So what did we learn? Well although these are two very different motorcycles, they are really just a different means to the same end. They are both fast, and they are both comfortable in their own way. By that I mean the Suzuki is comfortable even when the road conditions wouldn’t normally allow, with its soft and plush suspension. The Kwak is comfortable in quite a different way. Its high screen and handlebars permit a much more touring focused riding position, ideal for long stints in the saddle.
And if you want to talk about fast, they are both capable of prison time in one of Her Majesty’s finest all inclusives.
Riding side by side, we did a few roll-on power tests in different gears at different speeds, and despite the ‘Busa always having the initial jump on the SE, once the Kawasaki’s supercharger got spinning up, the SE pulled away, quite convincingly from the ‘Busa. This was the case even though the Suzuki claims more torque than its rival. In reality, the Kawasaki’s shorter gearbox ratios may have had a lot to do with this, and perhaps when the bikes got up to the 150mph mark the ‘Busa might have had the legs, but you have to ask yourself how many times you’re likely to be up at that end of the speedo.