2003 Suzuki GSX1300R
Fastest Production Bike when new
Defined Suzuki as a top performance motorcycle builder
Stylized body work differentiated Hayabusa in a crowded market
Suzuki redefined high performance sport motorcycles with the flamboyant styling and breathtaking horsepower of the Hayabusa. Owning one inferred status and riding skills making it one of the most desirable sport bikes ever made. It is the ultimate “muscle bike” and a stock low mileage example like this highly collectable bike is a blank canvas upon which a performance tuner can transform the impressive into the amazing.
The Suzuki Hayabusa was the fastest production motorcycle offered to the public when it debuted in 1999 and this 40th Anniversary Edition features a solid color metallic orange paint bodywork with a black frame featuring a 40th Anniversary Emblem on the top triple clamp. The anniversary edition celebrates Suzuki’s 40th year selling motorcycles in the US market. With a fuel injected, liquid cooled dual overhead cam 16-valve engine, the Hayabusa reached speeds of up to 197 mph when unleashed to the public, eclipsing the top speed of Honda’s CBR1100XX Black Bird and the Kawasaki ZX 1200R Ninja. To avoid regulatory restrictions on importation, Suzuki voluntarily agreed to limit top speed in models after 1999 to 186mph, still an impressive number.
Named after the Japanese word for a Peregrine Falcon, considered the fastest bird species, Hayabusa not only relied on its high horsepower engine to propel it to record speeds but also benefitted from advanced aerodynamic design of its sensual bodywork. With the fairing and body creating a wind cheating barrier, the rider sat in relative comfort on the bike, which was a rare occurrence in a performance-oriented machine. Styling of the bike was also quite controversial when introduced as designer Koji Yoshiura was intent on making a bold statement that differed dramatically from other conventional sport bikes. The addition of large ram air vents built into the front fairing and a sloping headlight to create a beak-like front end pays homage to its raptor inspired name.
With ample power coupled to a dramatic yet comfortable visual appearance, Hayabusa’s gained a wide following for both street and racetrack riders, the latter being slated primarily for the drag strip where the ‘Busa was the bike to beat.
Finding a Hayabusa of any year that has not been heavily modified with an extended swing arm, lowered ride height, aftermarket exhaust and other race-oriented performance modifications is rare indeed, despite robust sales numbers that have increased over the years. The Hayabusa is one of the most popular sport bike platforms for custom builds. Unlike many other Japanese performance motorcycle models from the 1990s, the Hayabusa is still offered for sale in 2022, now in its third generation of visual and mechanical updates but keeps the same basic shape and layout as the original 1999 model.
Specifications
Engine: 1299cc Liquid Cooled Inline 4-cylinder, Dual overhead cams 4 valve per cylinder, fuel injection
Transmission: 6-speed manual, wet clutch
Horsepower: 162hp; 93 ft/lbs Torque
Performance: Top Speed 186mph, 0-60mph 2.8 sec, ¼ mile 10.2 seconds
Weight: 583lbs
Fuel consumption: 39 miles per gallon