Last Call: The Falcon’s Swan Song Edition

Peter Tanshanomi

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Suzuki has announced that it is lowering the curtain on their once all-conquering Hayabusa 1300, after 21 model years (and just one fairly mild refresh halfway through its life). The official reason is that Euro4 emission regs prohibit sales of the Hayabusa in the EU as of the end of this month. A 2019 model has been announced for North America and India, but seeing as Suzuki U.S. dealers have a fairly significant backlog of unsold ’17 and ’18 models to unload, there can’t be too many more slated to come down the pipeline. Fortunately, there are plenty of used ‘busas out there to dissect for that bike-engined-car project you’ve been scheming about.

Last Call indicates the end of Hooniverse’s broadcast day. It’s meant to be an open forum for anyone and anything. Thread jacking is not only accepted, it’s encouraged.

About

Peter Tanshanomi

Peter Tanshanomi

Tanshanomi is Japanese [単車のみ] for “motorcycle(s) only.” Though primarily tasked with creating two-wheel oriented content for Hooniverse, Pete is a lover of all sorts of motorized vehicles.

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20 responses to “Last Call: The Falcon’s Swan Song Edition”

  1. 1slowvw Avatar
    1slowvw

    The first generation Hayabusa captured my imagination as a child.It was the pinacle of the Japanese speed wars. A sleek machine that didn’t have stupid steering geometry because it was meant to go fast, not to be a gp bike, not to be a touring bike, not meant to be a commuter. This bike was made to do one thing and that thing was to go 300kph.

    Reply
  2. outback_ute Avatar
    outback_ute

    Could it be that it doesn’t have the same edge on other bikes that it used to?

    Reply
    1. Rover 1 Avatar
      Rover 1

      No, it’s still faster than almost everything else.

      Reply
      1. outback_ute Avatar
        outback_ute

        Yes, but by as much?

        Reply
        1. Rover 1 Avatar
          Rover 1

          No

          Reply
    2. Maymar Avatar
      Maymar

      Some of that is due to the gentleman’s agreement to limit top speeds to 300km/h – it’s still impressive that the Hayabusa lasted 18 years past the agreement that restricted its superiority.

      Reply
  3. Zentropy Avatar
    Zentropy

    It’s been many years since I’ve ridden a motorcycle, and I do occasionally miss the experience. However, one thing I never liked doing on a bike was going fast. Even interstate speeds scared the hell out of me. But a good-handling bike on a winding two-lane through the mountains at a sub-50mph pace felt like pure freedom.
    That said, the Hayabusa never appealed to me, given its singular mission.

    Reply
  4. neight428 Avatar
    neight428

    The contemporary (in the early days) Honda Blackbird was a prettier bike, but you have to admire Suzuki for pulling out all the stops and going for it.

    Reply
  5. GTXcellent Avatar
    GTXcellent

    never, ever been a motorcycle guy….that being said, how incredibly awesome/insane was this bike. Even the name – Hayabusa is incredible. To me, that’s the coolest part – just say it, Hayabusa. Hayabusa. Awesome.
    We need more names and less letter/number mashups.
    I want more Ninjas and Shoguns.

    Reply
    1. Batshitbox Avatar
      Batshitbox

      As the future owner of a Honda NC750XDCT, I couldn’t agree more. Why do the other Hondas get cool names like Fireblade, Hawk and Hornet and I get a wi-fi password?

      Reply
      1. Manxman Avatar
        Manxman

        Dang it, now I have to change my wi-fi password!

        Reply
        1. Batshitbox Avatar
          Batshitbox

          just tack “ABS” on the end.

          Reply
      2. HuntRhymesWith Avatar
        HuntRhymesWith

        Because all the cool kids shift their own gears?

        Reply
    2. Zentropy Avatar
      Zentropy

      Ironic– don’t you have a GTX and an SS?

      Reply
      1. GTXcellent Avatar
        GTXcellent

        and a couple of F150s and our old snowmobile is an XLT, boat is a PRO-V – damn, I guess I’m part of the problem

        Reply
  6. onrails Avatar
    onrails

    One of these would occasionally show up at a track day when I was still doing that… they’d get eaten alive in the turns. But when they could get the bike stood up for the straightaway, better hope you had put some distance on them by then because when they pulled the pin, they were coming, and coming soon.

    Until the next turn.

    If nothing else, you had to admire them for the purity of purpose.

    Reply
  7. Manxman Avatar
    Manxman

    Back when the first gen Hayabusa came out any 16 year old with money for a down payment could buy one of the fastest production vehicles on the road and many did. It was the cheapest MPH per $ around. Literally the Dodge Hellcat of motorcycles.

    Reply
  8. SlowJoeCrow Avatar
    SlowJoeCrow

    Sayonara Hayabusa, the cheapest way to go 200mph

    Reply
  9. HuntRhymesWith Avatar
    HuntRhymesWith

    It’s so ugly. I’ve always wanted to hate it. But it calls, with the seductive song of the sausage creature, louder than anything else.

    Reply
  10. Tank Avatar
    Tank

    Years ago I worked at a Harley Dealership. Now and then people would trade in clapped out lowered and stretched Hayabusa’s. They were far from impressive and my opinion of them wasn’t high. One day a low mileage bone-stock Suzuki GSXR 1300 Hayabusa came in. Wow, this was probably the smoothest riding bike I’ve ever been on. RIP Hayabusa

    Reply