What The Heck

"Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura" (sundowne36) 04/17/2014 at 23:53 • Filed to: Two Wheels Good, Suzuki Hayabusa, Hayabusa, Suzuki B-King, B-King, Suzuki BKing, BKing

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Happened to the B-King? It's a Hayabusa with a higher handlebar and standard ergonomics!

TheBaron2112 > Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura 04/17/2014 at 23:55

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I worked for a Suzuki dealer in the first couple of years when the B King came out.

They did not sell. At all.

vdub_nut: scooter snob > Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura 04/17/2014 at 23:56

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It got turned into the BK Lounge

Übel > Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura 04/17/2014 at 23:56

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Nothing. Nobody bought them.

PardonMyFlemish16 > Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura 04/18/2014 at 00:02

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The headlight, tank fairing and tail happened.

I'm kind of shocked they haven't moved the Bandit/GSF over to the Hayabusa platform yet. Seems like a match made in heaven. GSF is too heavy and old school... Hayabusa is already a proven sport tourer but not everyone wants the whale penis fairing look.

Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura > PardonMyFlemish16 04/18/2014 at 00:12

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I wouldn't mind the look, but I WILL mind the low as all hell handlebars. If I have to lean more than 80%, heck. No.

Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura > Übel 04/18/2014 at 00:14

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The thing is, I would be happy if they killed the Hayabusa and replaced it with this. The B-King was basically a stripped down Hayabusa with touring capabilities and because top speed is now a moot point thanks to a Gentleman's Agreement, it's time to put the Hayabusa to pasture.

Suzuki, bring. This. Back.

JasonStern911 > Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura 04/18/2014 at 00:22

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I have a ZRX1100, which is basically a detuned ZX11 in a standard body, and I love it. it's exponentially more comfortable for extended city riding, which is what I do most of the time.

as such, the B-King is on my list of "might impulse buy" bikes, but I have never - not once - ever - seen one on craigslist, even at crackpipe prices, and I check craigslist fairly regularly.

the scarcity plus Hayabusa power plant are likely to make the bike worth something in the distant future. of course, the ZL1000 is rare and has the ZX10's motor, and that's not exactly a collector's bike...

Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura > JasonStern911 04/18/2014 at 00:35

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Do you mean this ZRX? Sorry, my mind's kind of running blank right now.

I have never ridden one, but for some reason, I kind of like how it feels when I sat on one.

Übel > Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura 04/18/2014 at 00:38

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That would be a terrible idea. The 'Busa is ridiculously popular and the B-King was a ridiculous flop.

Übel > Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura 04/18/2014 at 00:41

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also, the gentleman's agreement has been in effect for most of the Hayabusa's life (it went into effect in '01), and the B-king entered production in 07, so not sure what point you're trying to make there.

M54B30 > Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura 04/18/2014 at 00:56

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I thought they were ugly at first (I was 19 in 07) but now it appeals to me. The idea of laying on a tank all the time isn't cool to me anymore. I prefer a B King to a Hayabusa, but a BMW K1200 GT (or any of its competitors) is my kinda bike.

I'm in western South Dakota - we have too many hundreds of empty miles between cities to have a sport bike. Nope, sit comfy on a heated seat and enjoy the views. Hunched over all day doesn't look like fun to me

JasonStern911 > Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura 04/18/2014 at 00:57

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yes! although mine has the make it legal shit attached (stock exhaust, mirrors, turn signals, etc.).

they're not great track bikes. the suspension isn't set up for that.

they aren't great drag bikes. they make like 100 horsepower out of an ~1100cc engine.

but they're amazing city bikes. the riding position is comfortable for a 20-30 minute commute. unlike some sports bikes I have ridden that tend to be top heavy and thus a bit hard to corner at low speeds, the ZRX handles like a scooter. and yeah, the reduced power sucks a little, but the benefit is a reasonable amount of more torque at the lower RPMs. and in city driving, how often do you really hit 11k RPM?

