Sunday Ride Report -- V Due and YB 11 Part II

[dnovo]

Hot Rides, Part Deux Me on the YB11 25th Anniversary edition I picked up -- or more correctly walked away with for almost nothing -- off ebay from the original owner who bought it as an investment in 2000 and put 10 miles on it. Son on the Kawabusa II. (Goggle the Net for a descripton of this unique bike. Suffice it to say a ZRX1200 frame and tank stuffed with a tuned, Power Commander controlled Hayabusa engine, GSX suspension, Yosh pipes, and a combination of instruments, carbon bits and superb build and CNC parts that is the finest BKing Suzuki never built. There is a write up in the same issue of MOTORCYCLIST that tested the BKing, in the middle of the road test of that bike.) Picture the ultimate Naked, a tuned, nicely dialed in BKing/Busa except about 50+ pounds lighter with an engine that is a rev monster. Not sure what he did to it, but it responds to the throttle like an electric motor. Ask the Hammer, who said,"what's it like" and I responded, "be afraid, be very afraid, not of the bike, but for yourself."

First, the bike is new. The engine is tight, the carbs could use a cleaning and a dyno tune, and the tires are bit hard, It is long and large getting off the V-due after we take that and the Triumph back so the Hammer can 'ride something fast." So even with all this and shifting at 8500 or so, I can keep my looney tune son on the Kawabusa from completely disappearing from me on the fast stretches. Idles nice and smooth and has a HUGE powerband, even without getting to the real top of the range.

Handling? Very much the improved YB8. Same basic chassis, improved suspension, updated engine. Compared to the contemporary Suzuki Bimota in my stable, the SB6r, a bit slower to respond, and feels longer and less 'flickable.' The front end is clearly more slow steering, but that may only be me coming off the Light Saber V-due, so a true back to back will have to take place soon.

Ride? Very smooth. At high speeds,dead straight and not even a twitch. Corners, just lean it, don't manhandle the bars, and it goes through fast and steady. Power out is great.

All in all, a great end to the Yamaha powered Bimotas. Dave