Suzuki has a lot of pride entrenched in its Hayabusa, a flagship model of high-powered sportsbikes that’s recognised across the globe. First released in 1999, refined in 2003, overhauled in 2008 and again refined for this year, the Japanese brand has enjoyed a heap of success with the Busa.

Since it’s inception, I’d personally heard a lot about the Hayabusa, but never had actually had the chance to sample one until Suzuki Australia’s official 2013 model introduction at Willowbank in Queensland recently.

Coupled with the Australian Superbike Championship round earlier this year, which featured a Show ’n’ Shine for Hayabusas, we were lucky enough to have the factory ASBK team come along for the ride.

The launch would commence with a morning ride of around 180 kilometres from our base at Willowbank Raceway, before we were set free on the drag strip for a number of ultra-fun runs including a challenge amongst the journalists. Needless to say, it was an epic day of action.

For 2013 Suzuki has made the Hayabusa the first in Suzuki’s sportsbike range to feature an Antilock Brake System (ABS). In addition, the latest Hayabusa is now equipped with top-of-the-line radial-mount Brembo monobloc front brake calipers, with an enlarged piston diameter from 32-30mm to 32-32mm.

The 2013 Suzuki Hayabusa is one heck of a ride – road or down the drag strip! Image: Keith Muir.

Three striking colours are available including Glass Sparkle Black/Metallic Oort Grey, Pearl Glacier White/Metallic Oort Grey and the brand new Marble Daytona Yellow/Glass Sparkle Black. The Hayabusa design perfectly merges motorcycle and rider.

Carefully sculpted bodywork tames the wind to maximise the more-than-ample power of the Hayabusa engine. Extensive wind tunnel testing with a rider onboard helped to find the ultimate shape for high-speed riding. The radical aerodynamic styling and smoother bodywork not only gives the Hayabusa its unique look but also protects the rider from the wind and improves fuel efficiency.

This iconic hyper-sportsbike also features the advanced Suzuki Drive Mode Selector (S-DMS), giving the rider a choice of three available engine maps to suit rider preferences and riding conditions.

The Hayabusa’s muscular four-cylinder engine delivers a broader wave of torque for effortless acceleration. Its advanced design boasts liquid-cooling, ram-air downdraft induction with Suzuki Dual Throttle Valve (SDTV) throttle bodies, fuel injection employing twin injectors controlled by a 32-bit ECU, and hollow double overhead cams operating four valves per cylinder.

It also features the unique Suzuki Drive Mode Selector (S-DMS) system, which allows the rider to select one of three engine control maps. The system allows the rider to select a different map to suit personal preferences in various riding conditions, such as choosing one map for highway cruising and another map for tighter roads.

Although all-new, the Busa retains its unique styling for 2013. Image: Keith Muir.

Forged three-ring aluminum-alloy slipper pistons provide superior strength. The oil control ring on each piston is electro-plated with a chrome-nitride coating applied in a vacuum chamber using a Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) system.

The chrome nitride PVD coating is harder and smoother than conventional chrome plating, reducing friction while improving cylinder sealing. The upper piston ring also features an L-shaped cross section, with combustion pressure pushing the ring tighter against the cylinder wall to further reduce blowby and increase the force actually pushing the piston down.

The Hayabusa engine is fitted with tapered, 44mm double-barrel Suzuki Dual Throttle Valve (SDTV) throttle bodies. Unlike conventional fuel-injection systems, the SDTV system has two butterfly valves in each throttle body barrel. The rider controls the primary valve via a throttle grip, and the engine management system automatically controls the secondary valve.

It opens it incrementally to maintain optimum intake charge velocity based on engine rpm, gear position and primary valve opening. This precise, carefully controlled system improves combustion efficiency and makes throttle response feel more natural to the rider.

KYB inverted cartridge forks feature a Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC) coating surface treatment on the 43mm stanchion tubes to reduce friction and increase reaction to small surface irregularities. The forks provide front wheel travel of 120mm. Spring pre-load, compression damping and rebound damping are fully adjustable.

CycleOnline’s Alex Gobert at Willowbank Raceway. Image: Keith Muir.

The Hayabusa is equipped with the Bridgestone BT-015, which is specially developed for the motorcycle. The tyre’s profile and compound were developed through a variety of testing to achieve a high level of stability and handling. A single-piston, pin-slide TOKICO rear brake caliper works with newly equipped ABS. The rear disc is 260mm in diameter and 5.5mm thick.

A variety of convenient features complement the Hayabusa’s performance. The fuel tank lifts for maintenance simply by removing the seat and two bolts. A storage compartment under the rear seat provides space to hold tools and owners manuals.

Two hooks under the rear seat secure helmets, while four luggage hooks help to secure items to the seat. The five-way adjustable brake lever and four-way adjustable clutch lever both allow fine-tuning to the rider’s taste.

Now we have all the technical bits and pieces out of the way, what’s it like to ride? Generally, it’s a super-tame ride that is exceptionally enjoyable to ride at speed or in cruise-mode.

You can lag your way through the seamless gearbox, or rev it harder with added aggression to get a real feel for the power on tap – you’ll be kissing your licence goodbye in a hurry if this is your preferred method of riding though! All jokes aside, the motor surprised me again and again just how brutally smooth it is with that customary Suzuki ‘feel’ of user-friendliness.

It’s easy to recognise the flowing lines of the Hayabusa. Image: Keith Muir.

In terms of power, the Busa is a weapon around the 7000-9500rpm mark, boasting 194 horsepower and 155Nm of torque. Even better, following a flowing road ride that enabled us to witness first hand the very capable handling dynamics of the 2013 model, Suzuki let us loose on the Willowbank Raceway drag strip to really feel the effects of the power at full throttle tucked in.

My quickest pass on the way to topping the challenge of the journos was a 10.024sec pass down the quarter mile at a top speed of 143.58mph (231.07km/h), which was a real buzz for a rookie on the strip. A couple of runs of Phil Tainton’s 1647cc 280hp Hayabusa project bike, which highlighted the sheer capabilities of these things when tinkered with – unreal!

As I’d recognised on the road earlier, the ABS brakes are extraordinary at pulling up the 266kg (wet, claimed) in a variety of circumstances, however it really doesn’t actually feel that heavy once you’re in gear and rolling along at speed. Suzuki has done a fine job of refining this package over the years.

It’s a stable, functional, and downright enjoyable ride that purely brings a smile to your face at every twist of the throttle. If big-bore power combined with sports-touring handling is your thing, you’d be mad not to give the Hayabusa a test ride. Just be careful if you take it to the drag strip though, cos you’ll be hooked for life…

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