Project Busa

In search of the perfect two-up sportbike

The Bikes Owner
Chris, the owner of this 2001 Hayabusa isn't quite your average rider. In addition to being one of MNs most valuable test riders, he's an ex-roadracer and one of the best street riders you'll ever come up against - especially riding two-up. He's know for literally shredding the tires off various sport bikes on jaunts up or down the California coast. To ride on the back as a passenger with Chris you've got to be either plain nuts or a family member. It's not that he rides crazy, far from it, as it takes great skill to ride the way he does - much of the time with luggage to boot. Around our offices we refer to his family members as "professional passengers".

Previous Mount
For the past few years his bike of choice has been a Honda VFR750 outfitted with a $1,000 fully adjustable Ohlins rear shock, stiffer fork springs, steel brake lines, an aftermarket slip-on exhaust and a very handy and durable Ventura Pack and Sport Rack. This bike was set up so well, you hardly noticed when a passenger jumped on - at least when it was one of the professional ones mentioned earlier. The bike was smooth, controllable and well balanced - though it was beginning to feel slow compared to other bikes on the market. Don't take that last statement

about feeling slow too literally, as he could still blow the doors off most sportbike riders pushing it up the coast to the annual races at Laguna Seca. It's fun to watch riders expressions as they do a double-take when being passed, in corners, by a duo on a lesser sportbike.

Project "Busa"
When Chris decides to do something, he pretty much does it no matter what it takes. This is how "Project Busa" began. After going through three new bikes in quick succession, a GSXR750 (too serious a sport bike), a VFR800 (it overheated two-up), and a Ducati ST4 (it started having problems early on) he finally chose Suzuki's Hayabusa as his next two-up mount. Most riders wouldn't choose the most potent production bike in the world, short of maybe the GSXR1000, as their passenger bike. Even his riding buddies were a bit surprised, then again, it's Chris we're talking about. In stock form the new bike pleased him, but he wanted more. The power delivery, of course, was enough to easily carry multiple passengers at the same time.

The Changes
First came suspension modifications including a Race Tech .95 Kg/mm fork springs and another expensive and fully adjustable Ohlins rear shock. The forks were then rebuilt with new damping rates by Stig Peterson of Peterson Pro Suspension and slid 5mm higher in the clamps to quicken steering. These folks also worked on the new shock, going to a heavier spring and adapting a 10mm longer shock body.

Heli bars were installed to provide for a more relaxed riding position, but later removed to fit Galfer steel braided brake lines. The stock binders worked well, plenty of power, but they weren't totally progressive and took a good squeeze to activate. The addition of the steel brake lines made a difference but didn't quite give Chris the results he was seeking, so next came a set of Beringer 6-piston endurance racing calipers featuring 6 individual pads. These mounted nicely to the stock mounts. Last but not least, a Brembo 20 mm master cylinder was adapted to improve lever feedback and provide a more progressive feel.

Two Brothers titanium oval slip-ons were installed to shave some weight and just give the bike a more exciting tone, which they did without being obnoxious in any way. The Hayabusas fuel delivery was a bit rich off-idle, so Chris had Rodney of Puente Hills Motorsports dial in the fuel injection a bit.

A Ventura Pack and Sport Rack were added for luggage duties. This choice was simple, as he'd had such good luck with the same product on his VFR. A small and expandable Nelson Rigg CMB-300 magnetic tank bag was enlisted to provide easy access to items like wallet and phone. Though he'd considered an aftermarket seat, especially one from Sargent who made such a great seat for our project RC51, the stocker proved to be quite good which says a lot. His passengers claim the bike is acceptably comfortable for sport riding, even more so than the rear portion of Aprilia's RST Futura which has a raised ridge the passenger is forced to sit on when seated forward in attach mode.

How's it work?
So how does the modified bike work? Very well thank you. Compared to a stock bike this one turns quicker and easier with less effort required. He can now brake-check the rest of us, and he has, while two up. The braking power and feedback are truly exceptional, leaving one of our testers to proclaim they're the best he's ridden with. The suspension is a bit stiff one-up, but compliant and well controlled with two aboard.

In Chris's Words
There was never a problem getting the Busa to go, it did that with abandon. Stopping and turning is where I was looking for improvement. The stock bike isn't bad, quite the contrary for a 550 pound missile. I'm fussy (I think that's why Bill uses me as a test rider), so I wanted better.

The suspension is now excellent for two-up fast paced riding. It's compliant over rough surfaces, and extremely stable with no bottoming or wallowing what-so-ever. Steering is a little quicker and lighter to boot. Braking is significantly improved, with a much better feel and incredible stopping power. Brakies are now possible, actually no-problem, which is amazing considering how long the bike is.

The only negative this project brings to bear is that now when we ride to Laguna Seca we won't

see much of Chris, or his passenger. Now he's got the power to romp on anyone he comes in contact with and superb braking as well. It was a lot more fun, for us, when he was on an underpowered bike - that way we got to see the expressions on the faces of the riders he passed.

Product	Company	Price	Phone
Beringer 6 piston calipers	Frog Specialties	$1,630	310-370-9856
Brembo master cylinder	N/A	$250	N/A
Galfer steel braded lines	Two Brothers Racing	$84.98	714-550-6070
Heli Bars	Heli Modified Corp.	$169.95	800-859-4642
Ohlins shock	Part #46PRCS	$1,300	714-630-4777 Pettersson
Oval titanium slip-ons	Two Brothers Racing	$719.98	714-550-6070
Pettersson Pro Suspension	Stig Pettersson	Call	714-630-4777
Race Tech fork springs (Part #FRSPS382795)	Race Tech	$99.99	909-279-6655
Ventura Pack / Sport Rack	Headgear Specialties, Inc.	$174.85	425-672-3774