There is something gloriously ridiculous about the Suzuki Hayabusa. On a rather small island with a maximum speed limit of 70mph is there any justification whatsoever for a 194hp bike that can hit its (restricted) top speed of 186mph in just 23 seconds? Of course not, which is what makes the Hayabusa so special.
Getting up to speed easy, stopping not so much
Now in its 14th year of production, the Hayabusa has secured its place in motorcycling history due to its obscene power and ability to go warp speed. In 1999, when the 'busa was first launched a bog stock, out of the crate machine would hit 190mph. Fairly understandably this raised a few eyebrows and led to a 'gentlemen's agreement' between the Japanese manufacturers that limited all bikes to 186mph (300km/h). Since this time the 'busa has grown in stature, not only spawning a whole modification and customisation culture in America (check out some of the 'big wheel' and stretched specials on Google images) but also a generation of speed freaks who merrily strap turbos and the like onto the bike. Stories of 'busas hitting 250mph are not uncommon and with relatively few mods a road bike will top the double ton. However there has always been a slight blot on its copybook.
Unstoppable excitement
Despite being one of, if not the, fastest bikes on the planet, the Hayabusa has always been hampered by its brakes. Despite huge six-piston twin calipers the first generation's stopping power was bordering on the scary and even the four-piston radial units that appeared on the 2007 revised model were a bit pants. But was it always the brakes' fault?
Crude but effective says our man of the ABS
A bike as long, low and heavy as the 'busa tends to push the front wheel under hard braking rather than dig it into the tarmac like a sports bike. When
PH2 raced a Radical
last year I was messing about braking hard on the Busa and kept feeling a funny sensation from the front. After a few runs I realised that it was the front sliding under brakes, something that shouldn't have been possible on a dry surface with warm tyres. Well, for 2013 Suzuki has attempted to sort this issue by not only upgrading the brakes to the same four-piston Brembo units as adorn
the GSX-R1000
0-186mph and back
Accelerating hard on a Hayabusa never ceases to amaze. On PH2's datalogger we hit 60mph in 3.5 seconds, 100mph in 6.4 seconds and 180mph in just over 17 seconds. And that was without really trying for fear of destroying the clutch. Impressive just isn't the word, just look at the video and see how fast the speedo's needle flicks around. But now you can brake almost as quickly.
Performance is still as ludicrous as ever
At an indicated 186mph (genuine 183mph) I grabbed the 'busa's front brake as hard as I dared and let the ABS do its job. Stopping over 266kg of bike plus 90kg of rider (maybe more...) that is traveling at such huge velocities is never an easy task. However, the new brakes certainly seem to have added a bit of much-needed bite to the 'busa. With the ABS chiming in and out the Suzuki's front tyre was momentarily locking before being released and allowed to re-establish grip, something that sent a pulsing sensation through the brake lever. To be honest the Suzuki ABS system didn't feel as sophisticated as something like Honda's C-ABS, which you can't actually feel working. But it certainly did the job.
Full speed ahead?
In some ways it is hard to justify owning a Hayabusa. It is simply too fast for the UK's roads. But by the same token it is an absolutely brilliant bike and one that every rider needs to experience once in their lives. Preferably on a disused airfield. For £11,299 you can own a machine that will hit 180mph all day long and can even be encouraged to top 200mph with a de-restrictor, set of pipes and decent tail wind. This fact alone makes it one of my favourite bikes around. And now it stops as well!
SUZUKI GSX1300R HAYABUSA
Engine: 1,340cc 4-cyl
Power: 194hp@9,800rpm (claimed)
Torque: 115lb ft@10,200rpm (claimed)
Top speed: 183mph (restricted)
Weight: 266kg (wet)
MPG: 42mpg (est)
Price: £11,299 (£11,399 for yellow)