Throughout my years of riding, the rule was Honda will run forever...unless it uses a rectifier or something with the word voltage in the description. then you gotta dump money into it.

Suzuki's are crashed before they had a chance to crap out
Yammer had clutch basket nonsense

and second gear on the Yamaha.

I as well Dont have a problem with how My kawi was built.

Runs like a top and Looks dead sexy.

on one model (the R6 - speaking of which, mine and most other owners I heard from were fine). Best shifting bike I've ever owned, in fact.

and speaking of clutch baskets, Suzuki v-twins had that problem. Many were unbalanced from the factory.

As a fellow Busa Owner (05) I am curious about the Zx14 have you got saddle time on them both? I have about an hour on a ZX14 and the ergos felt a bit off but I suspect that may be because I have altered the ergos on the Busa to fit me. The brakes seemed to have a better feel than my Busa did when it was stock (I did the lines and pads) but not a Huge difference to its current state. Is there anything you notice that puts it ahead of the fist or second gen Busa's. They seem like nice hyperbike and I wish Honda and Yamaha would come to the table with something in the Hyperbike class BMW has but it is priced like a BMW.

I dont like the stock brakes on the busas (either first or second gen) but most people tend to upgrade brakes anyway after a while. I just felt overall the bikes are VERY similar in terms of performance and its just a matter of personal preference. I am just not a big fan of the way the zx14 looks (especially the front headlights).

In my experience and all that I have "heard" is that Honda has the highest quality followed by Yamaha with Kawasaki and Suzuki fighting for 3rd.

I've owned 2 Honda's...3 Yamaha's...and 3 Kawasaki's. I've never had trouble with any of them.

I've never owned a Suzuki and never really wanted one HOWEVER I think Suzuki has gotten better and they definitely kick azz these days and yes I now would consider one.

I've only ridden one Suzuki...an 05' Busa and must say that I liked it better than I thought I would have.

not just one model, the FZR's, YZF600R that I remember but had heard about second gear problems long before I started riding 20 some years ago.

Its funny it is the ZX14 appearance that has put me off but as you note that is matter of personal taste. The only other place the busa seems to come out ahead is in after market options but then they have been here longer. I am running one of a dozen plug and play turbo set ups on my busa I am only aware fo one for the ZX but that doesnt mean they arent coming.
in terms of quality in the Since 03 I have owned 3 Suzukis 3 Hondas 1 Kawasaki 2 Victorys and 1 Ducati. 3 of these were more than 10 years old GS550 Suzuki a CB750f and a Vulcan 750 oddly enough the Vulcan was the most reliable of the bunch. The Honda 77 CB750 F was a pain to bring back to running condition but once back was a good machine the GSI could bever get to run soa I traded it for gun parts.

I've never ridden a yammy so I can only go by what I've hear. I'm a rider, not a racer and it seems like Yamaha makes all their engines just racing. I dont need my power at high rpms going through town. I need low and med power cause I dont go 100mph through town.

I'm sure someone will chime in and call me an idiot but until I get a chance to ride one I'll go with comments from riders that have more experience with bikes than I'll ever have.