Any Suzuki motorcycle owners? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

blackmercedes · #1 06-13-2003, 09:35 PM

My motorcycles have always been Honda. I used to work for Honda, so I got bikes at a serious discount. Guess it was old habit when I bought the 750ACE.

Well, the twin is not me. Thought it might be. Too slow. Waaaaaay too slow. My Dad likes it, and thinks it's more than fast enough for him.

My neighbour a few blocks over has a GSX1300R Hayabusa that he's thinking about selling to buy a new BMW motorcycle.

I'm thinking about buying the Hayabusa. I took it for a short ride, and really like the ergonomics. It's a big bike with a riding position that suits me well. It's not a full-on sport bike, so it seems that I could ride it for hours. It's got a nice saddle with high quality foam (not broken down) and room for me to attach some soft luggage. I took it for a highway tool, and the wind protection is just right for the riding position. Not resting on my wrists, but not straining to hold on, either.

It's REALLY fast.

The downside is the operating cost. It uses more gas (though less than just about any car at highway cruise) and I'm sure burns through those monster radial tires without much effort.

I have never owned a Suzuki and don't know much about their build quality. It seems well made, but I am leery of taking a chance of something this expensive. The fit and finish are Honda-like, and the engine starts and runs really nicely, even cold. The fuel injection is precise and there's no driveline wind-up.

I'm not a fan of Suzuki cars. Any reason I should be leery of this bike?

#2 06-13-2003, 10:06 PM

john, i know alot ot guys that "think" they are fast that ride busas.
it is a FINE piece of equipment. prob insur classed as "sportbike"
it is however a "handfull" to say the least, most power at top.
and yes, that power will burn a good 190 radial in less than 5K miles.

im looking at the kawi ZRX-1200R. approx 115 HP at 492 lbs.
going rate is approx $7K US$, and NO insurance issues.
tons of readily available mods, and big forum community.

i havnt been there, but many of the guys on the ZRXOA forum
frequent a forum i think is LABUSAS.com prob good info there.

heres the ZRX, but im leaning toward the blue now.

blackmercedes · #3 06-13-2003, 10:24 PM

Time warp! That looks just like an "Eddie Lawson" special from some time ago. Neat! Modern driveline, though...

The Hayabusa is not a torqey bike, but not as peaky as I thought. It does take some rowing of the six speed, but once I got it moving on the highway, I found it pretty easy locked into six regardless. I passed three cars on the two lane section without a downshift and we were barely out there.

$7K for that 1200 brand new? You Yanks are pretty lucky. The Hayabusa is about $16000 Canuck-bucks new, but used ones are around $10K.

He's still not committed to buying the BMW, so I might be out of luck anyway, but we'll see. Has to be the right price.

Thanks!

#4 06-13-2003, 10:48 PM

you nailed it, it is know as the "ELR" (or eddie lawson replica)
retro looks, but it is a throughly modern machine.

a pipe and jets is good for an easy approx 135HP.
good thing the stock brakes are 12 pots on 310mm rotors up front.
twin rear shocks, but completely adjustable at both ends.
torgue monster, something like 80% at 4K on a 12K motor.

for busa info, do check out that labusas.com

TTaM · #5 06-14-2003, 02:08 AM

I like how you mention that the Hayabusa is fast. It is the fastest production bike ever made. Japan got into a top speed war and the 2000 model was the fastest, toping out at something like 220.

There was then an agreement to keep the bikes under 190... The Busa is an excellent bike. It is too big to truly be a sport bike, more a sport tourer. Some even have cruise control. If you are looking for quick, I say get it. Tyre wear? Who cares, you are driving one of the fastest road machines ever made. Gas consumption? Control the throttle and this won't be a problem. There is quite an aftermarket for this bike as well, I know a guy here in Chicago that actually has a turbo-charged busa. He is, well crazy. And I am now ranting. Suzuki is builds an excellent bike, if the price is right, snatch this sucker up

blackmercedes · #6 06-14-2003, 10:26 AM

The comments about it not being a full on sport bike are dead on. The longer wheelbase and slower steering make it rock steady at speed. While I only rode it for about 20 minutes on the highway, I noticed the aerodynamic management is outstanding. Cross winds barely moved it.

I see how this bike is made for high speed running.

I have had a change to ride a GSXR-1000, and the Hayabusa is a different animal altogther.

Hopefully, the BMW dealer will make a sale, and then we can get down to brass-tacks on that bike.

#7 06-14-2003, 05:18 PM

Suzuki has done much to improve it's build quality. I own a Honda Rincon 650 ATV but I think the Suzuki ATV's are best for the money. I'm not sure if ATV quality has anything to do with road bikes, but that's my .02.

Gilly · #8 06-14-2003, 10:55 PM

I'd forget about the Suzuki and do what the current owner is considering--get a Beemer.

Gilly

blackmercedes · #9 06-15-2003, 12:00 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gilly
I'd forget about the Suzuki and do what the current owner is considering--get a Beemer.

Gilly

Did you find some suitcases fulla cash you can send my way? The K1200GT he's looking at is $26,000. The cheapest BMW sports-tourer (the class I'm looking for) is about $19,000. That's pretty much almost double my budget.

I would love a BMW motorcycle, but they're just too durned much money. And used? People keep those things.

Gilly · #10 06-15-2003, 08:15 AM

Find a nice low mileage K75S like mine, man is that thing nice, and cheap used, usually $3500-4500 for a real nice low miler. I bought mine new and got over 80,000 rounds on it. if it were gone right now I'd look for another one for sure.
I do love the GT though, first bike that's come out that could possibly replace my S, although I need to ride one. Maybe when I get 150,000 on my S I'll look for a good used GT

Yes I know the K75 is no Hayabusa, but the Hayabusa is no K75S, either.

Gilly

need2speed · #11 06-16-2003, 10:50 AM

Yamaha 2-strokes FOREVER.......

Gilly · #12 06-16-2003, 03:42 PM

Dean
My first couple bikes were Kawi 2 strokes. First was a '75 400 triple (S3A) and the second was a '75 750 (H4C, aka a Mach IV) which was the 750 version of the legendary (infamous?) 500 triple Mach III. They sure were quick bikes. Wish i still had the 750.

Gilly

need2speed · #13 06-16-2003, 06:19 PM

Gilly: the smell of burning oil and scorched rubber....gotta luv those atomic chainsaws on wheels!

blackmercedes · #14 06-16-2003, 06:22 PM

Last week I saw an RD350 in the Trader. Pretty tempting. Great platform to build a giant-killer, though the giants are bigger and tougher than ever.

speedybenz · #15 06-18-2003, 12:59 PM

I say get the suzuki. It's twice the motorcycle than the BMW could ever dream to be.

Build quality is very good and the engines are simple to maintain.

But then I raced Suzukis and was sponsered by them.

Jeff