First!!!! I wasn't surprised by how well the FJ 1200 stood up under the competition. There are 2 FJ 1200 Yamahas in my garage. I have a very sharp 1993 and my son has a pretty nice barn find 1987 model.
Great comparison video.I own a 2019 Busa but gotta say I do really like the Blackbird and I think Suzuki owes a styling debt to it and Honda.Love the old Yam too.Great bike.
Great to see the FJ1200 in this comparo. I had a 1992 and it was a really fun ride. At almost 6'2" the legroom wasn't the best, but that bike had power for days and good wind protection. Dash reminded me of a 911.
Back in ‘99 I had a chance to ride my buddy’s ‘98 Blackbird home from his house. I was very impressed by how smooth and powerful it was. My motorcycle at the time, was a ‘98 Buell S1 White Lightning. Very undefined by the standards of the XX, but so torquey! I really enjoyed riding the Blackbird, and find myself now shopping for a nice example survivor for my stable of bikes.
Really enjoyed that test . My buddies FJ 1100 was always my GS 1150’s arch nemesis and I always secretly admired it’s looks lol. Would love to see a second gen Vmax compared to these bikes
@carlkidd9571 My friend has one. I would love to review one and see how it fares in this test. It would be fun to see how a first-generation V-Max would do as well. Cheers!
I'll bet many, who are not familiar with the model, are surprised that a bike from 1986 would be so competitive in this comparison. It all comes down to the fact that these bikes are road bikes, not race bikes. The opportunities to go 150 to 180 mph are pretty much non-existent except on an autobahn. Top speed is basically irrelevant, so it all comes down to how much fun it is to ride a motorcycle, and for how long. In that light, an FJ1200 is an all day, everyday, absolute hoot to ride. Still completely relevant 30+ years down the line. So very simple, yet excellent.
Right on! You bring up some great points. My frustration with many/most modern performance bikes is that they are simply too good/competent/fast for road use and it frustrates me to feel so confined by silly rules (like speed limits) when I'm on such capable machines. Cheers!
I record my acceleration on VBOX data logger my 2016 ZX14R (1441) with remap covers 40 to 80 in 6th takes 5.73 secs My tuned 1441 High compression with gas flowed head and higher duration camshafts on Gen2 Hayabusa takes 5.4 secs 214hp and 128 lbft I love big capacity bikes the above two I own are almost last of the old school Interesting video thanks
It’s so good to see an old school FJ1200 here, and doing so well! The quickest bike in my collection of bikes would be my 2001 ZX12R.. I don’t know if it’d be quicker than the Busa 40-80, but it’s quick enough for me 😊 Good video 👍🏼
Right on! I would love to review a nice ZX-12R on this channel if I get the chance. It's one of the few bikes I haven't gotten to ride. Like the other bikes in this test, I'm sure it's overkill for street use and difficult to be good on! Cheers!
Fun comparison, Jon. Gearing is so crucial in any motoring contest, it's a "horses for courses" type of thing. And on the street, torque is what we feel pushing us out of a turn in second gear. Torque is baked into horsepower ratings: HP=Torque x (RPM/5252). This equation shows us that the RPM an engine can attain has much to do with its HP rating.
@jeffsappington9704 Very true. This is why a 600 revving to 17k rpm can pump out 100+ hp with relatively low torque numbers. But then you really need to have them revving on the corner exits to get the most out of them. Also, I don't like to have to downshift 3 gears when I want to pass. Cheers!
Thanks for the post, had an '86 FJ1200 back in the day, lovely bike. Then two Hayabusa's . An '06 second hand followed by a new Gen 2 'Busa in 2015. Done over 75000kms on the Hayabusa. Never owned a Blackbird , never ridden one to be honest. Always liked them. Best bike in my shed now is an '18 ZX14R. I won't buy another 'Busa.
