Triumphrat

BlewBayou · 07-21-2008, 04:28 AM

Anyone have both bikes? Just wondering how bad the Hayabusa is on the old backaroo.
My d(st)ealer has an 07 silver ST non abs new for 8,999. Seems a bit pricey and it has the old style lower set handlebars, but it does have the hard bags.

Question, does anyone have any experience with the Hayabusa? How much more comfortable is the ST? I would love to ride a Hayabusa. Think if I ever did I'd probably add it to my collection.

DaveM · 07-21-2008, 05:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlewBayou

Anyone have both bikes? Just wondering how bad the Hayabusa is on the old backaroo.
My d(st)ealer has an 07 silver ST non abs new for 8,999. Seems a bit pricey and it has the old style lower set handlebars, but it does have the hard bags.

Question, does anyone have any experience with the Hayabusa? How much more comfortable is the ST? I would love to ride a Hayabusa. Think if I ever did I'd probably add it to my collection.

What do you want to know exactly?

I havent owned one but have ridden them including last years model.

A very different bike, soft rear end, very powerfull and smooth donk.
Extreme licence loosing capabilities, horrible no feel on and off 6 pot tociko brakes

now replaced with 4 potters for '08 model.

Handle very well but need firming up for hard sports riding, is a big bike with long stretch to the tank and pretty low bars. I personally like the seating position a lot, it is very stretched out and low.
If you don't like the Sprint bars you will like a Busa less.

It doesn't steer as fast as a properly set up Sprint and is harder to handle in the tight corners, the big Suzuk is made for fast sweepers not tight mountains.

I like them but it is a very different sort of bike to a Sprint.

To me the closest bike would be the Beemer K1200S.

cheers,
DaveM

G0ARL · 07-21-2008, 07:11 AM

Had the busa for about 12 month's back tyre wear depending on your right wrist of course 2000-3500, found it comfortable, enormous grunt and speed but for me it lacked character, had no problems, wife liked the pillion ride, very similar to blackbird but overall finish not as good as the Honda, both great bikes, just lacked soul everything a bit to easy and refined, thats my personal opinion for what its worth.

Regards Phil

Roden · 07-21-2008, 09:06 AM

A group of us went on a mid week ride up the Putty Road (north west of Sydney, fabulous stretch) and my mate came along on his Hayabusa.
Of course, his machine has mind blowing power and acceleration but guess what? There is no way he can use it all that performance on the road. He's a good rider but he had to work really really hard to stay with the Sprints through the twisties and a few of the quicker guys on Sprints and a Daytona hosed him (and me).

As Dave said, it is built for the fast sweepers and straights and you can lose your license in first gear!

I would never bag the 'busa, its a beautifully engineered machine but for me it would be the Sprint.

Cheers,

Roden

Roden · 07-21-2008, 09:32 AM

....sorry, you did ask about ergos. I have no personal experience but my friend tells me his Busa is a comfortable ride, he always gets off looking pretty fresh. Fantastic machine for an interstate blast.
At speed, he tells me that you just tuck in behind that fairing and there is no turbulance, you just go through the air like a bullet.

Cruising at 200km/h plus speeds is very easy....

Roden

ST · 07-22-2008, 03:26 PM

Busa riding position is cramped if you are anywhere near 6'foot tall. The distance from peg to the tank scallops is tight. Im 6'4" and looked like a lanky clown on one.

i 2nd the lack of character as its a silky smooth warp factor drive of silly performance and thats about it.
The way it accelerates is characterless as it just keeps going and going and for real road use the St is a better and more fun bike to ride as you can ring the st's neck to use all of its power where as the busa will run out of road in 3rd gear.

Busa's and the like are too lardy in comparison to the st which i would describe as similar to a 'grunty but overweight comfy 600 that handles well' if that makes sense....?

but when you park them next to each other you seem to get more for your money than the triumph.

chachi05 · 07-22-2008, 06:47 PM

I have a 07 sprint st and a 08 busa the sprint is a lot more comfortable im 5'9 200 after about an hour i really need to get off the busa. going from the busa to the sprint makes the sprint feel toy like.

giantkillerrobo · 07-22-2008, 07:31 PM

For a slightly different take - I swapped with a buddy, he wanted to do a 400miler out to Boise and back, so he took my Sprint, and I fearfully climbed aboard his BKing for a week of cruising around PDX.

The BKing is fantastic - a little less leg room than the sprint, but otherwise quite comfortable ergos. The motor is remarkably civil around town, but there is zero room for mistakes should you twist the right hand - there be dragons there. With no wind protection the ride gets a little tough on the shoulders/neck after 150 miles, but that is true for any naked bike. The front brakes are remarkable - probably the best brakes I've ever experienced, supreme feel and ridiculous stopping power, which was absolutely necessary considering how ridiculously fast you could get yourself into trouble. The first 30 mile ride home left me with such a severe case of the hiccups I though I was going to lose my lunch - the thrust is that scary/intimidating/wonderful wooohooo! If you ever get the chance to ride one of these monsters (he has the dyno, 172 rwhp at 400 miles on the clock) go for it!

Getting back on the Sprint was quite a change - the BKing's "B" mode (cut down power output, slower throttle response) is very similar to a stock Sprint. After riding that same 30 mile ride home, however, I was quite pleased with the wind protection, the Sprint has to be the absolute best motorcycle out there at at 70mph cruising along - a sentiment echoed by my friend. He enjoyed the Sprint and remarked that "you can really put miles on with that thing" several times. We are both ~6' tall and >200lbs, the extra legroom on the Sprint was nice for both of us.

Both are great machines - I'm still happier with the Sprint than I would have been long-term with the BKing simply for its utility, however I do need something to fill the extra space in my garage....

Cheers, JJ

harrya13 · 07-22-2008, 08:39 PM

G'day Roden..

I am one of the riders Roden referes to in his post below. Our Putty road has lots of tight bends and I was right on the tail of the Busa in the bends, and was looking to overtake, then, out of the bend - woooosh, it was gone, catch him up as he slowed into the next bend then same, same, same, for a while. I thought a few times, I can take this guy anytime on the bends, but hey, it was not a race and it would have been a bit silly, on a tight one lane twisty road, even dangerous..

We finally got to a short up hill tight 2 lane piece of the road and we went around the outside of the Busa, at speed, leaning kinda low.. but doing it very easily.

The guy was a good rider, but it also seemed he was struggling a bit in the tight stuff.. ( for what it's worth )
For my style of riding, give me the Sprint anytime..

:

BlewBayou · 07-25-2008, 11:31 AM

I read all the responses and I appreciate your feedback everyone.

I was watching this hayabusa on e-bay and it just made me sick to see how cheap it sold for.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...m=320274767066

Unreal huh?

Love my RS but I travel a lot too. 1200 mile trips several times a year would be fine on the Busa it seems. But the RS handling is so sweet. Like its on rails when I hit Deal's Gap. Just love it. May be time to sell the Valkyrie and shop for a Hayabusa.