2022 Suzuki Hayabusa First Ride Review. The Legend is Back! - Cycle News

It’s hard to think of another motorcycle as revered to a company as the Hayabusa is to Suzuki. Not just to Suzuki, the Hayabusa is one of those all-time bikes, part of an ultra-small selection of two-wheelers to have transcended the industry and captured the wider public’s imagination.
When the Hayabusa shredded onto the scene in 1999, the world was in the grips of the ‘World’s Fastest Motorcycle’ phase. Honda had just stolen the title from Kawasaki with the Super Blackbird, and Suzuki wanted a piece of the action.
Naming the machine the ‘Hayabusa’ was a Suzuki middle finger to their arch-rivals at Honda. The Japanese Hayabusa, otherwise known as the Peregrine Falcon, is capable of speeds up to an astonishing 240 mph and feasts on the Blackbird, so you can imagine how much fun the marketing department had with that one.
Since that much-lauded arrival at the turn of the century, the Hayabusa (formerly known as the GSX1300R Hayabusa), has only had one update before 2022. That came in 2008 with a new 1340cc motor and revamped styling, pushing the Hayabusa back to the forefront of speed freaks’ minds the world over.
But times have changed in the intervening years. The world has largely moved on from top speed accolades with much of the industry’s attention diverted to more sustainable, smaller capacity machines. So has Suzuki released a machine worthy of the legend, or is this a case of dad just trying to be cool with the young set?

Timestamp
0:05: Tech and intro
3:00 First ride
12:10: Wrap up
18:04: Final thoughts

[jasoncook]

I have the 2022 busa I'm 52 yrs old ex sports bike rider, 5 foot 6 70 kg I'm a daily rider and weekends i take the missis around the twistis and long haul . That's what the bike is for simply brilliant busa legend got better. To answer how will buy it , older people like me how want liter bike performance but more comfortable for 2up and long haul . I love my busa simply brilliant . PS I can fat foot it to lol

[bobjohnson]

Thanks for bringing back my memories. I had an early 2000 model and it performed pretty much the same as this story.
Its a big machine although when your riding it you hardly notice.
It holds the road like a gem and its basically a rocket. Cheers xxx

[SL]

Thanks for this excellent review. I have worked 10 years for Suzuki here in Europe, and have excellent memories of the Gen II Hayabusa.
You said it very well: looking at this bike as a sports bike is wrong.

What people miss in general is the extraordinary touring bike it is. No vibrations, extremely comfortable, great protection.
For everyday use, this engine is magical, not for its power.
Three words to define what i'm talking about : effortless, smooth, velvet.
It's not only about speed and power, or drag strips. It's actually very pleasant to ride at legal speed with the Hayabusa. I bet sales would be much higher (at least in Europe) if people were more aware of that. ✌️

[Rayk]

I've had a few zzr14s i now want that busa, the perfect evolution of an icon

[spikebbc]

The ‘busa seems to be in a class of it’s own. I wanted a sports tourer. I looked at BMW and even Goldwing - to big, too heavy for my 150lb frame. I did not want a full sports bike like the GSXR or CBR-RR. The ‘busa seemed to be the perfect fit. I use to fear it, but not with the electronics, I feel it will be a great bike for me. Can’t wait for mine to arrive!

[davepyne]

I have a 2007 model and it is hand down the best bike I've even owned And definately the smoothest engine i was too scared to own one for years but now I do I wish I'd bought it years ago, its immense. I ride it in full power mode all the time and it's just great to ride with really good handling on motorways and long sweepers. If Im ever rich enough to have a dream garage this will definately stay in it.

[Joric]

The Hayabusa is an interesting choice in 2021. As an aging sports bike rider who loves torque laden power delivery and increasingly appreciates comfort, I did check out the Hayabusa and ZX-14R when I was buying my last bike. Ultimately I went with the Super Duke though, because I spend a lot more time riding through the hills than on the freeway or dragstrip. I figure that's the market they are targeting, and now that the ZX-14R is gone the Hayabusa's one of a kind. The closest comparison I can think of would be the H2 SX and Z H2, but the SX is more of a tourer and the Z is a naked (although cheaper here in Oz).

[ianrosenast]

Beautiful looking bike. Really enjoyed the commentating and way the host analyzed this video. He takes time at the end to review and who this bike is for. That piece I enjoyed. Overall, great quality video and host is educated and a motorcycle hardcore.

[T.Novak]

Been a busa rider/racer/owner since 2002, and the ONLY thing I find negating about the gen 3 is that the solo seat cowl is labeled as an "accessory" and must be purchased separately, when the previous models came standard with them. C'mon suzuki, for 20k, you can afford to toss in a 200 dollar solo cowl 😒

[weirdlifeofrob]

A little late to the party, but I can tell you why I'm buying one. It's literally the ultimate sporty leaning sport touring bike. I don't do track days anymore, but I do a lot of riding on windy backroads and ripping around to cool scenery. I toured on 1st and 2nd gen Hayabusas for a long time, and I've also owned FJR's, VFR's, and all sorts of supersports. The Hayabusa was always the perfect mix of very sporty, but still long ride capable. I get on a supersport now, and I'm in pain after an hour or so. I currently have a Yamaha FJ-09, and while fantastic, its definitely more touring. With the Hayabusa now having factory cruise, I can have a bit of old school feel, and an epic mile muncher with good capability on twisty roads. Plus, that engine is just so understressed. Leave it in 6th, and just roll on the throttle when you need to pass someone.

