ZX 12 vs 08 Busa

[Hattat]

Today I was with friends. They have `00 Hayabusa `00 ZX 12 and `08 Hayabusa. They raced the bikes on a long streched road. All three bikes are completely stock except they all have 4-1 Exhausts. `00 Hayabusa had no chance. But the strange thing is that ZX 12 was faster than `08 Hayabusa . They started from rolling and until 4th gear they could not go faster than each other. But after shifting to 5 then 6, ZX 12 started to pass `08 Hayabusa.
`08 Busa does not have the de-restrictor but ZX 12 has no restriction. Besides the rider of ZX 12 is 17 kgs heavier than the rider of `08 Busa.

What do you think?

[StreetnTrack]

they all had stock gearing?

[Hattat]

Yes

[gnd111]

Some ZX12's make almost 170rwhp with just a pipe.

Most also trap about 4mph than Gen1 Busa's in the 1/4 and MPH wins on the street from roll - not ET so it could be possible...

[Blue]

There are so many variables in there, the results are meaningless.

The gen1 'busa shouldn't be that much slower, if at all, than the Kaw, and the '08 should crush both of them.

Blue

[Mechanax]

Yup totally agree for example the rider's skills,the tyre pressure,the settings for the air fuel ratio and plenty more

[Draco1340]

I got rid of my 01 ZX12 last year after dragracing if for 6 years.  I purchased and 08 Busa and raced it all this year.  Couldn't be two more different bikes, even though they are roughly the same power and weight.

The 12 was peaky, abrupt, high strung, tall, and fragile.  It only got more of same with motor modifications.  If the clutch didn't blow up, then the mains or rods would spin.  The only way to launch the bike was above 8k rpm.  I spent more time repairing that piece of crap...  I took this bike to Maxton 5 times, and only brought back a running motor once.  One particularly bad day last August after scattering yet another motor (for the 15th time mabey?) I took the f-n thing apart into tiny little pieces, boxed them up, and shipped them out to ebay customers everywere.  I hated that bike with a passion.  She was fast, but she was the worst bike I ever owned.  Indexing cams, changing plugs, etc were major projects.  What a POS.   I am not aware of stock bore/stroke motor 12s making near 170 HP on a credible dyno.

My Gen II busa is smooth, easy to ride, low, and bulletproof.  I'm running 9.0s consistently at 153 mph on pump gas, pipe, and power commander.  I took the clutch out at 200 passes at the dragstrip, and it looked fine.  I can ride the bike on the back tire at 120 and it feels like everything is in slow motion.  I can get to the motor easily (although many of you complain about bodywork), and if I ever do decide to pull the motor and rebuild it, I could pull the motor in an hour.  This girl is much faster, and is easily the best and easiest-to-ride bike I have ever ridden.  I know of many Gen II Busas making well over 170HP if well tuned.

[Bruce Bohannon]

Draco.........  I really try not to be (blindly) biased about what I read and write and attempt to intrepret in similar ways.  It sounds like you have had your money where your mouth is.  Thanks for the post! 

I've owned four big late model flagship Kawi's but NEVER tried to push them to the limits nearly every time I rode em.  While I do not badmouth the MANF's products - this year (almost decade) I own Suzuki's and have no current plans to switch (back). 

I am surprised at the stated results above and will watch the thread if folks keep adding info.  Life is good.

[Hattat]

Gen I rider was very heavy and this should be the reason he was out of the race between kawi and the 08. But I talked to my friend yesterday and he told me he was going faster until 6th gear on his 08. At 5th gear when he reached 300 kmh he shifted to 6 then the the limiter activated. Also he states he could not shift to 6 with clutchless shifting.   

[Draco1340]

I thought that the 99 busa was the last hyperbike without the 300 kph limiter.  Pretty sure that the 00 12R had a limiter.

Just to set the record, I had always loved brand K, in the dirt, on the road, and on the track.  I think the ZX10r is one of the best bikes ever made, and watch them fly at the track every week.  Just like the GSXR1k, they are fast, bulletproof, and easy to work on.  I only have 1st hand knowledge of one ZX14, and it unfortunatly lost 2 motors in one full season of racing.  Hmmm.

[EtrnlSoldier]

I'm calling bs.  The 12s weren't even faster than the first gen busas, much less the 08s. 

[Tony B]

I agree that it most have been the rider or just shifting at the wrong shift point. I would think that the only way to get a fair result would be have the same rider, ride each bike at a timed event and compare the numbers

[BoosaRyder]

I thought that the 99 busa was the last hyperbike without the 300 kph limiter. 

The 2000 model.

[GONE-N-60-SEC]

i have to call bull shit.i had a 2002 busa and run a lot of 12's with it.and that was a good race almost everytime.now i have the 08 and i have run 12's when i was bone stock with 200 miles on the bike and now with a pipe and a tune.the 08 made 178 and 102ft stock and 186 and 106 with a pipe.and i weigh 260 and i can let a piped 12 take off and run him down NO PROBLEM.and from a 20 mph roll i can leave him.and i have a witness sleeperbusa and zxallen were there when i chased one down i think the 12 is a good bike it just doesn't have the grunt that the new busa has

[EtrnlSoldier]

i have to call bull shit.i had a 2002 busa and run a lot of 12's with it.and that was a good race almost everytime.now i have the 08 and i have run 12's when i was bone stock with 200 miles on the bike and now with a pipe and a tune.the 08 made 178 and 102ft stock and 186 and 106 with a pipe.and i weigh 260 and i can let a piped 12 take off and run him down NO PROBLEM.and from a 20 mph roll i can leave him.and i have a witness sleeperbusa and zxallen were there when i chased one down i think the 12 is a good bike it just doesn't have the grunt that the new busa has

Hey!  I already called bs!  Copycat!   

[CADDYWOMPUS]

I dont much care which bike was faster in drag race ,a roll or top end  ,but I used to ride a freinds 12 and it could rail just like a scaled up gixxer.