Wish I still had my BB - it's my choice of the 3. Love the fj1200, a great bike. Busa clearly the leader but while BB is fast enough I opt for quality and refinement
That was a nice mixture of bikes and it was interesting to see which was quicker in a 40-80 top gear situation. That is what I like about big bore bikes, if I'm just cruising I can easily dip into a freeway entrance ramp at 40 and accelerate to 80 without needing to downshift or pass someone driving 40 in a 50 zone without downshifting. I'm a little lazy sometimes 😅. I ownd a 92 FJ, and I have ridden both 2nd and 3rd gen Busa's. All great bikes. My buddie with the 3rd gen Busa used to own a Blackbird and he says loved it. I have a 21 Gixxer 1KR now. Playing in 3rd and 4th gear on the highway gives me good punch without unintentional wheelies!😅. I subscribed. Great video, it brought back good memories 😀
Nice review, Personally speaking the last decent Blackbird was the '98 before the switched from Carbs to the Fuel Injection system, have ridden both but when i got back into riding after around a 20 year break (now 60 years old and still have the '98 in the garage) I hunted for a 98 Model rather than the 99. FJ1200 an awesome bike loved mine, like the 1100xx was aimed at sports touring market. Due to a shoulder / vertebrae issue am doing the "VFR mod" to the Birds handlebars to bring them up from the bunny rabbit race sitting positon rather than the leaning forward one, but thats bcs of age nothing else, Took a mates Busa out. Nice bike but no where near as comfortable as a Blackbord or the FJ on long distance trip or where there are a lot of twisties. Fun fact: Hayabusa (隼?) is Japanese for "peregrine falcon", a bird that often serves as a metaphor for speed due to its vertical hunting dive, or stoop, speed of 180 to 202 miles per hour (290 to 325 km/h), the fastest of any bird. In particular, the choice of name was made because the peregrine falcon preys on blackbirds, which reflected the intent of the original Hayabusa to unseat the Honda CBR1100XX Super Blackbird as the world's fastest production motorcycle. Eventually, the Hayabusa managed to surpass the Super Blackbird by around 10 MPH only despite the larger engine displacement and gearing.
UK bike magazine Performance Bikes did a top gear roll-on test of about 15 bog stock bikes, around 2005-06, and the bike which beat all the others in the 50-100 mph roll on's was the 1050cc Triumph Speed Triple.
I dont understand why anyone does a 40-80 top gear roll on test. In 50 years of riding I have never accelerated from 40mph in top gear. Why would anyone do that? At that speed I am in 1st gear. That is what a gearbox is for. You might as well test to see which bike will pull away in 4th gear as it is just as irrelevant.
Respectfully, a bike that does well in this test will do well in whatever gear and speed you choose in most street riding situations. It's a great test of low to midrange power in the rpm range most people use on the street (2500rpm-6000rpm), it's repeatable, and it's non destructive to the engine/transmission. This is important when I'm testing someone else's bike. The 40-80 test is also a great indicator of the corner exit ability of a bike in real-world riding. Additionally, as with any test, the results can be judged by whether they consistently reflect reality. With few exceptions, the quicker/faster bikes post the best 40-80 times. Cheers!
@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538 I guess sir that we are very different riders. I am not concerned with MPG and my engines last well however I always run in low gears and high revs. Still, motorcyling is a broad church. Ride safe my friend.⁹⁸
@@MichaelZZRriderthis is about consistency in testing methodology between bikes, how much relevance it has to 'real world' riding (and your particular preferences) is immaterial. There are plenty of full reviews in road riding conditions out there, this is something different.
Incredible the busa can overcome the gearing. The old 1100 plus in a pristine condition could be nasty cause to the gearing. But offcause in a very limited speed range.
I think the FJ1200 is a perfect street bike, and it's gearing is perfect for dedicated street duty. I was surprised how well the FJ did being it was 20 years older than the Busa and only a 0.2 Sec difference in street riding The Blackbird is definitely a Cadillac when it comes to comfort The FJ is the most aggressive/purpose built of them all (as they were back in the day) no electronic aids. The Busa is the best all a rounder like most Suzuki's are, they are decent at everything...................But when it comes to outright speed, there is a reason it is still the King today. While there are faster bikes than the Busa today, it is still the Halo legendary Bike that everyone knows. It's in the same halo breath as Supra, GTR, 911, and new class makers.
Man, where can I pick up a Blackbird for cheap? (get it?... cheep?...sorry) What a hotrod. I've ridden/ piloted a friend's bike years ago and was sold. He's gone now and I haven't seen another one since.The Suzuki is very cool but the Honda felt better to me. They're both exellent, wày fast and worthy of comparison. Thanks for sharing, J. Michigan
Thanks, James! The 1999 Blackbird in this test felt especially aggressive - it would get me in TROUBLE! Blackbirds do come up for sale every now and then if you keep your eyes open for one. Good luck!
Excellent test, enjoyed that level on Sega hang on. That's why I went from an '86 FJ1200 to a '99 1450 Harley low rider. The complaints department would say it's unfair because it's geared for around 130. See Hildo's Harley and get triggered about how you would have won on a busa. It's just not how the real world works. Vfr750fj from 1988 is still stupid quick on a ¼ mile from a standing start. Keep up the good work.
Interesting video, I knew the blackbird is not gonna do well here due to the relatively peaky motor and very long 6th gear. 40 is way under its poweband, it starts pulling at 6k rpm. I am sure the busa would outperform it in any test though.
Yes, the Busa is the overachiever in this test, though the 1999 did very well in this test and has much more "pull" from lower RPM than the later 2003 Blackbird. I think the 1999 Blackbird has more low-end than the carbureted Blackbirds as well. I've owned two all-stock 1997 Blackbirds and they didn't hit until around 6k rpm (similar feel to the 2003). Cheers!
