For almost twenty years, one name has stood above the others in the sport bike world: Hayabusa. The name alone is the Japanese name for the peregrine falcon, a raptor that can easily hit 200 MPH in it’s hunting dive and has been clocked at speeds over 240 MPH in some cases, and for the motorcycle that bore it’s name, it was an appropriate branding. The 1999 models came in before a restriction agreement between European and Japanese introduced a top speed of 186 miles an hour and are capable of hitting Vmax speeds of 194 MPH under ideal circumstances.
The Hayabusa wasn’t a psychotic, barely rideable adrenaline shot to the heart, though. Yes, it could hit speeds that are best reserved for dry lake beds and airport runways, but it was also a very easy bike to ride around on. It could handle and corner just fine. It wasn’t temperamental or unreliable. And it wasn’t radically expensive or exclusive. You could cruise it to the track, proceed to rip off a high-nine quarter mile while tripping the beams around 140 miles an hour, and ride home just as easily. Either generation, before the limitation or afterwards, could do that trick.
But it wasn’t just the Hayabusa bike that is going to be missed when Suzuki pulls the plug at the end of the year. The engine has been swapped into Smart ForTwos, turning the otherwise miserable little egg of a car into a ripper. It’s been swapped into a plane. It’s been used in sandrails, open-wheel racers, streamliners, and it’s the powerplant that Radical used for their SR and PR-series of cars.
Unfortunately, the end has come for Suzuki’s monster. The engine will not meet Euro 4 emission standards, but rather than ending European importation and continuing on, Suzuki has decided to let the Hayabusa end on a high note. Fare thee well you beautiful monster.
I saw a lot of these come into the shop wrecked. Very few riders have the skill to operate these beasts to their potential, especially on the street.
They are big easy to ride bikes. The Aprilia RSV4 and Kawi H2 are way quicker but feel like a cross between a razor blade and a cheetah on meth, like death is imminent. I’ll miss the Bussa, but I hope that that company making the bussa based v8 will keep up production so I can drop one in my Mini when I strike it rich.
What, a Bussa v8? Tell me more or I’ll try some research. These were crazy fast bikes, never road one cause I’d die with that power on 2 wheels. My Honda 50 could kill me? Seriously! Remember seeing 2 of these when new dipping into the 9s at Pacific Raceway.
Check out this: http://www.h1v8.com/page/page/1562068.htm
They basically make a new block with bussa heads and internals. They are super power dense, and are really small and light but cost stupid silly money.
I bought the last 2000 that the motorcycle shop had, been addicted ever since!! I had a 72 H2 for years, ended up selling it and regretted it ever since, I’ll never sell the Busa!!
I thought the 2019 busa was coming out w a turbo on it ? Its koo I have an 04 busa w 99 unrestricted motor has alot of motor work has been remap has.a power commander and nitrous it stretched lower and one bad ass bike ! I would love to put a turbo on it but its fast enough on the street love it