The Suzuki Hayabusa GSX1300R is without any rival in its class. An elegant sport bike with streamlined looks and incredible power, it has rested at the pinnacle of sport bike technology since its introduction in the 1998 model year.
I've owned several sport bikes and ridden a handful of others. Each model has its strengths and weaknesses, but the Hayabusa can almost be described as the ultimate in refusal to compromise.
The cornering is superb, remaining tightly bound to the road surface even at severe lean angles. Everything from acceleration to braking is handled effortlessly by this bike.
Many folks consider the Hayabusa to be a "dog" in the corners, and perhaps it is compared to more nimble 600's. This is partly because of its additional weight and longer wheelbase. There may be other factors as well. Regardless, I find the bike to be very enjoyable in the corners, perhaps due to years of spirited rides on it (35,000 miles as of this writing). As a large guy I appreciate its muscle when accelerating out of a curve, and I find it easy to influence this beast using my weight appropriately when cornering aggressively. I also enjoy its smooth entry into deeper corners as opposed to the tendency of more "flickable" bikes to just fall into the turn. Personal preference, of course.
I know my limits and ride well within them. And while I know that there are those who can easily outride me, I take pride in riding safely while having fun. One of the most enjoyable rides I've ever had on my bike was when I took it to the Nashville SuperSpeedway for a road-course track day. I also participated in another track day on March 11, 2006.
Here are some pictures of my bike from various angles.
My other street bike is a 1985 Honda Gold Wing Limited Edition (GL1200LTD). I also have a Honda RC51 for riding on the race track.
My previous sport bike was a 1986 Yamaha FJ1200.
I am a member of the following Motorcycle Organizations
I subscribe to the following email discussion groups:
For those who just can't get enough Hayabusa, check out the following links:
The Tennessee Honda Rider's Club is probably one of the best riders clubs around. Headquartered in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, they meet regularly at Sloan's Motorcycle and ATV for a pancake breakfast on the 2nd Saturday of each month. During "normal" riding season these pancake breakfasts are usually followed by a group ride. I heartily recommend their web page and activities to anyone interested in enjoying the company of a fun group of fellow riders. And you don't have to ride a Honda to be a part of the fun!
Please visit my tribute to Erold (The Whale) Ansell.
Don't hang out in the No-Zone!