P88
RIDE REVIEW I 2022 SUZUKI HAYABUSA
This is a long motorcycle with a wheel-
base of 58.3 inches, some 2.4 inches lon-
ger than a GSX-R1000R, and it's coupled
with 582 pounds of ready-to-ride weight,
137 pounds more than a GSX-R. Therefore,
you need to ride the Hayabusa with a little
more finesse than its superbike cousin.
Twisty switchback canyons, ironically like
the ones chosen for this exclusive ride, are
not the Hayabusa's domain. It will handle
roads like these with aplomb, but where it
excels is in fast, flowing bends, where you
can progressively dial in more and more of
that motor to fire you out the other side.
Suzuki has chosen to stay away from
electronic suspension for the Hayabusa,
which, in my mind, is a good thing. Conven-
tional suspension, when set up correctly, is
always better than electronic suspension,
and the 'Busa's surefootedness is, in many
ways, due to the quality of the KYB fork and
shock, plus the excellent Bridgestone S22
rubber that it comes with as standard.
The overall ride is plush and very
comfortable, although it lacks poise when
you really get after it and start asking big
questions under hard braking. If you can
think of how Mike Hailwood rode a motor-
cycle—all knees in and full of finesse—that's
the right style for a 'Busa. Keep up your
corner speed, allow the chassis to explore
every inch of the road and let the tires take
gobbles of acceleration and translate it into
forward motion, and it's happy days.
(Left) Old school
clocks are still present
on the Hayabusa. And
that's a very good
thing indeed. (Right)
The Hayabusa's been
revamped, nipped,
tucked, and had a
facelift, and it's great
to see Suzuki still
believes in the machine
after all these years.
(Bottom) Cruise control
is standard fitment on
the Hayabusa, which is
just as well considering
many owners will clock
up big miles on it.
