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HAYABUSA

figure may also be reliability, noise, fuel economy or
affected by a price in pursuit of a single function.
number of external Jay Koblenz of Motorcycle Consumer
factors, as can the News commented, “If you think the
power and torque ability of a motorcycle to approach
values. 190 mph or reach the quarter-mile in
under 10 seconds is at best frivolous
In 2000, fears of a and at worst offensive, this still
European regulatory remains a motorcycle worthy of just
backlash or import consideration. The Hayabusa is
ban led to an Speed in all its glory. But Speed is not
informal agreement all the Hayabusa is.”
between the
Japanese and The first generation had a 1299 cc
European (79.3 cu in) liquid-cooled, inline-4
manufacturers to limit the top speed engine with sixteen valves driven by
The Suzuki Hayabusa (GSX1300R) is a
of their motorcycles at an arbitrary double-overhead cams. This
world leading sport bike motorcycle
limit. The conditions under which this configuration, technologically
made by Suzuki since 1999. It
limitation was adopted led to the unremarkable for that time, delivered
immediately won acclaim as the
1999–2000 Hayabusa’s title a record-setting claimed 173 brake
world’s fastest production
remaining, at least technically, horsepower (129 kW) at the
motorcycle, with a top speed of 188
unassailable, since no subsequent crankshaft by virtue of the largest
to 194 miles per hour (303 to 312 km).
model could go faster without being displacement ever in a sport bike,
and a ram air system
Hayabusa is Japanese
that forced cool,
for “peregrine falcon”,
pressurized air into the
a bird that often
cylinders. Combined
serves as a metaphor
with sophisticated
for speed due to its
aerodynamics, this
vertical hunting dive,
powerful engine
or stoop, speed of 180
pushed the
to 202 miles per hour
Hayabusa’s top
(290 to 325 km/h), the
speed far above the
fastest of any bird. In
Honda CBR1100
particular, the choice
Blackbird by a
of name was made
significant leap,
because the
contrasting with the
peregrine falcon preys
incremental gains that
on blackbirds, which
preceded the Suzuki
reflected the intent of
hyper sport entry. The
the original Hayabusa
1997 carbureted
to unseat the Honda CBR1100 Super
tampered with. Thus, after the much CBR1100 had previously only inched
Blackbird as the world’s fastest
anticipated Kawasaki Ninja ZX-12R of past the previous top speed record
production motorcycle.
2000 fell 4 mph (6 km/h) short of holder, the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-11 of
claiming the title, the Hayabusa 1990.
Eventually, the Hayabusa managed
secured its place as the fastest
to surpass the Super Blackbird by at
standard production bike of the 20th The Hayabusa engine had an
least a full 10 miles per hour (16 km/
century. abundance of power throughout its
h). The media-reported value for the
entire rpm band. The 1,299 cc
speed agreement in miles per hour
Besides its speed, the Hayabusa has powerplant was the largest and most
was consistently 186 mph, while in
been lauded by many reviewers for powerful sport bike engine when
kilometers per hour it varied from 299
its all-round performance, in that it introduced in 1999, and remained
to 303 km/h, which is typical given
does not drastically compromise the largest until Kawasaki’s ZX14 was
unit conversion rounding errors. This
other qualities like handling, comfort, released.