Thanks Jon. The FJ1200 is so much fun. I've got about 3500 kms on my 1990 since rebuilding it to stock form. Do you have any experience with bar risers on FJ1200? I'm about 6' and find a long ride a bit wearing on my shoulders and back but then I am almost 60.
Given a choice of these bikes new I'd take the Yamaha mainly for upright comfort. If I were still 20-30 years old it would be the Blackbird, comfort aside and it looks the best.
'99 Blackbird owner, and former FJ owner as well. I'm not sure that a pull from 40mph in top gear is going to be of too much utility, as I'm certain I've never had my Blackbird in top gear at that low a road speed despite it's wonderfully useable midrange power. Pulling 40-80 is good, just, I know it'd never happen on a bike like this. I'd also wonder that the loud mufflers could be afflicting the Bird's result. Conventional wisdom suggests this type of muffler typically will reduce midrange power. Not that a Bird's ever going to out-pull a Busa, there's too much difference in displacement and power for that to happen. No surprise about the FJ, though, and the low gearing was the first thing I thought of when I saw the video pop up. I liked mine very well back in the early '90s and put nearly 50,000 miles on it, right up until I got a Kawasaki ZX1100E (GPZ) which was way faster and vastly smoother; much better for the touring side. But the FJ was indeed pretty sensational back in the day and if it was that one of these was the only bike I could get to ride, it wouldn't be the end of the world. Still a fine machine.
Suzuki 1250S might be the most overlooked hi performance mc out there You can find a decent one for cheap money I love the grunt of my stock 2016 GSF 1250S
Jon, what would be of great value, if you could find or borrow an Fj that has had a 17 inch wheel swapp front and rear, and tell your viewers if the changes are worth doing?
@robertrodriguez8167 Right on! I know Yamaha had converted it to 17" wheels front and back by 1990 along with brake upgrades. It would be fun to do a back-to-back comparison between both versions. Cheers!
@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538 Thank you for the reply John I'm in Lackawana County Scranton: It's a bit of a haul to get into the deeper countryside areas for long straight roads but then there are the damned driveways to look out for. I've been riding for over 50 years.
be nice to ride a new 2024 BMW s1000rr/or m1000xr and compare the new vs old / has bikes really come that far ?? electronics ?? i think the old bikes with have more real experience than new that raw power no electronics all with your wrist as it should 200+hp hard to harness for a road ?? great review Busa looks awesome .. cheers..
@douglasgrosch228 Thanks, Douglas! It would be fun to see how a newer 200hp 1000cc machine would fare in this test. I've ridden some newer bikes with the electronic aids. I didn't realize that they were kicking in until I watched the video and saw the traction control light flashing on at certain points. They are truly NEEDED on the newer 1000cc machines. Cheers!
Well, this is a fun stable test, and i like all these bikes looks and performance. I have ridden an FJ 1200, and a 2000 Blackbird. The FJ was quick and fun to ride, and if it had a 6 speed , shaft drive, and a little more wind protection, it would still be a great all around / touring bike. I am no stranger to riding big bore Honda bikes, and have owned a few, but i would describe the power of the Blackbird i rode , as Evil ! Iirc it had a Power commander and aftermarket exhaust , and was just too much. It was so raw and nasty, and before i rode it, i thought about buying it, but i did not like the ergonomics, plus the speeding tickets would have killed my insurance :) . Still a legendary bike though !
@flexjay87 Right on! The 1999-2002 Blackbird was the most raw feeling of the Blackbirds. The 1999 in this test felt wicked. This was enhanced by the sound and more aggressive fueling. The feel of the FJ and Busa was much more low-key, so the results were somewhat surprising. Cheers!
I have a 2000 xx havent ridden it in a while with life going on right now but yes they can get Evil quick ha ha ha I've done a little work to mine and also added a hair dryer out front on the exhaust and it don't mind really what gear roll on it gets your attention quick 👍 like the busa as well but my height and size it sits uncomfortable in the saddle for me.
Love the look of the old FJ’s ..remember them being , or at least looking like ,direct competitors to the likes of the early ninjas cbr’s gsx’s etc but meaner looking imo..the newer ones seem to have gone more towards the cruiser look with a bagger like setup … sort of ruins it for me
The FJ1200 has a 5 speed transmission and lower top speed, lower gearing, so really quite a bit different than the others. But it was a great sport touring bike. I ended up owning 2 of them. The CBR11xx was also a fine sport touring machine. Utterly smooth motor......but VERY top heavy and ungainly. Top gear acceleration to 150MPH was ridiculous. Much faster than the FJ1100.
