The iconic Suzuki Hayabusa is back for 2021 in a new avatar with updated internals and a comprehensive electronic control package.
The Peregrine Falcon, or Hayabusa as it was widely known, whipped up a massive storm in the motorcycling world when it was launched in 1999. The combination of the legendary wind-tunnel tested design with the monstrous 1299cc engine made it the fastest motorcycle in the world at the time. The second-gen bike received a power upgrade in 2008 with an updated 1340cc L4 engine that produced 195 hp. Another mini-update came in the form of Brembo monobloc calipers and ABS in 2013 until it was eventually discontinued in 2018 due to stricter emission norms.
The chassis construction remains mostly unchanged, with Suzuki retaining the tried and tested twin-spar aluminum frame from the 2nd gen Hayabusa. Still, there are some updates, with the 2021 Suzuki Hayabusa using extruded aluminum sections and a new subframe reducing the overall weight by 0.7 kg while offering improved rigidity and rider feedback.
The 2021 Hayabusa is now Euro 5-compliant and is suited to a whole array of riders. It retains the 1,340 cc inline-four engine configuration from its predecessor, although there’s a drop in power and torque figures due to the Euro 5 norms. The 2021 Suzuki Hayabusa produces 188 hp at 9,700 RPM 113.6 lb-ft of torque at 7,200 RPM. Numbers don’t tell the full story, though, as Suzuki reworked the engine from the ground up to improve grunt in the low-end and mid-range RPMs and to aid new riders using the whole suite of electronics on offer.
Suzuki made numerous changes to the engine internals, including lighter pistons, more rigid and lighter conrods, new camshafts with revised cam profiles, new cam chain tensioner, revised crankshaft and crankcases, new gearshift stopper, camshaft, and cam plate, as well as gears with revised bearing widths for improved shift feel, new slipper clutch assembly, and new magneto. It also gets the new ride-by-wire throttle system that works hand-in-hand with the bike’s onboard electronics. Among several other updates, other notable changes to the powerplant included larger intake pipes and airbox and an all-new exhaust system with 2-stage catalytic converters.
The biggest update for the 2021 Suzuki Hayabusa comes from a mammoth electronics package bestowed by Suzuki. The bike retains the iconic analog instrumentation layout and a full-color TFT display showcasing the riding modes and other vital parameters. The Suzuki Drive Mode Selector-α gives access to three preset modes along with rider-configurable modes for Traction Control System (10 levels + Off), Engine Power Modes (3 modes), Bi-directional Quickshifter (Two modes + Off), Anti-Wheelie Control (10 modes + Off), Engine Braking Control (Three levels + Off)
Moreover, the 2021 Hayabusa got a Launch Control System with three modes limiting the engine to 4,000, 6,000, or 8,000 RPM depending on the rider’s skill level. A six-axis IMU on-board unlocks cornering ABS, which actively modulates the braking system when the rider is leaning into a corner. Suzuki hasn’t skipped on the tourers either, offering a cruise control system allowing the rider to set their desired speed while cruising on a motorway.
The 2021 Hayabusa offers all-new fully adjustable suspension units at the front and back and bigger 320 mm discs with top-shelf Brembo Stylema ® monobloc calipers for supreme handling and stopping characteristics. The ergos have been made more rider-friendly with the clip-on-bars set closer to the rider by 12 mm. The bike is worn on a set of Bridgestone Battlax Hypersport S22 tires explicitly designed for it.
The customary design language of the Hayabusa remained unchanged, although it has been made contemporary with sleeker and sharper lines from head to tail. Suzuki upgraded the headlamps with full-LED units complemented by new position lights on either side of the headlamp, surrounding the angular air intakes. The position lights also double up as integrated indicators. The aggressive lines follow through with new side panels and are complemented by a shiny straight-edged exhaust angled upwards at the rear giving the 2021 Hayabusa a fighter jet-like stance. To finish the design off, Suzuki’s designers refreshed the tail lights with a new design fitted with all-new LED combination lights.
The bike is priced at $22,666 and is expected to arrive at dealers from mid-March.
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