20 YEARS OF THE SUZUKI GSX-R1300R HAYABUSA
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Feature
W
hen you think Suzuki, what comes to
mind? If you're a dirt rider, it's probably
RM-Z. If you're a tar rider, it's likely
Gixer that pops into your head. What if you're
neither, and have just a passing interest in mo-
torcycle riding and culture?
Chances are, the word "Hayabusa" will be
the one you think first. That's because the
Hayabusa is a motorcycle that's transcended
pop culture, becoming an icon of the new mil-
lennium that is still for sale here in the U.S.,
South Africa, Thailand, Chile, Australia, Canada
and Saudi Arabia—although not Europe, South
America or mainland Asia.
Incredibly, it's now 20 years since the Suzuki
GSX-R1300R Hayabusa landed on dealer floors
and promptly redefined what it meant to go fast.
It's arrival in 1999 came at a time of intense
change within the spor-tbike industry, as manu-
facturers were fighting a war on two fronts: first,
the new 1000cc superbike regulations that put
750cc fours firmly in the rearview mirror, and
secondly, to see who had the fastest production
bike on the planet. Just because.
THE SUZUKI HAYABUSA IS 20 YEARS OLD, AND IT'S STILL AVAILABLE HERE IN THE U.S.
LET'S HAVE A LOOK AT WHAT MAKES THIS MOTORCYCLE SO LEGENDARY.
T H E U L T I M A T E H U N
