It hurts me to say it about this iconic weapon, but the big ‘Busa is never going to win any prizes for its looks going by today’s standards; it would certainly look much more at home parked up in a Weight Watchers meeting than at a Miss Miami beauty pageant. You can see that every detail, from the indicators to the mudguard, have been designed with aerodynamics in mind, with, unfortunately, the result being something that resembles a fat bird whose belt and bra are too tight – there are bits bulging out everywhere.
Sat astride the big Suzuki, you’re instantly reminded of its length, the stretched out feeling being a typical trait of the GSX-R family. The low seat lulls you into a false sense of comfort, right up until the point you reach for the also low, rear angled ‘bars and grasp the true nature of this sheep in sportsbike’s clothing.
And if that stretched and low stance isn’t enough to put you off, the archaic analogue clock setup is enough to make you question how a bike with a ‘17 plate could sport such a prehistoric setup. Fired up, the ‘Busa ticked over sweetly, revved cleanly and despite all of its 266kg, foot-powered shunting was a doddle thanks to its low weight and generous steering lock. Great news if you plan on living out your days doing U-turns on single track back lanes, while wearing a high-vis vest and pointing fake speeds guns at kids on bicycles.