Summary

• The 1999 Suzuki Hayabusa was the quickest bike of the twentieth century, reaching a prime velocity of 194 MPH.
• The Hayabusa’s design was unconventional however optimized for velocity, with a bulbous fairing that decreased drag.
• Despite its velocity, the Hayabusa was additionally versatile and dependable, making it a novel hyperbike that might be used for sports activities touring.

Suzuki referred to as it the world’s first “Ultimate Sport” bike, and right now, we name it the world’s first hyperbike. But this specimen goes by many names within the wild: recreation changer, icon, legend, piss missile, and even a sports activities tourer. It’s none aside from the 1999 Suzuki GSX-R1300R Hayabusa, the quickest bike of the twentieth century. Whether you hate it or adore it, you’ll be able to’t deny that this beast made an impression on you.

When it was launched, the Hayabusa instantly received acclaim and have become the quickest bike, topping out at 194 MPH, obliterating every other production motorcycle built before it. And in contrast to different superbikes, the Hayabusa wasn’t a race reproduction or a GP bike with license plates. This one was purpose-built to be not solely the quickest manufacturing bike but additionally versatile, snug, and dependable. The Hayabusa is an instance the place engineering and design can come collectively to create magic (and beat all superbikes and a few supercars alongside the best way).

In order to provide the most recent and correct data potential, the info used to compile this text was sourced from Suzuki and different authoritative sources, together with Motorcycle Magazine, Motorcycle News, Cycle World, Zero to 60 Times, and Ultimate Specs.

Performance: Over-Engineered Perfection On Two Wheels

Top Speed: 194 MPH

One take a look at Hayabusa’s spec sheet, and also you’ll discover that it wasn’t something outstanding, per se, even for the 90s. The bike had a traditional transverse-mounted inline-four engine, a fringe body, and USD forks — issues that had been current on many different superbikes of the time. The design wasn’t even something to put in writing house about. Yet, it set a precedent so nice, that it’s simple to check with the Busa because the world’s first hyperbike, and right here’s why.

Engineering At Its Finest Without Any Innovations

Starting with the engine, the Busa featured a liquid-cooled inline-four engine with sixteen valves and DOHC. While this wasn’t something particular, it nonetheless produced record-breaking horsepower figures on the crankshaft. This was potential because of two causes: RAM air consumption that pressured air into the engine and the biggest displacement for sports activities bikes on the time. The Hayabusa is what you should utilize to point out somebody that there’s no alternative for displacement (though trendy bikes just like the H2 have disproved that!).

The energy supply was brutal, but it felt acquainted when you had ridden different Suzukis of the time. This halo bike was as Suzuki as a Suzuki may get within the 90s. The power delivery was raw and linear, however the distinction was how a lot horsepower it was delivering on the pavement. The Busa flew via its fifth gear like most different bikes did in third. Immaculate energy.

The engine was additionally fairly over-engineered for the time. Despite being the quickest two-wheeled missile on the street, the engine was not too confused, and you could possibly all the time squeeze out extra energy. Slap a turbo or an ECU replace, and you could possibly push the Hayabusa to 300 to 500 horsepower. No wonder Turbo-Busas are so common these days — the engine simply doesn’t wish to break underneath stress.

When A Conventional Chassis Is Good Enough

The Hayabusa featured a traditional twin-beam body with absolutely adjustable USD forks and specially-made Bridgestone tires. And for the reason that engine was so clean, due to a gear-driven counterbalancer, Suzuki may solidly mount it to the body, including extra body rigidity. The outcome was a hunky bike that danced within the corners, albeit like a chubby dancer. The Hayabusa shocked everybody with its composed dealing with traits.

1999 Suzuki Hayabusa Engine And Chassis Specifications

(Specs sourced from Suzuki and Motorcycle News)

A Missile-Like Design That Divided People Just Like A Real Missile

When it was launched, the Hayabusa drew flack for the design. It was ugly at first sight, however little did bikers know the way lovely the bike carried out on the street. And that’s the factor that bikers nonetheless overlook in regards to the Busa. It’s not ugly, it’s presupposed to appear to be that. The bulbous, curvy fairings made the bike slice via the air like a bullet — no shock right here, the Busa was designed in a wind tunnel.

Koji Yoshiura, Hayabusa Designer

“To create a somewhat grotesque design and create a strong initial impact… The mission was to create a totally new styling that will not be out of date within a few years, and a styling that will be the Face of Suzuki.”

