Issue #237 The Cult of The Hayabusa | Bike, Hayabusa, Cult, Now, Though

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Issue #237 The Cult of The Hayabusa

Written by John Campbell
Tuesday, 22 January 2008
Nearly a decade has passed since Suzuki’s 1999 introduction of its hypersport GSX1300R Hayabusa. In that time nothing much has changed for the “peregrine falcon,” yet it remains the purest embodiment of the Samurai spirit ever presented by Japan’s motorcycle engineers. By sportbike reckoning though, there are four generations of development time separating its birth from the here and now. Four generations of staying pat would normally be a death sentence for race-bred supersports. No litre- or 600-class sportbike intended for road race competition goes longer in this modern era than two years without serious revision. But the Hayabusa was never intended to compete—well, certainly not on a road course. Then, as now, its primary purpose was to make a statement: Suzuki built the world’s most powerful production bike because it could. Its unique styling though has often earned equal parts praise and scorn. The knocks usually come from quarters represented by the hardcore roadrace-obsessed sport crowd which trashes the Busa as a bloated cow with a funny nose. That’s them saying it, not me. My two cents worth? Give it a rest boys, the Hayabusa is here to stay in its extant form precisely because it’s now far more than just a motorcycle, it’s a cult classic. And no matter how good your race replica might be, if it goes onto the drafting table (or Autocad program or whatever the metaphor might be now) every two years, it simply doesn’t enjoy the benefit of intact longevity to qualify as a cult bike. Indeed, while many motorcycles can rise above being merely excellent, most never acquire cult status. Few ever transcend the confines of strict mechanical servitude to become something far more than their manufacturers ever intended. Yet, the Hayabusa is such a bike. The reasons are obvious. To begin with, it’s a charismatic bike, if for no other reason than style. But long on style, short on substance does not a cult bike make. No problem here: the Hayabusa’s performance at top speed runs is now legendary. This summer was a case in point as the one-day event billed as “Canada’s Fastest Streetbike Shootout” and staged at Grand Bend, Ontario had a field comprised primarily of fully prepped Hayabusas. A fact now keenly appreciated by Calgarian Ethan Barkley whose works GSX-R1000 has literally dominated the Pro Street class of the Canadian Motorcycle Drag Racing Association series for the past two years. Though Barkley ran a personal best (8.06/183 mph) at Grand Bend, he advanced no further than the second round before falling to the Hayabusa of eventual event victor, Bud Yoder. Though machines such as the ZX-14, the YZF-R1 and even Suzuki’s own GSX-R1000 are in the ballpark in terms of pure horsepower, it’s the Busa’s furious release of energy that makes it special. “The effort required in making this long, massive bike commit to a turn is actually nothing compared to the energy spent just trying to hang onto it under full acceleration ...,” writes Bertrand Gahel in this issue’s lead feature “Hayabusa Baby.” Bertrand, our Quebec-based stringer, was at Road America to represent Canadian Biker during the press introduction of the 2008 Hayabusa, which has, at long last, finally seen some upgrades. This revision by Suzuki though leaves the essence of the bike untouched. Mr. Gahel and I discussed the Busa at length both before and after his return from the press event in September. Specifically we exchanged thoughts as to where, aside from drag strips, the Hayabusa has received its most enthusiastic embrace. To our surprise, we realized it has become the bike of choice among the Black American motorcycle community, which has infused it with all the vibrancy of that rich culture. The results have been gaudy and spectacular: “The Hayabusa has become the sport equivalent of the chopper in the cruiser scene,” writes Bertrand. “From insanely extended swingarms carrying 300-section rear tires to completely (and I mean completely) chromed bikes to models extravagantly lit with neon lights, to bikes fitted with LCD screens doubling between music video players and rear-view camera screens—Busa modifications in the bike’s American subculture have become incredibly creative.” The Hayabusa’s inner city flavour has become a living, undeniable thing. Indeed this is something Suzuki has concluded as well. The press event was underscored by a hip-hop theme and attended by special guest, professional stunt rider Jason Britton, who hosts the often maligned cable program Superbike! Though the show is certainly not everyone’s cup of tea, it does often shine a spotlight on the black community and its love affair with Hayabusa. Suzuki also refers to well-known black athletes and Rap artists when the company tries to ascribe a face or personality to the hypersport. But from the dragstrip, to legendary displays of naked power on the Salt Flats of Bonneville, to its classic early day shootouts with Kawasaki’s ZX-12R—which never acquitted itself with the same flair of the Suzuki—to the hum of the American “bling” subculture, this is the milieu, in which Hayabusa has acquired its cult status. In strict terms of what sportbikes mean to their owners—who regularly flock and trade up to the two-year upgrades—no other bike comes close. Go ahead and make your own list of true cult bikes; it’s kind of fun actually. Depending on your age, you’ll very likely pencil in some of these motorcycles: CBX, V-Max, Norton Commando, XR1000, CB 750, Vincent Black Shadow. Well, you get the point. It’s an entire topic with no two lists ever in total agreement. Yet, if any motorcycle made anywhere within the last 25 years qualifies as a cult bike, then there can be no argument against the Hayabusa’s inclusion on an inventory of very special motorcycles. Comments (0) Subscribe to this comment's feed Write comment You must be logged in to a comment. Please register if you do not have an account yet.