The Hayabusa is the fastest production motorcycle in the world, with a top speed in excess of 195mph and the ability to hit 130 at the end of a quarter-mile strip.
Named after a Japanese falcon, the Hayabusa is the most aerodynamic Suzuki ever built. It is powered by Suzuki's biggest, most powerful four-cylinder sportsbike engine.
The digital electronic fuel injection system uses eight sensors on the crank assembly to maximise efficiency, while the electronic ignition system uses individual ignition coils built into the spark plug caps
The sweeping curves of the fairing, wrap-around front mudguard and strange seat hump combine to give the Hayabusa its low drag coefficient, allowing it to slip through the air with minimum turbulence and so maximise speed without upsetting the handling.
The twin-spar frame and braced aluminium swingarm were developed from Suzuki's WSB experience. The 43mm inverted fork comes with adjustable spring preload, compression and rebound damping, and uses aluminium internal components to reduce weight. Rear suspension is courtesy of a piggyback-reservoir shock, with adjustable spring preload and compression and rebound damping.
The aerodynamic design works well, but the rounded-off look isn't to everyone's taste. And it is a bit lardy for a supersport bike - the big Suzy weighs in at 215kg (474lb) making it a handful through country curves if you are riding at the limit.
But the 'Busa is not intimidating to ride. The massive torque lets you burble through city traffic in any gear that you happen to be in.
The Hayabusa excels as a long-distance sports tourer, with 170 miles before fill-ups.
But be wary about fixing hard luggage systems to the alloy rear subframe - this has been known to break on early models. And the rear subframe is what keeps your pillion passenger's bum off the back wheel?
Some magazines claimed a maximum speed of 200mph from the original Hayabusa. The 2001 model has the same engine pumping out 175bhp at the crank, but it has been electronically limited to 'only' 185mph to placate the authorities.
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