Fun Fact: Yoshiura additionally designed the Bandit 400, RF600R, TL1000S, and SV650.

Everything got here collectively to make the Hayabusa the quickest bike of the twentieth century. But it wasn’t good. The brakes had been spongy and pale rapidly, and at full lean, the fairings and engine covers would scrape the tarmac. Yet, you’d be dumbfounded on the gracefulness of the bike.

Suzuki Hayabusa Design Highlights

• The RAM air ducts and the drooping, rounded nostril squeezed the entrance finish for much less drag
• The slim frontal space meant the headlight needed to be stacked with a excessive beam behind a single lens
• The low and lengthy design opened up the rider triangle, making certain higher consolation
• The pillion seat cowl was made like a hump to cut back drag produced by the rider underneath full tuck

Faster And Faster Until The Busa Overtakes Most Things With Wheels

When the bike was first revealed, it didn’t win many hearts, however onlookers had no thought they had been wanting on the quickest bike of the time. Once reviewers rode the bike, the Busa took the world by storm. In some ways, the 1999 Suzuki GSX-1300R Hayabusa was the world’s first hyperbike.

Here’s a enjoyable truth: Hayabusa is Japanese for peregrine falcon, a fowl that’s identified for its vertical dive of as much as 202 MPH — it’s the quickest fowl. And guess what the falcon preys on — blackbirds, just like the Hayabusa preyed on the Honda CBR1100XX Super Blackbird. The Hayabusa beat the then-fastest motorcycle by a 10 MPH margin — no different manufacturing bike had ever crushed the highest velocity file by such a margin.

The Bulbous Falcon Didn’t Spare Supercars Either

The Hayabusa was so quick that even some 90s supercars seemed slow in front of it. With its beneficiant energy supply and acceleration, the Hayabusa in its inventory kind was able to overtaking many supercars of the time, together with Ferraris and Lamborghinis. Imagine spending six figures within the 90s solely to be overtaken by somebody carrying shorts, a tank prime, and flip-flops.

Suzuki Hayabusa In Comparison With The Honda Blackbird And Nineties Supercars

(Specs sourced from Suzuki, Motorcycle News, Cycle World, Zero to 60 Times, and Ultimate Specs)

But It Was A Hyperbike For The Streets And The Long Haul

Some folks elevate their eyebrows when we refer to the Hayabusa as a sports tourer, but it surely’s true. The Busa has all the time been a flexible bike, regardless of being constructed for prime velocity. Unlike its rivals, the Busa didn’t really feel like a superbike on steroids; it was a one-of-a-kind bike. As Jay Koblenz of Motorcycle News Magazine put it, “The Hayabusa is Speed in all its glory. But speed is not all the Hayabusa is.”

The plentiful energy and a slick gearbox made the bike a lot simpler to journey in your alternative of substances for any velocity with out lacking out on acceleration; the engine was additionally as dependable as any Suzuki of the time. Suzuki didn’t low cost out on practicality, both. The Hayabusa got here with bungee twine hooks, underneath seat storage, a hinged gas tank, and an enormous windscreen. You may even buy an elective heart stand for it!

A Legacy To Last As Long As Motorcycles Do

With the Hayabusa got here backlash from European regulators, who threatened an import ban on Japanese bikes. This led to a casual Gentlemen’s Agreement between European and Japanese producers to hurry lock their bikes at 186 MPH. The Speed Wars ended; even the post-2000 Hayabusa didn’t cross the 186 MPH mark. Even right now, most bikes, besides a number of outliers just like the MV Agusta F4 R 312, are capped at 186 MPH.

The Hayabusa was updated twice, and is now in its third technology. Both up to date fashions retained the appeal of the gen-one Busa. The design continues to be bulbous, and the ability supply continues to be linear but searing on the prime finish. The Hayabusa might now not be the quickest bike on the street, but it surely’s simply probably the most influential bike of contemporary occasions.

There’s just one downside with the Hayabusa, and that flaw is the time at which it was born. A world of rules and emission norms — possibly, the world may by no means be prepared for the Hayabusa. But the Hayabusa will all the time stand prepared so that you can swing your leg over and take it as quick as you’ll be able to. And when you’re within the temper, even tour on it.

Modern Motorcycles Faster Than The Suzuki Hayabusa

• Kawasaki Ninja H2R: 249 MPH
• Ducati Panigale V4 R: 208 MPH
• Aprilia RSV4 1100 Factory: 199 MPH
• BMW M 1000 RR: 195 MPH
• MV Agusta F4 R 312: 194 MPH