The original Suzuki GSX1300R Hayabusa is still one seriously quick motorcycle, possessed of enormous acceleration and breathtaking top speed. True, the GSX1300R Hayabusa doesn’t quite handle all that power (and weight) too brilliantly sometimes, but it remains a supremely comfortably long range missile, that always delivers a shot of raw adrenaline. Latest version is better yet.
Engine: The original Suzuki GSX1300R Hayabusa is very simple, yet brutally effective four cylinder monster, the 1299cc engine is bulletproof, doesn’t chin fuel too badly at semi-sane speeds and the fuel injection works very efficiently too. The amount of midrange torque that the GSX1300R Hayabusa produces is especially impressive and makes fast road riding ridiculously easy. New version is better though.
Ride And Handling: Here the GSX1300R Hayabusa has issues. First off, it has a semi-touring kind of ride, with soft-ish suspension that allows the front end to squirm and move around under hard braking. And talking of brakes, Suzuki GSX1300R Hayabusa’s tend to fade a bit under repeated hard use from 150mph plus speeds - which are achieved in about 12 seconds on this bike. As a sports-tourer, the GSX1300R Hayabusa is definitely more touring than sporty in its overall handling.
Equiment: That ugly fairing on the Suzuki GSX1300R Hayabusa works very well, not only at punching holes in the atmosphere at 180mph, but at keeping some bad weather off the rider too, but the new version is better still. Good headlight, comfy rider and pillion accommodation, four bungee hooks and some underseat storage - plus throwover panniers can be made to fit all total up to make the Suzuki GSX1300R Hayabusa a capable tourer. Excellent grabrail too.
Quality And Reliability: Reliability is generally excellent with the Suzuki GSX1300R Hayabusa, although rear wheel bearings have been known to collapse occasionally at relatively low miles. The real problem with long term GSX1300R Hayabusa ownership is the quality of the finish on many components, which is poor. It rusts, it pits, it discolours its alloy, unless you really keep on top of it and clean every nook and cranny. Exhausts rot too.
Value: As the Suzuki GSX1300R Hayabusa reaches the end of its current lifespan there should be some excellent deals to be had on the existing model, which is essentially unchanged from 1999. It’s a tried and trusted rocketship, and a genuinely capable touring bike, although it does eat rear tyres every 1500-2000 miles, so book a couple of tyre stops on your European tour if you’re taking a GSX1300R Hayabusa. Find Suzuki GSXR1300 Hayabusa motorcycles for sale.
New price £6,649
Parker’s used price range £2,095-4,795
Engine size 1299cc
Power 175bhp
Top speed 190mph
Insurance group 15
This article was taken from: Motorcycle News
