Page 26 - HR-2017-C-Classical-Feb1617r
P. 26
HR HAYABUSA
The Hayabusa’s abundance of the intent in 1999 was, “to create a of carnage and mayhem from
power at any engine speed made somewhat grotesque design and motorcycles getting outrageously
the Hayabusa easier to ride by giving create a strong initial impact... The faster every year, and there was talk
the rider a greater choice of gear mission was to create a total new of regulating hyper sport
selection for a given speed and styling that will not be out of date motorcycles, or banning their import
stunning acceleration. within few years, and a styling that to Europe.
will be the ‘Face’ of Suzuki.” Yoshirua
The ram air ducts at the front of the also said that the goal was not to The response was a so-called
drooping, rounded gentlemen’s
nose squeezed agreement
frontal area away between the
from the headlight, Japanese and
and this, along European
with the need for a manufacturers to
narrow frontal electronically limit
area, necessitated the speed of their
a stacked motorcycles to 300
headlight and high km/h (186 mph).
beam behind a The informal
single lens. agreement went
fully into effect for
Moreover, the the 2001 model
need to reduce year. So for 2001
the extreme drag encountered at achieve the status of fastest models, and those since, the
high speeds determined the production motorcycle, which in question of which bike was fastest
Hayabusa’s entire bulbous, and early stages was slated to be only 900 could only be answered by
much-criticized, bodywork design. to 1,100 cc (55 to 67 cu in), but that, tampering with the speed limiting
Koblenz remarked, “non-traditional “as a consequence of, pursuing the system, meaning that it was no
styling generates the main best handling, acceleration, safety, longer a contest between stock,
controversy of the Hayabusa, production motorcycles,
When viewed through the absolving the manufacturer
eyes of those who judged its of blame and letting those
beauty on the basis of its not quite as fast avoid losing
functionality, or given a little face. Both Kawasaki and
time to get used to it, the Suzuki would claim, at least
bike’s looks did find admirers. technically, to have the
world’s fastest production
The striking two-tone copper/ motorcycle.
silver paint scheme was
similarly loved by some and After the inclusion of the
hated by others, but was speed limiting system in
successful if the intent of an 2001, the Hayabusa
all-new, flagship product is to make a power, riding ability, original styling, remained substantially the same
bold statement. So while it was called etc., for the good of the customers, it through the 2007 model year. An
ugly by some in the press, this became the ‘Fastest production exception was a response to the
aerodynamic shape was key to the motorcycle’. problem of the aluminum rear
Hayabusa’s ability to reach record- subframe on 1999 and 2000 models
setting speeds. Rumors and then pre-release breaking when the bike may have
announcements of much greater been overloaded with a passenger
Fairing decal of the Japanese power in Kawasaki’s Ninja ZX-12R in and luggage, and/or stressed by an
character, peregrine falcon. 2000, clearly attempting to unseat aftermarket exhaust modification, so
Reflecting in 2009 on the initial Suzuki and regain lucrative bragging 2001 and later Hayabusas had a steel
design, the creator of the Hayabusa’s rights, the speed war appeared to be instead of aluminum rear subframe,
look, Suzuki’s Koji Yoshirua, said that escalating. There were growing fears adding 10 lb (4.5 kg).
