Hayabusa

The sleek, aerodynamic silhouette is unmistakably that of the Hayabusa. But the modern look of its styling and luxurious attention to the finest details say it’s a whole lot more. True to its design concept, “The Refined Beast,” the Hayabusa’s long, low stance screams of the power, performance, poise and keen perceptive abilities possessed by a bird of prey.

Though the engine is already renowned for its durability and longevity, the following refinements aim to take it to another level. The pistons and connecting rods reduce the weight of moving parts within the engine. Changes to the crankshaft oil passages improve engine lubrication. The transmission shaft needle bearings are extended in length. Attention to detail goes as far as changing the way the engine case bolts are tightened, and even to the threading for the screw holes in the upper crankcase.

The pistons and Twin Swirl Combustion Chamber (TSCC) design fully leverage advances in CAE analysis to bring in more air as the valves begin to lift and thereby increase combustion efficiency. Suzuki Side Feed Injectors (S-SFI) feature a dual injector design that positions the secondary injector so its spray strikes a reflecting plate in the funnel and enters the combustion chamber as a fine mist. This combines with the increased capacity of an air cleaner and longer intake pipe design to optimize low- to mid-range power output and make the Hayabusa more controllable in typical daily riding situations.

Suzuki’s ride-by-wire throttle control system provides natural response with linear control, while a related change to a 43mm bore size for the throttle bodies boosts low- and mid-range power output. Also helping to improve performance and controllability at the most commonly used low- to mid-range speeds are the engine’s reduced valve lift overlap and a pipe on the exhaust header connecting cylinders #1 and #4.

The Hayabusa’s vertically stacked low beam and projector-type high beam headlights adopt LEDs. The distinctive signature of their lighting pattern provides clear illumination at night and makes the Hayabusa highly visible to pedestrians and other traffic. Position lights with integrated turn signals*, a first on a Suzuki motorcycle, neatly flank the outer edges of the large SRAD air intakes. In the rear, a bold LED taillight and rear turn signal design create a single wide, sharp accent running horizontally across the bottom of the tail section.

A 6-axis, Bosch IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit) combines accelerometers and gyroscopes in a single compact package that constantly monitors pitch (forward or backward tilt), roll (leaning from side to side), and yaw (turning in relation to initial direction). These measurements are compared against one another as well as readings from wheel speed sensors to keep the Hayabusa aware of its situation at all times and realize several of the advanced S.I.R.S. controls.

Suzuki has successfully developed an advanced system that maximizes acceleration performance while preventing the front wheel from lifting off the ground. The system offers a choice of 10-mode settings when turned on, with Mode 1 providing minimal control and Mode 10 making it virtually impossible to lift the front wheel, even when fully opening the throttle with a passenger on the back.

This takes traction control to a level by employing data from the IMU to constantly monitor the amount of lean angle and effectively limit slip in corners as well as on straightaways. It provides greater stability at all times, enabling confident control in varying riding conditions while reducing stress and fatigue. The system offers a choice of 10-mode settings, and it can be turned off when preferred. The higher number the mode, the faster traction control is engaged and the more proactive the system is in limiting wheel spin.

Note: The Motion Track Traction Control System is not a substitute for the rider’s throttle control. It cannot prevent loss of traction due to excessive speed when the rider enters a turn and/or applies the brakes. Neither can it prevent the front wheel from losing grip.

Turn the throttle and experience an efficient launch and acceleration in similar fashion to the way racers leave the starting line. A selection of three mode settings lets you match the engine speed at launch to your level of experience or confidence. Mode 1 limits engine speed on launch to 4,000 rpm, Mode 2 operates at 6,000 rpm, and Mode 3 — the fastest mode — operates at 8,000 rpm

The system combines vehicle posture data from the IMU with front and rear wheel speed sensor data to allow ABS activation not only in a straight line but also when leaning into a corner. The bike is therefore less likely to try to push itself upright or lose traction, instead maintaining its radius and lean angle to better trace your intended line through the corner. Note: ABS is not designed to shorten the braking distance. Please always ride at a safe speed for road and weather conditions, including while cornering.

Monitors the motorcycle’s posture and angle to help prevent rear wheel lift by using the ABS to control brake pressure and compensate when applying the brakes while traveling downhill.

The Hayabusa adopts Brembo’s latest Stylema® front brake calipers. Featuring a lighter, more compact and carefully sculpted design intended for use on high-performance motorcycles, these calipers increase airflow around the brake pads to cool more quickly and deliver immediate response. These are paired with front discs with a diameter increased from 310mm to 320mm and featuring a hole pattern that further helps optimize cooling efficiency.

Superior core strength

The Hayabusa’s chassis is designed to empower you with sure footing, nimble handling and predictable control that combine to build confidence and enhance the riding experience. It delivers a smooth and comfortable ride that absorbs irregularities in the road surface and responds faithfully to your will. It effectively transfers the abundant power of its legendary powerplant to the pavement while fully leveraging its onboard intelligent control systems to run and brake effectively, whether barrelling down a straight section of road or leaning through corners.

At the core of this outstanding chassis is the Hayabusa’s tried-and-true twin-spar aluminum frame and swingarm. Though Suzuki built and track-tested a number of different prototype frames during the development phase, the proven combination of extruded aluminum sections and aluminum castings continues to lend the right amount of suppleness and strength to the overall rigid alloy frame structure. While more costly and demanding to fabricate, extruded aluminum sections pay off in achieving the overall balance required by a machine that delivers ultimate performance and reaches a nominal top speed of 299km/h. This is why extruded aluminum frame members can also be found on a number of supercars.