Only because I haven't had the chance to review one. I would love to feature any/all of the ZX-9R models on this channel when I get the chance. I've owned every generation of ZX-9R and they're among my favorite sportbikes. Cheers!
Our Skipper, Lt.Col.Geoger has one of those Hayabusa's...I think it's an '03........pretty bike, I've got my old '81 XS1100H...... but it's very well enough for me at 61 years old.
The craziest bike of the FJ1200 era was DEFINITELY the old SUZUKI GSX-R 1100. My buddy had one. Super light and super quick and great handling. The other bikes felt like porky ill-handling Cadillacs by comparison.
After the original 86-88 GSX-R1100, they lost their way, they got heavier and heavier and the handling got more wayward, the 89 GSX-R1100K was the reason big bore production bikes were stopped from racing at the Isle of Man for many years, after 3 riders crashed and 2 died, earning it the nickname the "Killer K". The water cooled GSX-R1100s were a far cry from the lightweight, pared down, track bikes with lights the first generation ones were, wet weight had ballooned to 254kg/ 560lb from 204kg/450lb.
@@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538 The first GSX-R1000 was a peach, I so very nearly bought one in 01, but after test riding a GSX-R1000 & a YZF-R1, (and a 929 Blade) i chose the R1. No regrets, still have the R1 too.😃
I had both an fj and a busa. This is not accurate to put a bike that’s geared for 150 mph and one that is geared for 186 mph in a top gear roll on. Even though the busa won I can confirm that the busa feels twice the bike of the fj. It’s a world apart.
@MrH250 This test illustrates top-gear passing power of bikes from different eras. All these bikes are big-bore, street-oriented sportbikes that were geared for top-speed when they were introduced. One ride will confirm what you're saying, that even the Blackbirds are in another league from the FJ once you exit the legal speed arena. Cheers!
Because of the taller gearing, I didn’t expect the Busa to win by such a large margin. Very cool.
Right on! What was surprising was how relaxed the Busa felt in this test. I was surprised when I went back and looked at the timing. Cheers!
First!!!! I wasn't surprised by how well the FJ 1200 stood up under the competition. There are 2 FJ 1200 Yamahas in my garage. I have a very sharp 1993 and my son has a pretty nice barn find 1987 model.
Hello Mr Ozark Joe. I know this has to be you. :-)
@@countryjoe3551 Very cool 😎!
They should make these again, in some form.
@@rtzzz9772 I agree!
Great comparison video.I own a 2019 Busa but gotta say I do really like the Blackbird and I think Suzuki owes a styling debt to it and Honda.Love the old Yam too.Great bike.
Thank you! I agree, all of the bikes featured are fantastic motorcycles. Cheers!
Great to see the FJ1200 in this comparo. I had a 1992 and it was a really fun ride. At almost 6'2" the legroom wasn't the best, but that bike had power for days and good wind protection. Dash reminded me of a 911.
@@steveroark4023 Right on!
Back in ‘99 I had a chance to ride my buddy’s ‘98 Blackbird home from his house. I was very impressed by how smooth and powerful it was. My motorcycle at the time, was a ‘98 Buell S1 White Lightning. Very undefined by the standards of the XX, but so torquey! I really enjoyed riding the Blackbird, and find myself now shopping for a nice example survivor for my stable of bikes.
Right on! A Blackbird would be a great addition! Cheers
Love my Blackbird . I'm 70 next week and it still brings a grin to my face every time I wind her up . Till death do us part .
Right on! The Blackbirds is a fantastic machine!
thats prob not far away so enjoy ole fella
Wish I had my '97 'bird back, commuted on it for 7 years, just an effortless world beater!
Right on, they're great bikes!
Really enjoyed that test . My buddies FJ 1100 was always my GS 1150’s arch nemesis and I always secretly admired it’s looks lol. Would love to see a second gen Vmax compared to these bikes
@carlkidd9571 My friend has one. I would love to review one and see how it fares in this test. It would be fun to see how a first-generation V-Max would do as well. Cheers!
I'll bet many, who are not familiar with the model, are surprised that a bike from 1986 would be so competitive in this comparison. It all comes down to the fact that these bikes are road bikes, not race bikes. The opportunities to go 150 to 180 mph are pretty much non-existent except on an autobahn. Top speed is basically irrelevant, so it all comes down to how much fun it is to ride a motorcycle, and for how long. In that light, an FJ1200 is an all day, everyday, absolute hoot to ride. Still completely relevant 30+ years down the line. So very simple, yet excellent.
Right on! You bring up some great points. My frustration with many/most modern performance bikes is that they are simply too good/competent/fast for road use and it frustrates me to feel so confined by silly rules (like speed limits) when I'm on such capable machines. Cheers!
