Since I went on the launch of the Gen 3 Suzuki Hayabusa last year, I’ve wanted to get back on the bike for a longer stint because although I did a longish ride from Knysna to Cape Town in one go then, it wasn’t enough to really get to know the new Busa well enough. The long weekend in March presented me with the perfect opportunity with a nice 1,300km road trip planned via Polokwane, Tzaneen, Sabie and back home. Accompanying me on the trip would be my wife on her BWW K1200S which was BMW’s counter for the Suzuki Hayabusa back in the mid 2000’s.
This time round Suzuki SA gave me a black one, where I rode the white one on the launch. I’m not a fan of white bikes or cars, and I must say that the black Hayabusa is definitely the best looking one in my opinion. Also fitted to the demo bike was a genuine Suzuki aftermarket higher screen, which was something I mentioned in my original article I would fit to a Busa as soon as I own one. In addition, the demo also had a single-seat cowl fitted, which just rounded off the rear end of the bike perfectly.
Leaving our house in Randburg early Saturday morning, making my way up to the N1 highway, I immediately felt right at home. The Suzuki Hayabusa is a very easy bike to ride through traffic, the low centre of gravity helps slow speed riding and the torque from that awesome motor means you don’t have to play tunes with the gearbox to get going, basically any gear will do, as the bike pulls extremely strongly from low down in the rev range. The quickshifter is also up there with the best in the business, both up-anddownshifts are dispatched with ease.
Denne historien er fra May 2022-utgaven av Bike SA.
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Denne historien er fra May 2022-utgaven av Bike SA.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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A Ladies Perspective What a Surprise Kawasaki Ninja 1000SX
I’m sure as everyone knows by now there is little that compares to my BMW K1200S and out of the 13 different bikes I’ve been lucky enough to ride over the 18 months I’ve been riding, I finally came across one that I’m almost certain I’d swap my bike for…
Goodwood's 79th Members Meeting - Hunting, Shooting and - Racing
For that’s what marked the 79th Goodwood Members Meeting aka 79MM, held this year on April 9-10, which this time included two thrilling motorcycle races, each with a blanket finish which in Race 1 saw less than a second covering the first four bikes home.
MIDWEIGHT PUNCH - TRIUMPH TIGER SPORT 660
The Triumph brand seems to be going from strength to strength worldwide. New models are seeing the light of day in various sectors, and here in South Africa there is a carefully planned dealer expansion program in action.
Isle of Man TT-winning ABUS NORTON NRS588 GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
Exclusive track test of the last British bike to win the Isle of Man Senior TT in 1992, after what's widely considered to be the most exciting race ever held in the Island
NORTON ROTARY RACERS HISTORY - Rotary Race Record
For eight successive seasons the world’s first - and so far only - Rotary-engined racebikes swept to serial success on British racetracks. Here’s a timeline on their ebb and flow.
MOTO MORINI'S Alberto Monni - INTERVIEW
Exclusive interview with Moto Morini's CEO Alberto Monni, responsible for directing its ride along the comeback trail since its 2018 takeover by Zhongneng Vehicle Group/ZVG
KAWASAKI NINJA 1000SX - Surprise Package
I’ve recently written in my Editor’s note bemoaning the lack of available Sports-Touring motorcycles nowadays.
DRYSDALE HISTORY PART 4/5: 25 YEARS ON FROM CREATION OF FIRST 750-V8
2002 1000-V8 Bruiser mega-Monster was a Naked roadster with added muscle - the answer to the question of how to out-max a Yamaha V-Max!
GODIER & GENOUD KAWASAKI 1000 - Enquring Excellence
Exclusive track test at France's Carole circuit of what's arguably the first motorcycle of the modern era - the title-winning Kawasaki Endurance racer built in 1975 by Frenchmen Georges Godier and Alain Genoud
Unnecessarily Fast, or Unnecessarily Dangerous?
“The bigger they are, the harder they fall.” This truism comes from boxing, but applies to all walks of life. Innovative MotoGP superstar Marc Marquez, however, adds a new twist.
