RideFast JUNE 2021

Since then, and the rivalry between any two brands
has really never been duplicated.
Fast Forward:
‘Busa’s are still enormously popular – and with bike
prices creeping up the way that they have and many
riders are paying attention to their older machines
rather than replacing.
It’s ladies month – or – it was international lady riders
day the other day – so we figured that we’d need to
get a lady rider involved in this feature. One of the
biggest Busa nuts out there is Tracy Van Der Linde
who has owned and ridden them for longer than
some of our readers have been around.
Trace is a graphic designer who spent time at Dirt
And Trail, Bike SA and Superbike Magazines, so
she has a wealth of knowledge about all things
motorcycle.
She went drag racing for two years on a 2005 Busa
in the Standard Superbike class and clocked an
impressive time of 10.26 over the quarter mile.
She is a proud owner of a Gen 1 ‘Busa that had
been” Slightly modified” by specialist tuner Quintin
Ackerman.
We met her one sunny Highveld morning for a look
and a chat and – of course a spin on her unique bike.
She bought the bike in 2010 from Dyno By Quint in
Edenvale. He built the bike from the ground up and
breathed on it a bit to make it just that little bit faster.
That is the beauty of a ‘Busa – they are strong, so
you can tune then and keep them reliable at the
same time.
When we say Gen 1 – we refer to chassis and
bodywork.
The engine is replaced with a Gen 2 mill which the
factory upgraded slightly from the first one. That has
had some cylinder head work done and the cams
have been reprofiled.
You can hear it the moment that the bike fires up and
it idles away. The standard BHP output was around
the 186 BHP mark up here on the Highveld. This one
pushes 207 on the Dyno.
The bike also pinched the Gen 2’s suspension
components.
FEATURE
CUSTOM SUZUKI BUSA
sorts of anodized goodies and detailing. It’s not a show bike. This bike is
used a lot as day to day wheels and Trace says she falls a little bit more in
love with it every time she rides it.
•A Power Commander was fitted
– with that, you can play with the
electronic tuning.
•At that time, quick shifters were quite
new tech – this was fitted with an
aftermarket one.
•The bike has a full Arata Exhaust
system.
•It drips with carbon Fibre covers.
•The original owner fitted Yamaha R1
wheels and they tell us that that was
for Aesthetic reasons. They do look
great.
•Standard calipers on Wavy rotors
take care of stopping duties.
•Custom seat.
Simoncelli Tribute:
We made the error of calling this a
replica. It’s not, it’s a tribute to the late
racer. Trace and her family are nuts
about the guy and they decided on
the sprayjob in memory of the man.
It looks absolutely fantastic.
Other than that- the bike drips with all
”Your number one SYM
dealer in the northern suburbs”.
Sales, service and fitment centre
Cnr Baxter/Strand Road, Bellville 021 9453250.
*large varitey of service parts in stock
*fully equipped workshop
http://sym.co.za/
RIDEFAST MAGAZINE JUNE 2021 61