Great comparison Jon. Thanks for the video!
You're welcome!
I record my acceleration on VBOX data logger my 2016 ZX14R (1441) with remap covers 40 to 80 in 6th takes 5.73 secs
My tuned 1441 High compression with gas flowed head and higher duration camshafts on Gen2 Hayabusa takes 5.4 secs 214hp and 128 lbft
I love big capacity bikes the above two I own are almost last of the old school
Interesting video thanks
Right on! Those are some very impressive numbers!
Beautiful bikes! Thanks Jon! Keep up the good work.
@@RogerHale-t7k Thanks, Roger!
It’s so good to see an old school FJ1200 here, and doing so well!
The quickest bike in my collection of bikes would be my 2001 ZX12R.. I don’t know if it’d be quicker than the Busa 40-80, but it’s quick enough for me 😊
Good video 👍🏼
Right on! I would love to review a nice ZX-12R on this channel if I get the chance. It's one of the few bikes I haven't gotten to ride. Like the other bikes in this test, I'm sure it's overkill for street use and difficult to be good on! Cheers!
Happy to have any of those in my garage.
Right on!
Great, fun, but informative video Jon 👍🏻 Top gear roll ons are very telling for real world feel of the engine.
@@nickrider5220 Thanks for the feedback, Nick!
Fun comparison, Jon. Gearing is so crucial in any motoring contest, it's a "horses for courses" type of thing. And on the street, torque is what we feel pushing us out of a turn in second gear. Torque is baked into horsepower ratings: HP=Torque x (RPM/5252). This equation shows us that the RPM an engine can attain has much to do with its HP rating.
@jeffsappington9704 Very true. This is why a 600 revving to 17k rpm can pump out 100+ hp with relatively low torque numbers. But then you really need to have them revving on the corner exits to get the most out of them. Also, I don't like to have to downshift 3 gears when I want to pass. Cheers!
Thanks for the post, had an '86 FJ1200 back in the day, lovely bike. Then two Hayabusa's . An '06 second hand followed by a new Gen 2 'Busa in 2015. Done over 75000kms on the Hayabusa.
Never owned a Blackbird , never ridden one to be honest. Always liked them. Best bike in my shed now is an '18 ZX14R. I won't buy another 'Busa.
Both the ZX14R and a modified Hayabusa are great bikes , busa needs more mods to match the ZX14R
Right on! You've owned some serious street hardware! Cheers!
I have to say, it is almost as much fun watching these bikes (point of view), glide over those great roads as driving them myself....almost ;)
@@rtzzz9772 Right on!
Wish I still had my BB - it's my choice of the 3. Love the fj1200, a great bike. Busa clearly the leader but while BB is fast enough I opt for quality and refinement
It's hard to go wrong with the Blackbird. Cheers!
🇮🇪🍀...for ever unforgettable Fj1200 '86🎉
@FlyingJonathan Right on!
That was a nice mixture of bikes and it was interesting to see which was quicker in a 40-80 top gear situation. That is what I like about big bore bikes, if I'm just cruising I can easily dip into a freeway entrance ramp at 40 and accelerate to 80 without needing to downshift or pass someone driving 40 in a 50 zone without downshifting. I'm a little lazy sometimes 😅. I ownd a 92 FJ, and I have ridden both 2nd and 3rd gen Busa's. All great bikes. My buddie with the 3rd gen Busa used to own a Blackbird and he says loved it. I have a 21 Gixxer 1KR now. Playing in 3rd and 4th gear on the highway gives me good punch without unintentional wheelies!😅. I subscribed. Great video, it brought back good memories 😀
Thanks Garvin! You gotta love the big-bore bikes for lazy power and the pure insanity when you open them up! Thanks for the subscription. Cheers!
The motorcycle equivalent of Long Range Bomber planes .
@@straightchad8059 More like the SR-71...
Nice review, Personally speaking the last decent Blackbird was the '98 before the switched from Carbs to the Fuel Injection system, have ridden both but when i got back into riding after around a 20 year break (now 60 years old and still have the '98 in the garage) I hunted for a 98 Model rather than the 99. FJ1200 an awesome bike loved mine, like the 1100xx was aimed at sports touring market. Due to a shoulder / vertebrae issue am doing the "VFR mod" to the Birds handlebars to bring them up from the bunny rabbit race sitting positon rather than the leaning forward one, but thats bcs of age nothing else, Took a mates Busa out. Nice bike but no where near as comfortable as a Blackbord or the FJ on long distance trip or where there are a lot of twisties.
