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ZX14 or Hayabusa?

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msteinberg said:
I have an excellent driving record, am 32 years old and am financially solvent. I do not have a problem affording sufficient insurance.

Michael
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An excellent driving record means nothing but that you're awake on the road, which doesn't speak to your ability to control what amounts to a race car on the street.

You do realize that people your age are now the #1 death group in the US? New riders, 30+ (i believe) are upwards of 50% of the fatalities on motorcycles?

They are in this because of exactly the attitude you have: I have a good driving record, i'm a good driver, never been in an accident, etc. A motorcycle is NOTHING like a car. Something that a car would laugh at, a motorcycle will spit you off so fast you have no idea what's going on. You cannot highside a car. You cannot independently lock the tires on a car. You can't stoppie a car. Cars lean the wrong way. People see you in a car. Gravel doesn't mean fuck all in a car. Oil? Same. You don't have ride in the tire tracks on a car, or worried about painted arrows, or peeling out, or power wheelies. A driving a car teaches you less than nothing about riding a motorcycle, and in fact trains you to have the WRONG responses to things, especially if you're the typical, brakes mid corner, type of driver that 99% of drivers are.

You're in way over your head. You're not going to listen, so i don't know why i bother typing this, but you will get seriously injured or KILLED on a motorcycle if you don't respect it, and you're far from showing respect for it if you have gone out, sat on a couple of bikes, and then decided that you need the absolute biggest possible bike you can find. I wish i were still in the bay area, because i'd take my g/f's SV650 and make you shit your pants on that and then you could turn around and try to tell me that you needed a bike that had 3x the HP of that. I'm far from an amazing rider, but you have NO idea what you are about to get yourself into. When you see your bike lying on the street, remember what i've said. When you're having the asphalt scraped out of your skin, when you're bleeding out on the pavement, remember what i've said. I know, because i've been there, bleeding on the pavement, on a bike had 1/3rd the power, because i didn't know what the fuck i was doing. I lost a week of my life as a result of the concussion that i got through my top of the line helmet. I still have scars from it. I remember this every time i ride, and every time i hear someone like you with the best of intentions going out to get themselves killed on a machine they can't even begin to understand.

We are trying to help you not make a mistake that could haunt both you and us as riders for the rest of your lives. We want you to come in and be happy as a rider, help us become a bigger positive force in the US, and ride for the rest of your life, happy that you picked it up. This is not the right way to do that.
 
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get the busa if you want:x
just stay the hell away from me on the road
im not gonna die because some old guy
thought he could handle a bike
that goes faster than he can think
 
Please post as to the WHERE and the WHEN you will be riding this beast for the first time. I have 2 lawn chairs, cooler, 12 pack, video camera and a hot designated driver. I've been waiting for a worthy event and this will be it.
 
msteinberg said:
I am only looking for opinions on the two bikes. I am an adult and take responsibility for my actions. That said, I would appreciate it if further responses would refrain from lectures on my safety.

Michael
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What about our safety? Ive been rear-ended by an idiot who was on too much bike, and it totalled both our bikes and was a giant fucking hassle. Not to mention i havent been comfortable with whats behind me since. I see youve already made your decision (in a single day). Youre just another idiot who chose ego, form, and technology over the safety and well-being of yourself and those around you. I hope you have a whole pile of dirt bike experience and make it to see 33.
Just take a look at how many strangers care enough to write 6+ pages about why youre making a bad decision, and you dont even have the respect to consider the opinions of experience. You wont find many friends here.
:rose
 
helmetknob said:
Please post as to the WHERE and the WHEN you will be riding this beast for the first time. I have 2 lawn chairs, cooler, 12 pack, video camera and a hot designated driver. I've been waiting for a worthy event and this will be it.
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you bring the grill ill bring the steaks:thumbup
 
Z3n said:
A driving a car teaches you less than nothing about riding a motorcycle, and in fact trains you to have the WRONG responses to things, especially if you're the typical, brakes mid corner, type of driver that 99% of drivers are.
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This is especially true on a Hayabusa, which is going to get over the comfortable cornering speed of a new rider on nothing more than an accidental throttle input.

