When I took the Hammer race school at Daytona a guy was there on a Hayabusa. He crashed in the first session. I saw him again at Daytona and Jennings, he said he went back and finished the school.
I’ve never ridden one of these because I always thought they were as ugly as they are heavy. You guys are making me question myself.
I owned a 99 Blue and Silver one. Was a really, really good motorcycle. One of my favorites, smooth, effortless power, good brakes and a decent chassis and pretty comfortable also. Did quite a few 350-450 mile days on it in the mountains.
I raced a CCS event at Daytona in 2000 and ran a 600 in their class equivalent to Wera F1. A guy was racing a Busa and comes blazing by on the banking probably 40 to 50 miles per hour faster. I catch up and pass him in the infield, and he comes back lap after lap. Each lap I caught him a bit earlier in the infield, and at the end of the race he didn't come by. Even though those things were not really built for it, I was always kind of proud to have beaten a Busa in a road race.
I actually give more respect to the Busa person for even trying to race the equivalent of a van in a motorcycle race
When I get my Duc ST2 up and running, I'm seriously considering selling the FJR and buying a 1st Gen Busa. For some reason they look way better to me than they did 20 years ago. Worst that can happen is that I don't like it and sell it to someone else.
A really fast "van"! Actually I have lots of respect for anyone riding something different like that. Not a lot of resources out there for tracking a Busa!
They ran it in 99 at Willow. Holes in the fairing were for lights, the numberplate covered the main headlight.