Well that’s me back in the UK after a rather long stay in Australia, not half missing the sun and the 30 + temperatures just too cold for me here,..I’ve been shaking like a shitting dog since I got back And bored, bored, bored… only 4c and frosty here this morning so what to do??…test ride a monster hyperbike of course, you know it makes sense Hayabusa baby! Snow in that sky !! Had been toying with the idea of replacing my Kawasaki Ninja 1000SX tour bike with one of these so thought I’d better give one a try first 188 bhp, zero to 60 mph in 2.7 seconds and tops out at 186 mph, too cold today so I just saw wrong side of 140 it’s a mega powerful bike but also strangely docile, like a big gentle giant until you yank the quite heavy throttle, to get it going. Doesn’t seem much quicker than the Ninja below 90 ish, but once past the ton it just keeps accelerating with the same force, the Speedo needle just doesn’t seem to slow any until you loose your bottle! The Busa was amazing in the way it seemed to shrink around you once you started riding, made you forget how bloody big it is and for it’s size, the handling/cornering was really pretty good. Riding position was pretty extreme and felt more tucked up than my Panigale believe it or not Decided not to purchase as for what I need it for, the Ninja is a more complete and comfortable well rounded package and better at slow speeds, towns, filtering etc, plus it has the convenience of the hard panniers that have proved to be really good at scraping along bridge walls in Slovenia don’t ask… Must say I really enjoyed the test ride though, though I’d better try it whilst we still have some petrol supplies and before that annoying little do good sh1t Greta gets stuff like this banned Certainly would not rule out having one sometime in the future, cult bike
I must admit I can't see the appeal but I know a fair few have them and love them. It's the looks I struggle with most I think. Each to their own and at least now you've ridden you can make an informed decision. Welcome back to Blighty!
Wellll, .. I used to think so as well, but these new Gen 3 ones, in the right colour, look a lot sharper and sleeker, I particularly like the indicators ?? Designed in a wind tunnel they are a really smooth slippy shape, like a fish or a bird , very low cd, spin off benefits of which mean they are a piece of piss to clean cos they are really smooth, my Panigale is twice as easy to clean compared to my Ninja with all its angled facets and edges. When I say that it handles amazing, I mean for its size, it’s so long and low it’s as stable as a shed full of horses tight nadgery flip flops would obviously slow it down a bit. Tbh it’s the sort of bike you could chill on as it doesn’t egg you on to go fast, pretty relaxing to ride as it doesn’t break sweat till your well over the ton, 70 mph is about 4,200 revs, just loafing along, totally different feel to revvy blat, blat, blat sports bikes, it’s like comparing a Bentley continental GT to a Ferrari 458 or something. It would be an epic ride for a European tour
A mate of mine had a gen 1 busa many years ago. I had a blast on it and were surprised how light it felt. I thought it would be like riding a barn door but i were pleasantly surprised, for a big bike it flicked about reasonably easily. Quite neutral handling.... Immensely fast though, it just pulling and pulling.... A real license buster
That has to be one of the ugliest bikes currently on sale! No good for our roads, with all the potholes and cameras, but probably comes into its own in Europe, as you say,
I quite like it looks wise, apart from that I thought you'd photoshopped a bigger exhaust on it. But I still think the Gen 1 bikes were the best looking of the breed. Mind you, I've always liked the look of 749/999s, so who am I to comment.
If you get the time have a look at this MCN video and just watch how fast that speedo needle sweeps around the dial, unreal! Also listen to Neevesy’s opinion on the bike I know they’re a bit of a “ Marmite” bike, but if you haven’t ridden one of these Gen 3 ones you really should before you pass judgement, guarantee you’ll have a different opinion when you get off it, in this Black and Gold colour I think they look pretty good tbh. No one picked up on my comment about “ liking the indicators “….. I like them cos there aren’t any! Bike looks loads sleeker because they are built into the side running lights and the rear tail lights, looks fantastic and makes you realise how old fashioned and clumsy looking the normal sticky out ones on stalks are. I think the bikes biggest problem is not its looks, or it’s weight, or the way it handles,..it’s the fact that below 100 mph it feels like it hasn’t even woken up yet, just ticking over so to speak, without a doubt it’s a complete license buster,…I think I’m talking myself into getting one ?
Rode one in Thailand a few years ago , bat shit mental and was even more concerning riding in shorts flippys and a tee lol Hated the riding position personally. Glad you had fun though
I’ve never ridden one tbh but would like to have a go I do have a bit of a soft sport for the zx14/zzr1400 or whatever it’s called I must say
I've always fancied a go on one, having never ridden a hyperbike. Think I prefer the look of zzr1400 performance sport in black and red myself.
