[Dee Dub]

Do you like Starbucks?

[testarossa]

Thanks all for your replies!!!

I had my KAT up for sale and it sold today for what I wanted

Was in luck to also find a like new 2003 Busa for sale! Only 3K miles! So I bought it this evening.

Only put 40 miles on it today and never pinned the throttle or even close to it. It is a powerhouse! Cruises at 60mph at only 3K RPM with the throttle barely cracked. I have only had it up to 65MPH so far...but I think she will do more

I found it to be a lot more comfortable than the KAT sitting in the upright position. The Busa is very uncomfortable to lay down on though because of the tank design. Don't think it was designed for the rider to lay down on the tank. I will miss that part the most of my KAT.

The Busa seemed to corner leeps and bounds better than the 2" lowered KAT.

The Busa seemed lighter holding it up at stoplights and overall it feels like a smaller bike when riding it for some reason???

The Busa headlights are far superior to the KAT

The Busa generates lots of heat in the leg and lap region that is annoying when sitting at stop lights on an 85 degree day.

Shifting the Busa is effortless and smooth

Busa has fuel injection...I like the instant throttle response a lot!!!

Every gear is fun gear with the Busa


So these are just some of my observations between the two! Just in case anyone was wondering.

I will ride safe...I'm almost 30 yrs old and not interested in popping wheelies. I know the dangers of gravel and acceleration in corners from my dirt bike days as a kid all too well. The idea of buying the Busa was more for straight line thrills and no peer pressure besides myself wanting something that had a power band that would kick in anytime I requested it. Do I feel I'm ready for a big bore bike...yes if I can keep my right hand tame in iffy situations...no if I fail to do so. If I was 10 years younger I'd say that I would have probably hurt myself on a bike like this. The Busa handles like a kitten so far...as I've not cranked on the throttle yet. I feel that I've done things in a good ladder this year. 150CC to 600CC to 1300CC. I know that the experienced gained from this method has helped me when upgrading. As always...I'll ride safe!

Thanks again to all who replied. Had no idea my KAT was going to sell so quick.

[StevieB]

...The Busa generates lots of heat in the leg and lap region that is annoying when sitting at stop lights on an 85 degree day...

Oh, shut up! All we get these days here in HOTlanta is 100 degrees. Eighty five? EIGHTY FIVE!???!?? You lucky bastard!

[GenericEric]

I'm not sure what year exactly that Suzuki and Kawasaki made the gentleman's agreement that they won't make a factory bike that goes faster than 186mph. But that Busa will certainly outrun at Kat at the top end with roughly 3 more gears to go.

Glad you like it, please stay safe.

[paradoxmd]

Pictures man!

[katana bob]

not to sound like an arse, and I'm glad you found what you wanted, but we've all heard the "I'm 30yo and more experienced yada yada" before. actually a couple months ago from a guy that sounded much like you. the last post we got from him was actually from his mother telling us he died in an accident less than a week from getting his new bike. please don't make us read this about you.

http://katriders.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=30168&highlight=killed

[SL1D3R]

14 cars!?

[The CyberPoet]

Re: Hayabusa VS KAT

I am new to riding this year. Logged 1200 miles on a 150cc scooter and 1100 on my 2003 Kat 600 that I've owned for about a month now. I have been thinking about upgrading to a Busa.

First off, I know that I probably don't have the time under my belt for a bike like that but I'm going to do whatever I decide anyway

Like everyone else who makes that decision in short order, you will indeed, and from your next post, you already have. IMHO, I think you went the wrong route in general (should have gone to a lighter, smaller, zippier bike inbetween the scooter & the Busa), and know that (combined between your statements and your experience levels) you will have some poor riding habits that will probably persist until the day you stop riding (which, for your sake, I hope isn't a result of something tragic).

- I'd like the acceleration / power band to kick in faster in the 0-60 range of the Kat if I keep it. Is there anything I can do to greatly increase this. I hate the power band not kicking in to 6500RPM.

This is an example of a poor riding habit. Concerning yourself about where the powerband is rather than taking advantage of it where-ever it lies is a poor riding habit. The Busa also has a "powerband" where it really opens up, although from the sounds of it, you may probably have reached it yet.
In any future bike-shopping, you might want to consider these basic "facts" of motorcycle engineering:
1. Torque, which equals low end acceleration, is a direct correlation to displacement. The larger the displacement, the higher the torque. Period.
2. The fewer cylinders an engine has, the more low-to-midrange torque it will normally have; more cylinders typically place the powerband higher up the power-curve.
3. If you are going to interest yourself primarily in under 75 mph speeds, you may be better suited to a large-displacement V-twin or parallel twin with a fat midrange and hefty torque as it's primary engineering objective.

