G2 - First Impressions

[Banter]

Hi All, after the release of the 2013 with ABS and some reading on the evolution of the Hayabusa from my 99 to now I decided to have a ride on a G2 with an idea of maybe upgrading. After approaching the good folk at Frankston Suzuki they furnished me 2012 (stock with 4k) for a test ride. The first thing I found was we couldn't work out how to set the DMS but that aside I set of to see what a G2 was like. The first thing I noticed was how refined the bike was compared to my 99 and 2004, very smooth and rider friendly, the instrument display felt a bit crowded but given the short time I had to ride the bike this was probably something I would appreciate with time. The only thing negative I found was that compared to my 99 this bike was tame. I found the bike to be very smooth and easy to manage but to be honest if I wanted that I would buy a BMW and all through the ride from standing starts and highway riding I never once felt the thrill of letting loose the beast, if you know what I mean. After returning the bike and giving some feed back we finally worked out the DMS and he suggested the lack lustre performance may have been because it was in the default C mode and offered a second ride which Ill take up next week hopefully if I can find the time. Is this a good bike, yes of course, is it as good as my 99, well..........

P.S

Short addendum, re-reading the above I just want to say that the G2 is still a fantastic bike. Straight from the start I felt comfortable and in control over the significant on tap performance of the model. Also, its a bit unfair to compare it to a modified unrestricted bike, meant no offence, just sharing.

Regards,

Banter

[Homer]

Hmmm, my experience is it defaults to A (full power) which is chalk and cheese to C........

If you tested in C and we're used to a 'busa I'm not surprised you were disappointed. I rode mine the first time in C after coming of a 30hp CBR250R.........so had a different impression entirely.

I got caught out a couple of times with it reverting to A after stopping and starting again with some interesting results...........and deciding that I either get used to the full monty, or risk more surprises......

Hope you get that chance to see what the gen2 can really do....

Cheers.

[Shifu]

Interesting that a Suzuki dealer can not work out the mode switch. By the way the default mode is "A" not "C" so every time you start it it will be in a "A" mode no mater what it was when you stopped it. You vere "testing" it at the 600cc power level. May I suggest another dealer altogether to get you bike from because if that reflects their knowledge of the product they sell, imagine the service you get from them after.

[BikerBoy]

Couldn't work out the DMS....you should have got Craig or Adam to call me. lol

Was that you I rode past on the red GenII? Intersection of F/Flinders and Heatherhill Rd.

[Axe]

the bike is VERY limited in the first 4 gears.
For safety, or something.....

Get rid of that and hold on!

Axe

[BUSGO]

The GEN II is by far, a much better bike than a Gen I.
No arguments accepted.
It defaults to full power but you may have accidentally flicked it to C mode while trying to work it out at the bars.
The restriction in the 1st 4 gears is very minor and simply a timing retard for safety below 4000RPM.
If you are accelerating out of a wet corner, it simply restricts the peak power by about 10% till the 4k mark.
The other restriction is simply top speed restriction in 6th and not many riders really explore that zone.

[Banter]

Couldn't work out the DMS....you should have got Craig or Adam to call me. lol

Was that you I rode past on the red GenII? Intersection of F/Flinders and Heatherhill Rd.

Not sure, maybe, I tested the bike Thurs and lapped around there on the way back to the start of the Frankston freeway.

Bit red faced about not being able to work out the DMS, I'm currently leading a team of engineers in combination with Cisco, HP and NetApp to redesign the core IT infrastructure of an inner city council with a multi six figure budget so you would think I could work it out. Maybe I should have turned the bike off and on again few times :)

---

The GEN II is by far, a much better bike than a Gen I.
No arguments accepted.
It defaults to full power but you may have accidentally flicked it to C mode while trying to work it out at the bars.
The restriction in the 1st 4 gears is very minor and simply a timing retard for safety below 4000RPM.
If you are accelerating out of a wet corner, it simply restricts the peak power by about 10% till the 4k mark.
The other restriction is simply top speed restriction in 6th and not many riders really explore that zone.

Of course your right, had my second ride today and was much happier with the results, possibly perception bias. I think you need to ride the bike in a wider range of conditions to see the benefit's of the DMS though. The Brembo ABS is an awesome change though, long overdue, but when are we going to see a 200HP plus model to put those upstart 1400 Ninja's back in there place.