honestly, my biggest gripes are:

1. zero wind protection makes it not fun to ride in sub-50 degree weather

2. I'm not an old timer, so jetting, cleaning, and synchronizing four carburetors is witchcraft.

3. the stock exhaust is high, which makes saddle bags that fit hard to find.

the sad thing is that gripe #2 was fixed in Japan. unlike America, the ZRX continued production and was available with a fuel injected ZX12 motor.

cool bikes, though. the retro styling makes them fairly invisible to the scrutiny of law enforcement agents, and they are sleepers which is fun at legal, sanctioned events with kids that throw money at sport bikes without learning how to actually ride them.

M54B30 > Übel 04/18/2014 at 01:07

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fun fact - the Hayabusa is also popular with the Oklahoma highway patrol, who run 3 of them

M54B30 > Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura 04/18/2014 at 01:08

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all this talk about Hayabusa had me reading up on them. Oklahoma Highway Patrol uses 3 of them. Full police spec - radar gun, sirens, lights, etc

Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura > Übel 04/18/2014 at 01:49

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Popular for people under 6'2". From what I could see, I wouldn't mind the legs as long as I don't have to lean forward on the B-King.

On the Hayabusa, it's both arms and legs. Suzuki either needs to amend this by making adjustments/variant for tall people or just, like I said, kill it. It's not a terrible idea.

Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura > M54B30 04/18/2014 at 01:51

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Can't imagine what the perp had in his mind should one of these come up!

Granted, I know most - if not all - of them are publicity stunts, no?

PardonMyFlemish16 > Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura 04/18/2014 at 08:16

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Oh yea I'm not just talking ripping the plastic off a Hayabusa. They'd have to give it normal handlebars, a normal seat etc etc. But it is a monster sport tourer in a painfully tacky wrapper. If they peeled that wrapper off and made it look like a motorcycle it would be golden. Suzuki needs that revival anyway and the GSX1250FA is overpriced.

Übel > Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura 04/18/2014 at 10:00

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There are aftermarket foot pegs and seats to make that happen. Hell, I'm 6'5" and I fit on the stock Busa just fine. Getting rid of the Busa and replacing it with the B king would be like Chevy killing the Corvette so they could sell more XLRs. The fact is nobody bought the B King. It was a colossal flop.

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura 04/18/2014 at 11:17

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That is OK... But I think I would prefer something sleeker, and more unique.

I would rather have a K1600R-Sport. A stripped down version of the K1600GT, moving back toward the Concept 6, and a bit away from the full-dress tourers, the GT and GT-L

This ^ plus the following: (2007 K1200R-Sport)

Equals a production bike closer to this: (2012 Concept 6 precursor to the K1600 production bike.)

I am a boxer fanatic, so my first interest is BMW R-bikes... but I would SO want a BIG Inline-6 modern muscle bike and half-faired street sport bike. I am 6'2" and well past my 20s... so a real-world bike with decent ergos is great... but that doesn't mean I don't care what it looks like...

I want a sporty looking bike that rides well, not like a torture rack, and not with 150+ horsepower with a light-switch kind of torque curve, like a lot of race replicas have. Nothing, or EVERYTHING ALL AT ONCE.

I want a bike with Hossack suspension, anyway. Duolever ripped Norman Hossack off, but I would plaster his name on the front suspension uprights, to give him some of that credit back.

M54B30 > Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura 04/18/2014 at 11:49

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The article said it's mostly for show (schools, bike meets, etc.) but are occasionally used for patrol. I doubt they let them do high speed chases though

Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura > Übel 04/18/2014 at 16:12

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It was a colossal flop for ignorant people who preferred the painful ergonomics of the Hayabusa. Sure, there are ways to make it better by lowering the pegs but people like me cannot tolerate the front handlebar/peg setup. Sure, you're a tall guy, but you =/= most of the majority out there who think otherwise. Heck, the Triumph Sprint ST 1050 would be better. Slightly.