The Hayabusa....a bike for the "ages"

[babuski]

Okay boys and girls. I just celebrated my 48th birthday. Which means I'm old enough to be the father of some of you youths!

I pulled into my garage the other night after a birthday celebration and looked at my beautiful hayabusa and couldn't believe it. I'm 48 years old and driving a bike that goes nearly 200 mph and is driven usually by folks 20 years younger than I and goes from zero to 60 in 2.4 seconds.

My reflexes have slowed but are still lightning fast from kickboxing for many years. My muscles are not as strong as they were but after two years and 13,000 miles (8000 of them in the last 6 months!!), I can say I'm finally comfortable on my busa.

My question to the wise (and perhaps older) folks of this board is.....at what point does one have to seriously consider that he's too old to drive the mighty busa? I've seen lots of 60 and 70 year olds on Harleys and Goldwings but monkeys will fly out of my ass before I ride a Harley and I don't think my soul would sit well with a Gold Wing. I guess I am asking, how many more years do I have on this freaking rocket???

 

[babuski]

oops....only had the busa for 18 months. Will be two years in July and will probably have 16,000 miles by then......

 

[BigBSBusa]

Sounds like you are just gettin' started!

 

[sageronin]

I'm also 48 ... and I plan to ride for as long as I can throw my legs over her ... riding the Busa is actually keeping me young and stress-free! When I get too old to ride aggressively or long distances, then I'll just be an old azz poser!!

 

[techbum]

Well......I'm 51 and still feel 30 and seem to keep up with ones half my age sooooooo.........as long as I think I am riding with good abilities, I will still climb on and "ride like I stole it". Who knows?.......maybe along with age came a little wisdom to keep me out of some stupid situations.

 

[DAB]

According to the "How Old Are You?" poll on this board, 56% of us are in the 31-40 year bracket, and 19% are in the 41-50 year range.

So you're member of the Nineteen-Percenters.

 

[Southside Playa]

This is all very inspiring. I thought after 40 you should settle down and get a cruiser. But this means I can still keep a busa or the equivalent to 50 or even longer. I am just 27 right now, turning 28 next month. YOu guys keep it up !! Keep good gas in your bike, and viagra on the night stand....... Just playing.

 

[babuski]

What has helped immensely is not necessarily HOW I ride but WHERE I ride. I live in the second largest "edge city" in the United States after Irvine California. Traffic sucks and there are always problems. For most of my riding life I've been near population centers and traffic, including the Greater Los Angeles Area. But someone suggested I take Seabiscuit out for some real riding out in the country. Well Illinois is mostly soybean and cornfields. About 80% of my miles this past season was in rural areas 50 to 150 miles west of Chicago. I keep a log for my bike and for riding. I note the number of near misses, potential accidents, close calls etc...

After 7000 miles of riding since May 2004, most of it in the cornfields, I HAD NOT ONE CLOSE CALL or NEAR MISS or so much as an incidence with another vehicle in the rural areas. Back near home, its a daily occurence.

Its also a great place to air out the busa. Its amazing how quickly this thing goes from 80 to 120 mph.

And this 48 year old don't need no viagra. One twist of the throttle and both man and machine are "excited" .

 

[btreaves]

I'm 36 years old and I've had my 2000 BUSA since May of 2000 and I've put over 35,000 miles on it. Recently I freshened the motor up a bit to the tune of about 210rwhp and at the same time I decided to buy a 2004 Kawasaki Mean Streak cruiser.

I don't know where it came from and never thought I'd ever ride one or own one for that matter, but a friend of mine insisted that I ride his Yamaha Royal Star and a week later I was the owner of my own cruiser. I still love my BUSA and if I ever need to pull it out to put on a demonstration of quickness and speed I've got it there waiting, but honestly...I enjoy riding my cruiser much more than riding the BUSA. It's just more fun and relaxing for me.

I say all this to say, don't be afraid to try a cruiser, you may like it more than you think. Never say never...I'm glad I didn't.

 

[babuski]

oh and one other item....the miles per gallon in the country is amazing. Mid to high 40s in the country. 30s in the city. My weighing only 175 pounds has something to do with it too.

 

[loboboy]

your never too old to have fun and enjoy life!!!!

 

[tedbiele]

if you feel you need a touring bike you can always add bags to the busa.....
if your feeling your age...... there's Dr. Phil......
if you need an excuse and some attaboys - ahem - attasirs from us we'll give them to you all day long........
if you have to ask - you have as long as you feel like riding it.....
we tend to put limitations on ourselves which end up being our boundaries we seem to live by. every individual is different and you obviously know yourself and i hope that i am in great enough shape to be ridign when i am in my 50's and 60's. be greatful, grab your helmet, and go for a ride.

ted biele



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[MET]

You will find that there is more over 30 andy many n their forts and lots of us in our 50's and few in thir 60's and a couple I kow in their 70's. We all love to ride.

 

[HayaGreg]

I'm in the 50-60 range now and have owned the Ultra for over a year and before that had the Classic. The 'Busa is just a totally different kick. I think I'll keep it.

 

[Revlis]

He he... My wife's Mother IS 48  

...  Seriously though, one thing I have noticed is that 60 isn't what it used to be, I meet folks here at work and out and about and yeah they may be 60 but they are just as healthy and active as ever....  You'd never guess...  

I agree with alot of the above, your only old when you decide your old.  Hell I'm 33 and I act like a fugging 21 year old, so go figure.

All I know is that My generation will be sitting in the Old Folks Home, listening to Nine Inch Nails, Metallica or Fugging .50cent or some "old School" Dr. Dre, now that will be some funny stuff...

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[BLU88]

I MET A GUY THAT IS 68 AND BOUGHT A 2000 BUSA AND HAS 3.. AND ROLIN.

 

[mattjul]

as long as you feel strong never give up riding. I just got back into riding this past summer after a 14 year absence. Safe to say that i'm very happy that I did. I'm am now 37 and look forward to many years of riding the Busa.

 

[vman1300]

All I know is that My generation will be sitting in the Old Folks Home, listening to Nine Inch Nails, Metallica or Fugging .50cent or some "old School" Dr. Dre, now that will be some funny stuff...

Oh my now that is a picture! We are all getting a good laugh out of that one!


Back on the question, you decide when and if you are ready to stop riding the Busa. I know people who are in their 60's and still acting like there is no end in sight of their busa riding.

Kevin
info@mrcycles.com

 

[Wag]

I don't remember reading anything about an age limit for the 'Busa in the owner's manual. Hmmmmmmm. Have to double check that.

I'm 39 and jumped on a 'Busa after 12 years of not riding anything.

I think I'm good to go for another 30 years, at least.

;-)

--Wag--

 

[EAKbusa]

Geez. And I thought I was old because I just turned 35.

But really I know alot of so called 'older" guys that ride bikes and from what I gather there are lots on this board that are 30-50 and older. Seems that the good old Busa is suited to us "old farts" that still want to be young. So go be young!!