Hayabusa and Firestorm

[alan g]

I brought myself a Hayabusa yesterday; 2001 with 8000 miles on the clock.
It’s sitting in the garage next to the Firestorm.
I have only done about 100 miles on it so far so comparisons would not be fair at the moment.
First impressions are… Fast, good suspension, fast, susceptible to side-wind and fast.

The gearing has taken some getting used to, it feels like in is in second gear when it is in sixth, I was convinced the gear indicator was wrong and keep trying for another gear.
I was also convinced the speedometer was wrong, seventy mph feels more like forty.
I’ll take it over the Cat and Fiddle tomorrow and see if I can behave myself.





Not the best photo's but it is a dull day around here.
Alan

[sirch345]

The Hayabusa is some beast and as some will already know (previous postings) I have ridden one. It belonged to my brother and was the full power non-restricted version. The only thing I'm not so keen on is the look of them, especially on the lastest versions with their huge emission passing exhaust cans, but that wouldn't put me of owning one if I wanted one, they are one hell of a bike IMHO

Chris.

[Beamish]

Hell of a bike, warp speeds are simple but getting comfy isnt IMO, a proper licence loser Says me on a Blade

[alan g]

Well I have just done another 50 miles on it today, this time in the rain. The gear box is notchy compared the storm, the throttle takes a lot of care to get a smooth change.
There is usable power at any engine speed in any gear, but as everyone has said, it is constantly trying to take your licence off you, just one short twist and you are doing three figure speeds on a road where you never considered it before.
The back brake is far better than the Storm’s, the front are a little dead in their ‘feel’ but the braking effect does increase after the first contact with the disc ( not sure if that is caused by the after market discs or the new pads).
The exhaust is a road legal Quill evo 2; it’s still a little loud but I will get used to it.

I will get out on the Storm in a couple of days (if the sun comes out) and see if it still feels as good as it used to.

Alan

[Jbrebel]

Always liked Busa's too.

If I got more time/money to get across to Europe I'd look at one. Yours looks nice mate. Like the swing arm

[Jbrebel]

Why not Tim?

What i meant to say is...if I was to do LOTS more mileage and wanted something fast, hassle free and relatively comfortable, i.e. Europe (ala you and Dave...) I'd consider a Busa. They just appeal in that sense-not to say you can't do it on any other bike.

Dunno if I'd trust the Muell with that kind of distance Although I do no others that have had no problems doing massive mileage on XB's.

[sirch345]

A very tidy Busa Alan g There are quite a few extras on that bike, the more I study it the more I see I do like that colour scheme too

A very good non biased write -up, but one thing I do remember is, as you pointed out you're into 3 figures very very quickly

Chris.

[Beamish]

Gotta say, the more I look at your Busa the better I like it. Defo the best colour scheme and a far better shape than the half melted look Suzuki have cursed the later model with.

[alan g]

A very tidy Busa Alan g There are quite a few extras on that bike, the more I study it the more I see I do like that colour scheme too

A very good non biased write -up, but one thing I do remember is, as you pointed out you're into 3 figures very very quickly

Chris.

Thanks Chris.
I’ve taken the busa out tonight, thirty miles down the twisty county roads around were I live. The suspension soaks up the bumps better than the storm, but the steering not as quick (probably the fault of the steering damper). I’m getting used to the throttle response now, and the gear change is smoother since I took out some of the excessive play in the throttle. Get it wrong and the revs will clime like a scolded cat!
Your right about the extras, the last owner had spent a small fortune on the ‘bling’. He gave me all the receipts and all of the standard parts he had replaced.
It has a private plate on it and a couple of fellow bikers I got talking to tonight were convinced it was a new 09 bike!
So far, I feel it’s no quicker than the Storm around the small county roads: but obviously it is quicker along the fast B roads, but you do need a good set of mirrors!
One thing I have noticed; I can ride the bike for a lot more miles without the loss of felling in the hands which I suffer from with the storm.
The riding position is not that different, apart from the lower seat. I am thinking it is the reduced vibration through the bars that is making it more comfortable; I never really thought the handlebars vibrated on the Storm until I had the busa. now I can feel the difference.


Alan

[Jbrebel]

Glad your enjoying it. Keep us posted.

[sirch345]

Alan,
I must admit I was a bit surprised when you said the gearbox was not as smooth as the Storm's, as I didn't remember it being not as smooth, plus normally Suzuki's have nice gearboxes. So glad you've got it sorted now

I don't remember the throttle being a problem either, so perhaps that needs some fine tuning too.

The handlebars are rubber mounted iirc on the Busa, so you will have less vibes getting through than on the Storm, also with it being a four cylinder, that will be smoother than a big V twin anyway.

The seat being low like it is, makes you feel you're more part of the bike rather than being perched on the top of it.

The Storm will be more flickable than the Busa around country lanes because it's quite a bit lighter, but get out on the open road and the Busa will be gone gone gone

Chris.

[Jbrebel]

I did look at getting one before buying the Buell. Some nice, early, clean examples were about at the time. I was suprised how cheap the insurance was too.

I'm glad I bought the Buell with the mileage I do and what I use the bike for atm though. If that had to change I'd defo consider one dependant on circumstances. Don't like the new one though. The back end looks like a melted bic biro