The Busa seemed to corner leeps and bounds better than the 2" lowered KAT.

A non-lowered bike will always handle better than a lowered bike. Question - was the Kat lowered to permit you to flat-foot it, or was it a left-over from the previous owner?

The Busa headlights are far superior to the KAT

Actually, the 98+ Kat dual-headlights, properly aimed, should be significantly more lumens to the road than the Busa's stacked headlight. But the Busa's headlight should out-do the pre-98 Kat's headlight readily.

The Busa generates lots of heat in the leg and lap region that is annoying when sitting at stop lights on an 85 degree day.

This is the price you pay with a water-cooled engine. Virtually all water-cooled bikes have radiators that blow hot air over you at stop-lights (very few are designed such that all the fan-wash gets diverted away from you).

Do I feel I'm ready for a big bore bike...yes if I can keep my right hand tame in iffy situations...no if I fail to do so.

The real risk to you at this point is the panic-reaction risk, and not specifically in your throttle reactions. With under 2 years under your riding belt, combined with a high-HP/heavy-weight brute of a bike, the threat of a panic-reaction when caught out in a way you're not prepared for, is particularly common (unfortunately) and harrowing. I hope for your sake that you never get caught out in that sense, but will encourage you to seek some advanced on-road training, or at least read a British book called "Roadcraft: Police Rider's Manual" which helps teach you how to spot/evaluate threats far sooner than any of the US training systems I've seen.

Enjoy your new ride -- it can be a real pleasure!

Cheers,
=-= The CyberPoet

[Mojoe]

I agree with Katana Bob. We're talking about a 600/750cc motor vs. a 1300cc engine. That's like going from a Corvette to an F1 car.. They are completely different animals.

with the kat, I would say it is more like going from a ford escort to a F1 car.
84hp makes it kind of strange to compare it to a vette.

oh...and to answer your question...hell ya, go for it. 2300 miles under your belt qualifies you to ride one of the faster and most powerful bikes on the planet. it makes you a whole lot smarter than those idiots who buy one when they have never even ridden a bike before.

[testarossa]

Here are some photos of my old KAT and the new Busa.

[testarossa]

The KAT was lowered by the previous owner because he was vertically challenged.

You are correct...I have not found the TRUE power band in the Busa yet. I took it out to lunch and did a slight 1/4 pull on the throttle and got skeered

I never thought that you could ever ride on something that accelerated so fast that if you didn't have a death grip on the bars you would most certainly be bucked off. I've never been on anything in my life...that was sooo scary. The acceleration seems faster than any roller coaster I've ever been on.

Yep, right now I have 14 stupid cars. I am sooooo bored of them and probably sell most of the cages next spring. I've owned 43 cars in my life and am about burnt out in that hobby...the kit cars don't even interest me any more. I'll probably have a different feeling when its -30F outside and the Busa doesn't look appealing lol.

The Busa tops out at 203mph with a $25.00 TRE chip mod. In a few years I might buy that chip...not because of the top end enhancements but for better throttle response it offers.

[Santiago]

I have 14 cars...4 of which are Lamborghini and Ferrari kits...and I could care less if I drive them ever again compared to riding a bike.

Glad to hear it, how about you donate a few? While you're at it, donate one to me?

j/k - enjoy the new bike and ride safe.

[Mat0302]

I'll take one of those cars too. Nice rides!!

[philwecksr]

What do YOU do for a living?? I might be in the wrong major!!!

[Ythen57]

I got a 15 tooth on the front and a 50 on the rear... I lost about 20mph off the top end but since the kat is a heavier bike than most other sport bikes I would take the RR bike off the line to about 60mph... The kat's got the weight to keep the front on the ground and launch it harder... I got a K&N air filter, a yosh slip on pipe, and re jetted the carbs and am running the 1/4 mile in 12.4 seconds @ 107mph all day consistantly. Other than what I've done if you want more get ready to sink some serious money into it or get a faster bike. There's my 2 cents hope I've helped ya!

I would think that a cbr600rr would be a tough race against my gsxr750....they are the top 600 bike this year and almost won the open class against the gsxr1000.