jw
Novice Class
Posts: 81
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posted June 07, 2006 08:33 AM
old busa or new zx14
What would you do? (I kinda can expect the answer having posted on zx-14 forum)
new 04 busa for about $9000 and put in a bore kit or billet block for $2000
or
new zx-14?
(If you can, supress personal preferences in the looks department)
  
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MasterBlaster
Expert Class
Posts: 297
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posted June 07, 2006 08:59 AM
Well here goes. The Busa is a great bike but is getting dated in several areas. My riding Bud has one and we swap off all the time just for kicks. Even he will tell you that the 14 feels 200 pounds lighter than the Busa though they weigh about the same. Handling on the 14 is much sharper alsowith better suspension, and there is no compairson in the brakes. You can do with one finger in that department what it takes a handful to do with the Busa. I am 67 so one of the most important areas for me is the ergos. The 14 is a much more relaxed comfortable ride. What the Busa has going is a bullet proof, very strong engine, and years of knowledge of what works and what dont. Also the aftermarket is very strong for the Busa, but I expect the 14 to catch up very quickly. As to the looks, I have always liked the Big Busas looks. But consider with a new generation Busa right around the corner, and the ZX14 already here, used Busas will lose value very fast as the desirability starts to fade. I traded a ZZR1200 for my 14, and paid $3500 difference out the door. I couldnt have put $3500 in the ZZR and equalled the 14. So I would either go for the 14, or wait for the Super Busa......TB
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CrotchRocket
Moderator
Bracket Racing with Betsy
Posts: 8038
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posted June 07, 2006 09:12 AM
If you like Suzuki's then buy a Busa...
If you like Kawasaki's then get the 14, or look for an '05 left over 12...
I prefer Kawsaki's, they have less problems than Suzuki's and that's the reality !!!
____________
Jason Miller StreetBike Seminars
*****DragRacers do it better, because they dont cut Corners*****
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supra5677
Pro
Posts: 1279
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posted June 07, 2006 09:22 AM
question? Do you drag race?
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shawnski
Pro
Posts: 1809
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posted June 07, 2006 09:29 AM
owned 3 busas in past.
1. braking a lot better in zx14
2. more comfort in zx14. busa seats very uncomfortable. hurts bad when you ride for a while.
3. buzzy engine in busa, zx14 is as smooth as it can get.
how did you find a new 04 busa????
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D
Needs a job
Posts: 3365
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posted June 07, 2006 09:34 AM
What are ya usin the bike for?
Do ya need to make this purchase right now?
Unless yer doin the work yerself, I dunno where yer gettin a billet block or even the parts for a 1397 for $2k.
If yer wantin big power with a solid aftermarket then the Busa is the way to go. Having said that, a piped and mapped 14 will likely outperform a well built 1397 and you'll be at the same $ mark anyway - still a draw.
BTW - $9k seems pretty high for an 04 whether it's new or not. While on that note, you can buy used turbo or big bore Busas for around $12k and up.
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cool
Novice Class
Posts: 80
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posted June 07, 2006 09:47 AM
the 14 is new but not that much testing done on how it handles yes it may have smoother ride but does not mean it will out handle busa on race track.the busa is by far the best bike for drag racing with all the mods you can do.the busa is better built my opion.the 14 looks very cheap plastic gauges and gaps around front cowl and gauges.those mirrors not very clean look.look like they just bolted on some bars for mirrors.they could of blend mirrors in to flow with rest of bike.sorry 14 owners just my thoughts.also the zzr 1200 is a smoother ride than a busa doesnt mean it will outhandle the busa.the busa harder ride can also take some fast turns as many hardcore riders allready know.the 14 does have more power stock,but hell who,s stock anymore.
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fastestbusaaround
Needs a life
I eat Fish...
Posts: 7889
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posted June 07, 2006 09:59 AM
Having owned Busa's befoire and now a 14, I really have to to take argument with Cool, who I suppose does not own a 14...articles in rags are very subjective and in many cases are lopsided to those who spend the most for space in the rag. Talk to people who:
1) Are competent riders and
2) Have enough seat time on both bikes
There is no question, whether on the street or the track or the strip, the Busa loses hands down in handling and braking, not to mention speed.
Sorry Cool, but you sound like a TROLL to me...what do you ride anyway? You must ride something...
____________
FYYFF!!!
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jw
Novice Class
Posts: 81
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posted June 07, 2006 10:44 AM
 Edited By: jw on 7 Jun 2006 11:45
Wow! I thought I was going to get crucified with my question. Thanks for some constructive info!
I don't drag race. I'm looking for the fastest thing I can put on the streets (short of a turbo). Which means low end torque and high end power both get consideration.
