Best Motorcycle Pictures

Suzuki Hayabusa custom Hayabusa Turbo Motorcycles

The Suzuki Hayabusa (or GSX1300R) is a hyper sport motorcycle made by Suzuki since 1999. It immediately won acclaim as the world's fastest production motorcycle, with a top speed of 188–194 miles per hour (303–312 km/h), surpassing the Honda CBR1100XX Super Blackbird by at least a full 10 miles per hour (16 km/h). After the much-anticipated Kawasaki Ninja ZX-12R of 2000 fell 4 mph (6 km/h) short of claiming the title because of being speed-restricted, the Hayabusa secured its place as the fastest standard production bike of the 20th century.

In 2000, fears of a European regulatory backlash or import ban led to an informal agreement between the Japanese and European manufacturers to govern the top speed of their motorcycles at an arbitrary limit, allowing the Hayabusa's title to remain, at least technically, unassailable, since no subsequent model could go faster without being tampered with. Model year 2000 and later Hayabusas, as well as their competition, are electronically limited to 300 kilometres per hour (186 mph), giving the unrestricted, 190-mph 1999 models even more cachet with collectors.

Motorcycle speed tests, especially at high speeds, are prone to variation due to human error, limitations in equipment, and atmospheric factors like wind, humidity, and altitude. The published results of two otherwise identical tests could vary depending on whether the result is reported with or without industry standard correction factors calculated to compensate for test conditions. Rounding errors are possible as well when converting to/from miles and kilometers per hour. Media-reported values for the speed agreement in miles per hour were consistently 186 mph, while in kilometers per hour they varied from 299 to 303 km/h, which is typical given unit conversion rounding errors. Reported numbers for horsepower and torque will inevitably vary for similar reasons.

Besides its speed, the Hayabusa has been lauded by many reviewers for its all-around performance, in that it does not drastically compromise other qualities like handling, comfort, reliability, noise, fuel economy or price in pursuit of a single function.Jay Koblenz of Motorcycle Consumer News commented, "If you think the ability of a motorcycle to approach 190 mph or reach the quarter-mile in under 10 seconds is at best frivolous and at worst offensive, this still remains a motorcycle worthy of just consideration. The Hayabusa is Speed in all its glory. But Speed is not all the Hayabusa is.