I'm 6'2" and only about 180 lbs now. I have a long body, short arms and legs. I got a cramp on the backs of my thighs when I first started riding the 14. That was after about 2 hours of riding the highway though. I guess my legs got used to it. I also own an 08 busa and as far as comfort, there is a little more leg stretch on the busa but a bit more of a reach to the grips, too. Harder on my back, easier on the legs. The thing I don't care for comfortwise is the hump on the busa. I can't slide my butt back any farther when I tuck so my face ends up in the windscreen. The 14 has a more open windscreen and you have a little leeway with sliding past the seat cowl an inch or more if you need to.
The 14's seat is thicker but it is also wider which makes you put your feet a little wider apart when you come to a stop. This makes the 14's seat feel higher because you have to stand lower. Maybe an aftermarket seat would be a comfort improvement. Pay attention to how the seats feel when you do your test sit.
I haven't found the vibes unpleasant on either bike. My 14's seat cowl used to vibrate around 3500 - 4000 rpm until I stuck some foam weatherstripping under it. The busa vibes at idle and low, take off rpm but there is no vibe at riding speed. It is a smoother running motor -- at least mine is. The busa seems like a more refined machine with more thought put into details. IMO, the busa is higher quality as far as parts goes. The busa is more frills like thick scraper pegs, thicker shift/rear brake levers, one piece/side fairing, excellent heat deflectors....little details like that are not adressed on the 14. The 14 seems to have the quality where it counts the most though.
The 14's brakes are going to work better for a big guy like you, I'm sure. The busa's would probably be okay but you would be on them hard all the time I think.
My 14 feels like the midrange power is a little stronger than the busa. The busa feels more at ease at high rpm than the 14. Peak rpm, I can't say which one is stronger even though the busa is supposed to have 8 hp on us.
The 14 is a little easier to do routine maintainance. Fairing removal is a course all in itself on the busa.
The busa turns in easier if you ask me. I don't yet know if i will actually corner as hard with it but it sure does bank in easier and more surely than the 14.
You can buy either one with confidence. Never, ever worry that the one you bought is a little slower. There is no slower. The busa doesn't wheallie like they like to say it does - that's all a bunch of propaganda. I've done the test and i can tell everyone, they are equal in performance. I can tell by now that i will not get any faster on either one. Straightline, dead even without having a clock to time me precisely. Super tight corners, both have slipped in back in the colder weather on the stock tires.
Go with the one that looks best to you. The 14 is more of a renegade in looks and ride and the busa is more gentlemanly. I love them both but the 14 is my fav.
* Last updated by: Rook on 12/30/2009 @ 9:06 PM *
'08 MIDNIGHT SAPPHIRE BLUE Now Deceased