APE racing's got 1397 busa kit that they list on the web site for $862. I'm just thinking a piped and mapped 14 will put it easily $12-13000. (11K bike, 1K for pipe, 300 for PC3, 400 for PC3R; if you're going to do it right...) Which gives me maybe $4000 in mods to a old busa.
I used to ride an 11. Then I put Muzzys 1195 block on. I did the teardown and assembly myself and was fairly uneventful. Never really ran quite right with the carbs and sold it before I got it figured out. Even looked into EFI for the 11, even before the 12 came on the market. Bought one of Hahn racecrafts throttle bodies. Talk about a POS!
Anyway, thanks for the input. I know stock for stock, or even bolt on for bolt on (ie pipes and PC3), it looks like the 14 going to win with a price premium.
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supra5677
Pro
Posts: 1279
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posted June 07, 2006 11:27 AM
A zx12r with brock gen 3, bmc race, and pc3 will make at least 182 RWHP with a custom map. The 14 with the same set up will make 192 RWHP plus or minue a few..
Adding a thin head gasket and 105/103 to the 12r will give you over 190RWHP Y2K had STD dynos of 189 and 192 respectively..
Depends on how deep your wallets are..
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dubious
Needs a life
Needs more time to ride!
Posts: 8442
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posted June 07, 2006 11:36 AM
Resale might be a consideration too!
____________
natural selection.....
destiny will overcome intervention.
Some are not worthy of the effort.
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Jason9R
Novice Class
Posts: 47
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posted June 07, 2006 11:40 AM
I agree with Supra, build a 12 and save tons o' cash. Looks alot better too.
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D
Needs a job
Posts: 3365
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posted June 07, 2006 12:13 PM
Well if yer in the $13k range why not buy the Busa and run street tune Ghetto kit? 250 hp on pump gas.
If yer only talkin a 1397 then I'd go with the 14, yer billet block comment led me to think that ya wanted some 1500cc monster which is why I was talkin turbo. The 14 is updated and runs pretty much the same numbers as most run of the mill 1397's do when piped and PC'd and apparently the brakes are night and day between the two models.
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dwzx14
Novice Class
Posts: 32
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posted June 07, 2006 02:37 PM
quote:
the 14 is new but not that much testing done on how it handles yes it may have smoother ride but does not mean it will out handle busa on race track.the busa is by far the best bike for drag racing with all the mods you can do.the busa is better built my opion.the 14 looks very cheap plastic gauges and gaps around front cowl and gauges.those mirrors not very clean look.look like they just bolted on some bars for mirrors.they could of blend mirrors in to flow with rest of bike.sorry 14 owners just my thoughts.also the zzr 1200 is a smoother ride than a busa doesnt mean it will outhandle the busa.the busa harder ride can also take some fast turns as many hardcore riders allready know.the 14 does have more power stock,but hell who,s stock anymore.
I disagree in this area of fit and finish! What the hell are those things on the Busa frame benith the gas tank. One a pad for the knee but that other one looks like it was an after thought. My eye went to it and kept me from buying one.Those Plastic do-dads are crappy looking. Doesn't it have stupid rubber boots on the end of the mirrors too. The one I was looking at ,the rubber was loose - on a brand new one. Poor design.
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shawnski
Pro
Posts: 1809
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posted June 07, 2006 02:48 PM
quote:
quote:
the 14 is new but not that much testing done on how it handles yes it may have smoother ride but does not mean it will out handle busa on race track.the busa is by far the best bike for drag racing with all the mods you can do.the busa is better built my opion.the 14 looks very cheap plastic gauges and gaps around front cowl and gauges.those mirrors not very clean look.look like they just bolted on some bars for mirrors.they could of blend mirrors in to flow with rest of bike.sorry 14 owners just my thoughts.also the zzr 1200 is a smoother ride than a busa doesnt mean it will outhandle the busa.the busa harder ride can also take some fast turns as many hardcore riders allready know.the 14 does have more power stock,but hell who,s stock anymore.
I disagree in this area of fit and finish! What the hell are those things on the Busa frame benith the gas tank. One a pad for the knee but that other one looks like it was an after thought. My eye went to it and kept me from buying one.Those Plastic do-dads are crappy looking. Doesn't it have stupid rubber boots on the end of the mirrors too. The one I was looking at ,the rubber was loose - on a brand new one. Poor design.
i agree with fit and finish on zx14, i think it has improved alot since 00 zx12. if you owned a 00 zx12 the area around tank and wind screen was wide open with no covers and wires everywhere. look around zx14 everything has great fit and finish. hey kawi even thouhgt about us doing oil and oil filter change withought moving any plastic 
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fastestbusaaround
Needs a life
I eat Fish...