Fun fact: Hayabusa (隼?) is Japanese for "peregrine falcon", a bird that often serves as a metaphor for speed due to its vertical hunting dive, or stoop, speed of 180 to 202 miles per hour (290 to 325 km/h), the fastest of any bird. In particular, the choice of name was made because the peregrine falcon preys on blackbirds, which reflected the intent of the original Hayabusa to unseat the Honda CBR1100XX Super Blackbird as the world's fastest production motorcycle. Eventually, the Hayabusa managed to surpass the Super Blackbird by around 10 MPH only despite the larger engine displacement and gearing.
@@TomEagles Right on! Thanks for sharing the insights. Cheers!
UK bike magazine Performance Bikes did a top gear roll-on test of about 15 bog stock bikes, around 2005-06, and the bike which beat all the others in the 50-100 mph roll on's was the 1050cc Triumph Speed Triple.
@uhtred7860. I bet they never saw that coming . 😂
I loved those! What a fantastic motor. Cheers!
the old trident was a crazy bike back then
I dont understand why anyone does a 40-80 top gear roll on test. In 50 years of riding I have never accelerated from 40mph in top gear. Why would anyone do that? At that speed I am in 1st gear. That is what a gearbox is for. You might as well test to see which bike will pull away in 4th gear as it is just as irrelevant.
Respectfully, a bike that does well in this test will do well in whatever gear and speed you choose in most street riding situations. It's a great test of low to midrange power in the rpm range most people use on the street (2500rpm-6000rpm), it's repeatable, and it's non destructive to the engine/transmission. This is important when I'm testing someone else's bike. The 40-80 test is also a great indicator of the corner exit ability of a bike in real-world riding.
Additionally, as with any test, the results can be judged by whether they consistently reflect reality. With few exceptions, the quicker/faster bikes post the best 40-80 times. Cheers!
@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538 I guess sir that we are very different riders. I am not concerned with MPG and my engines last well however I always run in low gears and high revs. Still, motorcyling is a broad church. Ride safe my friend.⁹⁸
@@MichaelZZRriderthis is about consistency in testing methodology between bikes, how much relevance it has to 'real world' riding (and your particular preferences) is immaterial. There are plenty of full reviews in road riding conditions out there, this is something different.
@@MichaelZZRrider You, too. Cheers!
You stay in first at 40mph?
Incredible the busa can overcome the gearing. The old 1100 plus in a pristine condition could be nasty cause to the gearing. But offcause in a very limited speed range.
Right on!
I think the FJ1200 is a perfect street bike, and it's gearing is perfect for dedicated street duty.
I was surprised how well the FJ did being it was 20 years older than the Busa and only a 0.2 Sec difference in street riding
The Blackbird is definitely a Cadillac when it comes to comfort
The FJ is the most aggressive/purpose built of them all (as they were back in the day) no electronic aids.
The Busa is the best all a rounder like most Suzuki's are, they are decent at everything...................But when it comes to outright speed, there is a reason it is still the King today.
While there are faster bikes than the Busa today, it is still the Halo legendary Bike that everyone knows. It's in the same halo breath as Supra, GTR, 911, and new class makers.
@@Cameron-y8j Right on!
Owned em all and found the FJ1200 to be the best balanced with a great long distance capability. Thank you!
@@tangledline Right on!
Air cooled for me 😉👍🏻
@@tphvictims5101 Right on!
Man, where can I pick up a Blackbird for cheap? (get it?... cheep?...sorry) What a hotrod. I've ridden/ piloted a friend's bike years ago and was sold. He's gone now and I haven't seen another one since.The Suzuki is very cool but the Honda felt better to me. They're both exellent, wày fast and worthy of comparison. Thanks for sharing, J. Michigan
Thanks, James! The 1999 Blackbird in this test felt especially aggressive - it would get me in TROUBLE! Blackbirds do come up for sale every now and then if you keep your eyes open for one. Good luck!
Excellent test, enjoyed that level on Sega hang on.
That's why I went from an '86 FJ1200 to a '99 1450 Harley low rider.
The complaints department would say it's unfair because it's geared for around 130.
See Hildo's Harley and get triggered about how you would have won on a busa.
It's just not how the real world works.
Vfr750fj from 1988 is still stupid quick on a ¼ mile from a standing start.
Keep up the good work.
@@theodavies8754 Thanks, Theo!
Interesting video, I knew the blackbird is not gonna do well here due to the relatively peaky motor and very long 6th gear. 40 is way under its poweband, it starts pulling at 6k rpm. I am sure the busa would outperform it in any test though.
Yes, the Busa is the overachiever in this test, though the 1999 did very well in this test and has much more "pull" from lower RPM than the later 2003 Blackbird. I think the 1999 Blackbird has more low-end than the carbureted Blackbirds as well. I've owned two all-stock 1997 Blackbirds and they didn't hit until around 6k rpm (similar feel to the 2003). Cheers!
