Question Suzuki has a bike out called the Huyabusa 1300 Super sportbike. Wanted to know if you new the meaning behind the name or the story behind the bike. just curious. any help would be appreciated. thank you.......
AnswerD,
Thanks for the question.
The Suzuki Hayabusa GSX1300R began production in 1997. The name "Hayabusa" is Japanese for "falcon" or "bird of prey".
When the bike came out, not everyone was hot on the curvy "organic" style, but some people thought it quite beautiful. But everyone agreed on one thing: this was a tremendously fast motorcycle. Magazine tests on production models resulted in top speeds of 194mph. To this day, that's the fastest any "stock" production motorcycle has ever gone.
The reason the record still stands is because of politics. In 1998, a loose consortium of European governmental agencies issued a threat to all bike makers worldwide. Because they felt a "top speed" war was brewing (and it was, between the Japanese bike makers), they threatened to impose stiff tariffs (a so-called "speed tax") on bikes that went over 186mph. Why 186mph? Because in all countries except Britain and the USA, 186mph translates to 300 kilometers per hour (300kph). So the safety-crats figured 300kph was "fast enough" for anyone to go on a motorcycle. There is no such restriction in place for cars.
Now, all the big supersport bikes are limited to 186mph. At the time (1997), everyone felt sure a 200mph bike was just around the corner. Most people thought the Kawasaki ZX-12R was going to be that bike, but when it came out, it had the unfortunate honor of being the first "186mph speed-restricted" super sport (it's still a great bike, though). Recently, it was rumored that Triumph had a 200mph+ bike basically done, but at the last minute the project was halted. Most people in the industry think politics is to blame.
So the Hayabusa ended up being the "fastest production bike ever built"- but only the 1997 model, which is the most sought after. Current 'Busa models are exactly the same as the 97 model, but they have an electronic restriction in them that cuts the engine at 186mph. Yes, there are ways around it, but they are expensive and difficult to install.
The Suzuki Hayabusa is quite a motorcycle: hugely powerful, very different looking, comfortable for long rides and good handling for a big bike. It's tough to beat for a long ride on curvy roads. It will always be famous for being the Fastest Bike Ever, at least until some bike maker has enough courage to ignore the politics and deliver a true stock motorcycle that hits the 200mph mark.
Ride smart, have fun.
Bill Roberson
