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Sunny · 09-24-2008, 10:52 PM

My First Impression on the Busa (Thanks to Archistar for the recovery)

For a change it feels good to be around a hyperbike, knowing that it will soon be making its way into India and into your local showroom. Whether there are tarmac roads just outside the place is none of our concern.

I was always fascinated by the Hayabusa, before the nation got bedazzled by it in the movie Dhoom. Somehow the ‘eye-abuser’ tag did not really work with me.

The first time I saw the Hayabusa was a Delhi afternoon. It was probably a 2003 Hayabusa and it was BIG. Yes, the first look in 2005 lent that expression.

After three years, a first look at the recently changed 2008 model again gives the same impression – its still BIG, no it’s a little bigger. The bike already has incredible cult status in India. Many people on the streets will say its a Hayabusa - the only requirement being fat rears and a big bike. So the next time someone calls your R1 a Busa, dont go all mad on him, ya?

So today was, again, a rain and gloomy day. Add to this, we had hundreds of onlookers. Cars and bikes stopping to take photos from their phone, asking about the price and what not! It almost seemed the bike was being given away for free on the road - free gaping for all that is! So this was power of the Hayabusa, even as it stood still.

I have never ridden a Busa till now, but from what I know, it decimates any other thing locomoting on wheels. The 2008 Orange/Black Busa in front of me, was the first time in 8 years that saw any change in this hyperbike. Since its launch in 1999 it has created maniacs with oversized egos on the road and new records on the track (and on freeways the world over). And yes, it is justified, the motor which lurks beneath this faintly blobly plastic has a demon which can only be exorcised at insane speeds. And this is the same demon which lends that sense of invincibility and godly power in it's rider. In all probability if you happen to know a guy who goes by a name of DragKing in a group or underground racing in the west, he probably owns a genetically enhanced version of this monster with insanely long swingarm and a rear fatter than a super obese elephant.

The 2008 Orange/Black combination looked superb under the setting orange sun. I personally think that the new design is a lot better than the old Busa, old being just a year ago. Suzuki were rightly apprehensive in changing the cult package lest they mess up it's mysterious yet obvious charisma. They were clever enough not to make the 916<-->999 Ducati mistake.

The power of the new Busa is up by more than 10% to 196bhp at the crank out of a 1340CC mill. Despite this stupendous power the bike is unbelievably silent.

Suzuki India is due to launch the Busa at around 12 Lacs in September 2008. This will truly create a new segment in India, like it did in back in 1999 in the rest of the world - 'Ultimate Sport'.

And then the trustworthy Delhi police will have to upgrade from Bajaj Pulsars to something with a little more punch...

Thanks to Manoj for the bike.

09-24-2008, 10:52 PM	#11 (permalink)
Sunny SlowMotionInfinity Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Delhi Posts: 5,417	My First Impression on the Busa (Thanks to Archistar for the recovery) For a change it feels good to be around a hyperbike, knowing that it will soon be making its way into India and into your local showroom. Whether there are tarmac roads just outside the place is none of our concern. I was always fascinated by the Hayabusa, before the nation got bedazzled by it in the movie Dhoom. Somehow the ‘eye-abuser’ tag did not really work with me. The first time I saw the Hayabusa was a Delhi afternoon. It was probably a 2003 Hayabusa and it was BIG. Yes, the first look in 2005 lent that expression. After three years, a first look at the recently changed 2008 model again gives the same impression – its still BIG, no it’s a little bigger. The bike already has incredible cult status in India. Many people on the streets will say its a Hayabusa - the only requirement being fat rears and a big bike. So the next time someone calls your R1 a Busa, dont go all mad on him, ya? So today was, again, a rain and gloomy day. Add to this, we had hundreds of onlookers. Cars and bikes stopping to take photos from their phone, asking about the price and what not! It almost seemed the bike was being given away for free on the road - free gaping for all that is! So this was power of the Hayabusa, even as it stood still. I have never ridden a Busa till now, but from what I know, it decimates any other thing locomoting on wheels. The 2008 Orange/Black Busa in front of me, was the first time in 8 years that saw any change in this hyperbike. Since its launch in 1999 it has created maniacs with oversized egos on the road and new records on the track (and on freeways the world over). And yes, it is justified, the motor which lurks beneath this faintly blobly plastic has a demon which can only be exorcised at insane speeds. And this is the same demon which lends that sense of invincibility and godly power in it's rider. In all probability if you happen to know a guy who goes by a name of DragKing in a group or underground racing in the west, he probably owns a genetically enhanced version of this monster with insanely long swingarm and a rear fatter than a super obese elephant. The 2008 Orange/Black combination looked superb under the setting orange sun. I personally think that the new design is a lot better than the old Busa, old being just a year ago. Suzuki were rightly apprehensive in changing the cult package lest they mess up it's mysterious yet obvious charisma. They were clever enough not to make the 916<-->999 Ducati mistake. The power of the new Busa is up by more than 10% to 196bhp at the crank out of a 1340CC mill. Despite this stupendous power the bike is unbelievably silent. Suzuki India is due to launch the Busa at around 12 Lacs in September 2008. This will truly create a new segment in India, like it did in back in 1999 in the rest of the world - 'Ultimate Sport'. And then the trustworthy Delhi police will have to upgrade from Bajaj Pulsars to something with a little more punch... Thanks to Manoj for the bike.