Thanks Jon. The FJ1200 is so much fun. I've got about 3500 kms on my 1990 since rebuilding it to stock form. Do you have any experience with bar risers on FJ1200? I'm about 6' and find a long ride a bit wearing on my shoulders and back but then I am almost 60.
You're welcome, John. I haven't experimented with any bar risers on my FJ. At 6'-4", legroom is the limiting factor for me on the FJ. Cheers!
Given a choice of these bikes new I'd take the Yamaha mainly for upright comfort. If I were still 20-30 years old it would be the Blackbird, comfort aside and it looks the best.
Right on!
Good morning Jon ☕️. Beautiful bikes!
Eric in NC
@@user-sh5dy5tr9d Thanks, Eric!
'99 Blackbird owner, and former FJ owner as well.
I'm not sure that a pull from 40mph in top gear is going to be of too much utility, as I'm certain I've never had my Blackbird in top gear at that low a road speed despite it's wonderfully useable midrange power.
Pulling 40-80 is good, just, I know it'd never happen on a bike like this.
I'd also wonder that the loud mufflers could be afflicting the Bird's result. Conventional wisdom suggests this type of muffler typically will reduce midrange power.
Not that a Bird's ever going to out-pull a Busa, there's too much difference in displacement and power for that to happen.
No surprise about the FJ, though, and the low gearing was the first thing I thought of when I saw the video pop up. I liked mine very well back in the early '90s and put nearly 50,000 miles on it, right up until I got a Kawasaki ZX1100E (GPZ) which was way faster and vastly smoother; much better for the touring side. But the FJ was indeed pretty sensational back in the day and if it was that one of these was the only bike I could get to ride, it wouldn't be the end of the world. Still a fine machine.
@@FieldShunt Right on! Thanks for sharing your experiences with these great machines. Cheers!
The Suzuki 1250S you tested had a 6.3 second roll on time
It did have a 2 Brothers slip on a K&N air filter plus a power commander
@@bobpagels4818 Very true. The 1250 may have won this test if I had tested it on this venue instead of the slight uphill that I tested it on. Cheers!
Suzuki 1250S might be the most overlooked hi performance mc out there
You can find a decent one for cheap money
I love the grunt of my stock 2016 GSF 1250S
Another great video, but would love to see what would happen if you also geared down 1 and had a chart for looking it over.
@@rbfclaboratoryandstudio Right on! That's a good idea. Cheers!
Jon, what would be of great value, if you could find or borrow an Fj that has had a 17 inch wheel swapp front and rear, and tell your viewers if the changes are worth doing?
@robertrodriguez8167 Right on! I know Yamaha had converted it to 17" wheels front and back by 1990 along with brake upgrades. It would be fun to do a back-to-back comparison between both versions. Cheers!
I like the Blackbird. Sounds great to me and I don’t have to be at the head of the pack.
Right on!
ILove you're channel-
I live in Pennsylvania all my life
WHAT County are you in with these great Straightaway
Country Roads?
@@stevemchale6363 Lancaster County.
@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538 Thank you for the reply John I'm in Lackawana County
Scranton: It's a bit of a haul to get into the deeper countryside
areas for long straight roads
but then there are the damned
driveways to look out for.
I've been riding for over 50 years.
@@stevemchale6363 Yep. There are lots of things to keep in mind when getting in the throttle. The less populated the area, the better. Cheers!
be nice to ride a new 2024 BMW s1000rr/or m1000xr and compare the new vs old / has bikes really come that far ?? electronics ?? i think the old bikes with have more real experience than new that raw power no electronics all with your wrist as it should 200+hp hard to harness for a road ?? great review Busa looks awesome .. cheers..
@douglasgrosch228 Thanks, Douglas! It would be fun to see how a newer 200hp 1000cc machine would fare in this test. I've ridden some newer bikes with the electronic aids. I didn't realize that they were kicking in until I watched the video and saw the traction control light flashing on at certain points. They are truly NEEDED on the newer 1000cc machines. Cheers!
@@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538 if you can get a hold of MT - 10 hear its lots fun wheelie and sound is addicting !! keeper bike
Well, this is a fun stable test, and i like all these bikes looks and performance. I have ridden an FJ 1200, and a 2000 Blackbird. The FJ was quick and fun to ride, and if it had a 6 speed , shaft drive, and a little more wind protection, it would still be a great all around / touring bike. I am no stranger to riding big bore Honda bikes, and have owned a few, but i would describe the power of the Blackbird i rode , as Evil ! Iirc it had a Power commander and aftermarket exhaust , and was just too much. It was so raw and nasty, and before i rode it, i thought about buying it, but i did not like the ergonomics, plus the speeding tickets would have killed my insurance :) . Still a legendary bike though !
