazing handling, 550 lbs max weight.
5. Electrinocally adjustable suspension.
6. Crazy fuel range
7. All packaged with some edge so it's not a fast goldwing and cost $20K

My 2 cents.

[karnage]

Well kawi did own zuki for a while at least they built all theyre dirtbikes so if you bought an RM250 it was a kx thats why I went to yamaha for dirtbikes.I think suzuki should come up with a 3rd gen busa with some newer options but they had a good long run.I still love the busa and always will ever since I laid eyes on one back in 2000.

[chrisjp]

the people will speak with their dollars...not with prints recommendations... and in 12 years... and i think for years to come... busas will be bought new and used many many more times than any of the 14's

[sanket_420]

My take on all of this is:

1) The ZX14 has a larger displacement engine, it should have more HP - duh. People are comparing apples to oranges.

2) So what if it's fractions of a second faster on the drag strip? How often will that be important or valuable in your everyday riding?

3) If having the fastest bike is important to you, then do like red1100cc said, bolt on a turbo.

4) Most riders will never realize the max potential of their bike

5) IMO the Z is ugly. The Busa is B-E-A-UTIFUL!

6) Like everything thing else, eventually, new technology comes along. It doesn't make what you have any less powerful. Besides you'll go broke trying to keep up with the changes.

7) IMO the Z is ugly.

8) IMO the Z is ugly.

agree 100%

[Big E]

Where is Flicka? He can set you guys straight.

[sleepless_red]

Lets see in time if the ZX can hold up to the mileage and ware and tare like our busas can. There are peeps out there with many many miles on there busas with no issues. Thats what I call a good bike.

I'm one of them that never had any engine problems whatsoever at 90K miles.

[sherekhan]

Thruth of the matter is times are tough... Suzuki is in economic defense mode. Retooling motorcycles cost lots of money and then you need to sell at higher cost to recoup the expenditures. Business decisions. I think suzuki is trying to keep the per unit cost down through the the hard times and bring the best price point (best value) to the market. However, they need to be ready at some point to challenge in the Hyperbike and Litrebike category or risk falling too far behind in the technology and power war. European manufacturers and Kawa seems to be hell bent on cornering the market while Suzuki sits on the sideline.


The ZX-14 is clearly a watershed motorcycle - just as the SR 1000 has been in the litre bike category. All good - but are they that much better at the MSRP than Suzuki and others?

You know I keep reading about people going back and fourth about which bike is "better" or "stronger". I look at this way. Once you buy an S1000 or a 14 how much more can they're engines handle? IMO those two companies have pushed their engineering to the max just to "out-do" the stock Hayabusa. With a couple hundred dollars they can't even come close anymore to a mildly modded Hayabusa. I'm just saying. If I wanted a lil' more I would find a nice used GenII and take all the extra money that I saved not buying one of the others and build something that I couldn't buy.

I totally agree, shamed to admit it here, but I went to the dealer to pickup a 2012 green flaming beast of a ZX14R but picked up a 2009 Busa with only 575 miles on it for 10k out the door. Had Two brothers slip-ons and a helmet thrown in and couldn't be happier. Since then Juice box pro and other goodies have kept me very happy along with Dunlop Q2s and I'm blazing for less than the base price of the new 12.

There are so many upgrades to be had for the Busa, and it's what I wanted in the first place. Sure 15 extra ponies are great but can be found in the Busa very easily.

Besides how many times are you going to run 200mph? (as often as I can but that's just me!)lease:

However I still want to see the reply so that every 1k doesn't bother me to waste gas blowing him into the weeds because he thinks his bike is fast.

[The Big Red One]

I like the Z, I like the Busa, good chance I will have both in garage this time next year.

I already do lol. Actually I have a modded 04LE busa and boosted 06 14. I have also rode multiple gen2 busa's as well, along with a new 14R. Nothing stock can compare to a boosted bike if pure, raw, ridiculously brutal acceleration is what you like....which I do.....ALOT!!! But for a stock bike the 14R almost feels like a mild turbo bike, and Sport Rider said the same thing. That bike has the kinda pull you have to feel to understand, especially the way the power builds. But like someone else mentioned, it doesn't make your current ride any less powerful. A fast bikes a fast bike, and will always be fast. I still ride and enjoy my busa, even tho my 14 is in another universe speed wise.

The busa will always be a great bike...no matter if its the fastest bike around or not. In 04 the zx10 was a little quicker then the busa up till the higher triple digits, but I still bought a busa cause it was a better all-round bike. In 06-07 the 14 was quicker than the busa, but the busa still sold well because its a great bike. And it will keep selling well I think because its a great bike.
If you want the ultimate in speed, and never want to worry about a faster stock bike being produced, boost your bike....problem solved

In Sport Rider they said they never expected kawi to one-up the busa because of the world economic situation, and most companies are dug in and just waiting things out. I was shocked as well at the new 14R. I don't think suzi will respond for awhile, I don't think they need, want, or can really afford to till they see busa sales start taking a real dive...which might be a few years or more I suspect.
You can go a long way on a name.....as in 10 years unchanged for the first gen busa
Besides the busa has always sold well, even when it wasn't the outright fastest or most powerful.....

[1300hemibusa]

I like all 3 bikes in this order ...ZX14R , Gen 2 busa , BMW 1000rr .. I'd buy any one of them and be happy .. For now the the ZX14R fits me best and proven to be very fast .. See my sig and you will understand why i feel that way ..