Posts: 7889
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posted June 07, 2006 02:50 PM
quote:
(If you can, supress personal preferences in the looks department)
Hmmmm...can we read?
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FYYFF!!!
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reynoldss
Expert Class
Posts: 207
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posted June 07, 2006 03:16 PM
quote:
owned 3 busas in past.
1. braking a lot better in zx14
2. more comfort in zx14. busa seats very uncomfortable. hurts bad when you ride for a while.
3. buzzy engine in busa, zx14 is as smooth as it can get [/quote
I as well have owned 3 busas and would like to add , in the handling department the busa isn't even in the same world. The feeling of riding one hell of a machine was good a on the busa but off the charts on the 14. Best bike I've owned to date.
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Everybodys tyring to go green, I did years ago.
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reynoldss
Expert Class
Posts: 207
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posted June 07, 2006 03:25 PM
Edited By: reynoldss on 7 Jun 2006 16:27
Oh yea I had a RC51 jump on me going up the back side of deals gap. This was a 14 mile ordeal. When I pulled into the store I pulled my helmet off and counted to 12 and he pulled in. He keep ringing his neck at the bike, but pulled out and kept going. Funny how he didn't want to talk. Point being I would have never pulled that one off on the busa. And I wasn't fatigued.
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Everybodys tyring to go green, I did years ago.
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lizard
Pro
Modulator
Posts: 1483
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posted June 07, 2006 03:29 PM
14.
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cls
Expert Class
Posts: 410
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posted June 07, 2006 04:33 PM
Had both. 'Busa's a great bike, but go w'/the 14. Better all-around bike. Hands down.
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sands
Expert Class
Posts: 151
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posted June 07, 2006 05:58 PM
quote:
the 14 is new but not that much testing done on how it handles yes it may have smoother ride but does not mean it will out handle busa on race track.the busa is by far the best bike for drag racing with all the mods you can do.the busa is better built my opion.the 14 looks very cheap plastic gauges and gaps around front cowl and gauges.those mirrors not very clean look.look like they just bolted on some bars for mirrors.they could of blend mirrors in to flow with rest of bike.sorry 14 owners just my thoughts.also the zzr 1200 is a smoother ride than a busa doesnt mean it will outhandle the busa.the busa harder ride can also take some fast turns as many hardcore riders allready know.the 14 does have more power stock,but hell who,s stock anymore.
You've got to be kidding right ?
When I first saw the 14 I couldn't believe the level of refinement that Kawasaki incorporated into this bike...
The ZX14 gauges look way better than the Busa...The Busa still uses an analog heat gauge compared to the exact readings of the 14's digital gauges..Way more features on the ZX 14's gauges and in no way could I imagine it's gauges looking cheaper than the Busa's...Matter of fact the ZX14's gauges are the best I've seen on any sportbike. And the mirrors look much better as well....
The integrated signals and led tail light look so much better than than the Busa's rear end...The Busa really shows it's age by comparison.
to say the ZX14 is cheap compared to the Hayabusa is a serious case of denial...I like the Busa and think they are good looking bikes and wouldn't mind having one and I don't own a ZX14 either...But honestly looking at both bikes side by side I cannot imagine anyone coming up your conclusion...
The fit and finish on the 14 looks so much better than the Busa....My wife who doesn't really have an eye for these types of things can tell a difference...We went and looked at the Busa and then we looked at the ZX14 and I asked her which one looks better (just to see what she'd say) from a quality/fit and finish perspective and she didn't hesitate to say the ZX14 had a significant edge....
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www.nonationalid.com
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PapaBoomBoom
Parking Attendant
Posts: 27
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posted June 07, 2006 06:22 PM
I have just put 1k miles on a nex zx14. I owned a busa for 2 years. Rather than repeat what others have said, let me add some esoteric comments.
The 14 feels like new technology at work. Examples, crank on the 14 is instant and ready to ride very quickly. Monocoque frame allows the rider to ride with knees tucked in...the busa felt fat. The engine has no discernible vibration ( a good thing for longer rides). The built-in flat spot gives the bike a VERY easy-to-ride feel below 6K, which, if you are normal is where you will spend considerable in- town time.
Little things: oil change is 10 minutes with no fairings removed
Headlights are the best on the market
A helmet lock that actually works
White dials are VERY easy to read at speed.
I put a pair of Heli Bar risers on last night. Took me 5 minutes to install both risers. This gives me the option of leaving them off when doing short rides and putting them on for longer rides.
I had my suspension tuned on the Hayabusa, believe me it needs it. The stock suspension, with some minro adjustments has significantly better response than the busa's.
More later
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