@flexjay87 Right on! The 1999-2002 Blackbird was the most raw feeling of the Blackbirds. The 1999 in this test felt wicked. This was enhanced by the sound and more aggressive fueling. The feel of the FJ and Busa was much more low-key, so the results were somewhat surprising. Cheers!
I have a 2000 xx havent ridden it in a while with life going on right now but yes they can get Evil quick ha ha ha I've done a little work to mine and also added a hair dryer out front on the exhaust and it don't mind really what gear roll on it gets your attention quick 👍 like the busa as well but my height and size it sits uncomfortable in the saddle for me.
Love the look of the old FJ’s ..remember them being , or at least looking like ,direct competitors to the likes of the early ninjas cbr’s gsx’s etc but meaner looking imo..the newer ones seem to have gone more towards the cruiser look with a bagger like setup … sort of ruins it for me
@vicpnut1 I agree, the newer FJR1300 is more touring oriented than the FJ1200. It would be fun to see how an FJR would do in this test. Cheers!
The FJ1200 has a 5 speed transmission and lower top speed, lower gearing, so really quite a bit different than the others. But it was a great sport touring bike. I ended up owning 2 of them. The CBR11xx was also a fine sport touring machine. Utterly smooth motor......but VERY top heavy and ungainly. Top gear acceleration to 150MPH was ridiculous. Much faster than the FJ1100.
@@g.f.9862 Right on!
i've never been astride a Big 'Busa, but I've never known a disappointed owner......!!!!!!!!
@@wdhewson Very true!
Good thing that Suzuki limited the Hayabusa to 186mph,anything above that in a crash and you're in trouble!!😂😂😂
Right???!!! I find it comical that street riders want to de-restrict their bikes to remove that limiter. Cheers!
why no kwakasaki ZX9
Only because I haven't had the chance to review one. I would love to feature any/all of the ZX-9R models on this channel when I get the chance. I've owned every generation of ZX-9R and they're among my favorite sportbikes. Cheers!
Our Skipper, Lt.Col.Geoger has one of those Hayabusa's...I think it's an '03........pretty bike, I've got my old '81 XS1100H...... but it's very well enough for me at 61 years old.
@@marcelgaud Right on!
Black bird all the way, no doubt my choice
@@disyokerr Right on! They are great bikes. Cheers!
The craziest bike of the FJ1200 era was DEFINITELY the old SUZUKI GSX-R 1100. My buddy had one. Super light and super quick and great handling.
The other bikes felt like porky ill-handling Cadillacs by comparison.
@@g.f.9862 Yep, the GSX-R1100 was a true racebike with lights. It set the formula for future hard-core sportbikes. Cheers!
After the original 86-88 GSX-R1100, they lost their way, they got heavier and heavier and the handling got more wayward, the 89 GSX-R1100K was the reason big bore production bikes were stopped from racing at the Isle of Man for many years, after 3 riders crashed and 2 died, earning it the nickname the "Killer K". The water cooled GSX-R1100s were a far cry from the lightweight, pared down, track bikes with lights the first generation ones were, wet weight had ballooned to 254kg/ 560lb from 204kg/450lb.
@@uhtred7860 I only have fleeting memories of that test ride but I do remember that it was amazing. Shocking really.
@@uhtred7860 Very true! Suzuki got back on track though, with their GSX-R1000. Cheers!
@@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538 The first GSX-R1000 was a peach, I so very nearly bought one in 01, but after test riding a GSX-R1000 & a YZF-R1, (and a 929 Blade) i chose the R1. No regrets, still have the R1 too.😃
I had both an fj and a busa. This is not accurate to put a bike that’s geared for 150 mph and one that is geared for 186 mph in a top gear roll on. Even though the busa won I can confirm that the busa feels twice the bike of the fj. It’s a world apart.
@MrH250 This test illustrates top-gear passing power of bikes from different eras. All these bikes are big-bore, street-oriented sportbikes that were geared for top-speed when they were introduced. One ride will confirm what you're saying, that even the Blackbirds are in another league from the FJ once you exit the legal speed arena. Cheers!
All too fast for me now. I used to have a B-King. I'm not surprised, at all. Nick
@@1990-t1j Right on! I want to review a B-King if I get the chance. It always seemed like a fun bike. Cheers!
oops: Lt.Col. George.........USMC. VMFT-401
Not too fair,,,,,,, the Yami , is so OLD.
@@marcelgaud Even so, the Yamaha is still a capable machine with enough power to thrill. Cheers!
Oh god adjust and lubricate the chains, enough is enough
?
how do you sound so bored riding these rocket ships
Bs zx14 has the fastest 1/4 mile time quarter mile king
When I get the chance to review a ZX-14, I'll feature the results in a video. Besides, this video wasn't about 1/4 mile times. Cheers!