Bump in the road, going to fast, oh shit, brakes, and the nice new Hayabusa and rider are both going off the side of the road. Or even more fun, if it's a right hand turn, into oncoming traffic.
 
Aluisious said:
This is especially true on a Hayabusa, which is going to get over the comfortable cornering speed of a new rider on nothing more than an accidental throttle input.

Bump in the road, going to fast, oh shit, brakes, and the nice new Hayabusa and rider are both going off the side of the road. Or even more fun, if it's a right hand turn, into oncoming traffic.
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I don't even want to think about the issues of throttle control you'd have riding a hayabusa as a first bike. I managed to clutch up my 250 by accident on my 2nd day of riding...I would have been a tryout for cirque du soleil doing that on a hayabusa. On the bright side, they wouldn't have had to bury me, because i'd be nicely interred under my shiny new hayabusa. :laughing
 
There are plenty of other bikes out there that would fit you better than either of those bikes. Unless you're stuck on the Johnny Racer riding position. ST1300, FJR1300, the new Kawasaki Concours. A number of the BMW's.

If you're new to riding, or even if you've ridden before some time in the past, take it easy. Either of those bikes can get you into trouble so fast you won't even have time to blink. Yea, any bike can do that. But those two do it much, much faster.

If you're skills are rusty or non-existent, then I highly recommend something like the SV650 which can be set up just fine for your size and weight. And it's light, flickable, has plenty of power (there's a reason it's a poplular race bike) for a beginner, and is much, much less likely to get you in trouble. (Read keep you alive and unhurt.) If you still like riding after spending time on the SV, then by all means, move up to something bigger. A new rider buying and riding something like a Hayabusa is like giving a highschool student who just got their driver's license the keys to a Dodge Viper. Not an intelligent idea at all.
 
You've just got to ask yourself if you want the bike because:

A) You want to learn how to ride a motorcycle

~or~

B) Riding a motorcycle looks cool




You're not the "tank top 'n tats" kind of big guy, are you? If so, it's all ego - your whole life - and you've got some serious personal growth to go through before you'll accept a "lesser" bike.

But it's a maybe - you may be the tree-hugging Mick Fleetwood type of big guy, for all I know. :thumbup


Either way, don't die - okay?


-Q!
 
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guys, I don't think we can sway the OP that neither bike will be good for him.

Let's focus on gear..

Make sure you buy good gear and WEAR it!
 
Just take it easy for the first couple of days and you'll be fine. These panicky little old ladies on BARF are just jealous you're getting yourself a brand spanking new Busa'.

:twofinger
:wink
 
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I honestly hope to see you come back a year from now, reviving this thread, telling us all how you've put 60,000 miles on your Hayabusa without a single incident. It'd be one of those situations where I think most would be happy and maybe even grateful to get a big fat "I told you so" from you. Best wishes.
 
helmetknob said:
a responsible dealer shouldn't sell you either bike. there are plenty of other bikes out there for you start off on. my buddy is 6'5" and 300lbs. he drove a POS suzuki around until he got comfortable, then got a katana 750. he rides it daily. do yourself/family/friends a favor and don't kill yourself yet.
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I resemble this remark because it's me. If you are NOT a troll, please post when you are going to be riding because I commute to Walnut Creek every day and I don't need some idiot like yourself wiping me out when you go down.

And if you are going to insist on killing yourself, please do it another way than on the public roads that we are all riding on.
 
"I just got my M1" as you are a total newbie... or you have been riding 20+ years without a M1... or you are an expert dirt rider? If ZX14 or Busa, I hope you are not a total newbie.
 
msteinberg said:
After doing more research, I've decided to opt for the 2008 Hayabusa for its technology improvements. Thanks to all who have provided genuine criticism.

Michael
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Whatever, dude, the new ZX-14 will be better than the Hayabusa again. Kawasaki is releasing an update to the ZX-14 only after 2 years of model existence, exactly because the new Hayabusa came out. But you are not reading this thread any more I guess exactly because people gave you too much advice?
 
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