SUZUKI has confirmed that it will be ending production of the legendary SUZUKI GSX 1300R Hayabusa by the end of this year almost exactly after a life cycle of 20 years.
The Suzuki Hayabusa unveiled in October 1998, was the first production motorcycle to break the 200 mph speed barrier.
The bike’s name, Hayabusa, is the Japanese term for the Peregrine Falcon; the world’s fastest animal, able to hit 200mph in a dive.Independent tests on standard bikes recorded as much as 194mph, making it by far the fastest production bike on the planet.
Back then the Honda CBR1100XX Blackbird, then the top speed King, was left playing catch up. Kawasaki countered with the Ninja ZX-12R the following year, but was unable to best the Suzuki on top end, putting the Hayabusa at the head of the class as the 20th century’s fastest production motorcycle.
Even today, two decades after that original Hayabusa appeared, few bikes can beat its top speed. The Hayabusa itself brought about the famous ‘gentlemen’s agreement’ among Japanese bike manufacturers to bring an end to the top speed wars.
Sources say that a new Hayabusa is in the works, and it’s expected to debut within the next two years.
The Suzuki Hayabusa is still one of the most loved and sold sportsbikes in india priced at an ex-showroom price of approximately 13,50,000 Lakh.