[jmarks]

I have a zx14r and I love this new Hayabusa but I hear a lot that people want to buy these big sport bikes but they are scared of them like it's instant death the moment you take off on them I think if people would actually ride them they would see just how comfortable and capable they are and if you ride them with a little common sense you got nothing to worry about

[jeffestrada]

Good to see an Australian rider giving his ideas. Your spot on about the suspension the conventional suspension is adequate and probably better suited then the electronic way. The thing you don’t know when you talk about who will buy and what market they’re looking at. This is the
Firstly for the mature experienced riders that have been there done that appreciate the mighty power in comfort with a super stable platform. And now the BIG reason why....there is no other bike that suits having a pillion to share the sport style riding experience you talk about. Yes there are tourers that take pillions and yes you can be perched up high on a full blown sport-bike, but there is no bike capable of the speed, comfort and handling capability of 300 kph speed that you can absolutely share with a pillion. That’s what you need to understand with the Busa. Or you can ride it alone or even take it to the shops. After riding for a couple hours you get off feeling pretty good. This is a road bike. Do not compare it to Gixxers ( they are track bikes) After getting off a sportbike after couple hours how do you feel? I rest my case.
For what you ask steel brake lines, self cancelling blinkers what a load of BS who needs that crap anyway on a road bike? You can easily attach the brake lines but as a road bike do you really need them? No absolutely not.
The trouble with reviewers is that you have the bike for a few hours and think that that’s enough to make judgement and start to look for
There is so much more after owning, riding and maintaining a Hayabusa for years and years and doing lots and lots mileage. They are bulletproof, reliable, easy to maintain and the stability they offer in any sort of riding is without question one best out there. I am not a fan of all the BS electronics save the cruise control and perhaps the quick shifter. All the other stuff is unnecessary and available probably more for the needy modern day rider that thinks that it makes them a better rider.
I think your review is ok, although you did miss the point of what these bikes are for - unfortunately. You would think Suzuki would bring you up to speed with who they targeted in the marketplace or talking to actual owners like myself. Thanks anyway for the review you did certainly touch on some of its merits as a performance motorcycle
Go Suzuki! King of the Road!
Yet again 👍👍

After owning three Hayabusas all generations ( and currently own a Gen II) and countless sportbikes and a bit road race background I am not talking out my backside. Just an honest straight up feedback 🙂
CHEERS from Australia 🇦🇺

[FaithisKey]

I’ve had a Gxsr 600R for 3 years and a Gxsr750R for about 5 years now, this looks nice. Too bad 2 months ago I got rid of my baby and went with a M109R cruiser. The memories. Thanks for sharing.

[Ritalie]

The 2nd Generation bike has the best fuel injection fueling, and ignition timing, of any motorcycle. The fueling is so precise, that you cannot make it jerk or buck, or twitch, or sputter, or snatch, even if you roll into the throttle in a corner, or going downhill.

The power comes on like a tractor at 2700 rpms, and pulls hard at 3500 rpm, and pulls scary at 5000 rpms, and pulls SUPER scary at 8000 rpms, and keeps pulling hard to the rev limiter, and never once feels like the cylinder head has run out of airflow. The engine pulls harder and harder, the higher you rev it. It's "peaky" and yet "tractor-like." This is a paradox. Engines with immense low end torque, usually don't pull harder the higher you rev them, straight beyond 10, 000 rpms.

The Hayabusa engine torque is so ridiculous, you can't put it into words. It's a feat of engineering, because it does't have variable valve timing. To create so much low end torque, even more than than the bigger ZX-14 Kawasaki, without variable valve timing, and to also have the extreme high RPM performance, is really unreal.

Now, onto the 3rd Gen bike. If it truly does have MORE torque through the entire mid RPM range, then it's going to be terrifying, vicious, and amazing.

There is no replacement for Hayabusa torque.

[mihailaurentiu-su]

9:37 - He took that corner, with double the legal speed, rather effortlesly while talking - Mad Riding Skills, respect!

[ratspam]

At 17:10 The Gen. 1 cowl is close in design to the 1998 Suzuki TL1000R.

[jacobhendrickson]

Back in the day I delivered a brand new busa to a football player in Indianapolis from northern KY. 2 hour ride and it felt pretty good. Very flat power curve. Once traffic got heavy in Indianapolis she started overheating. Had to break a few rules more than once to cool her down.

[micahbrown]

I bought the white/silver one I LOVE IT

[larryscarr]

If you’re young and you’re a nutter, get a GSXR1000 if you’re older and think you’re a nutter, do it in comfort and get the Busa!

[speederz]

i just love this bike!!!! hope i get one