EVOLUTION, IN THEORY

Speed and hysteria aside, is the Hayabusa's evolution only an illusion?

- Ruman Devmane

I can't make up my mind about the Suzuki Hayabusa. On the face of it, it's a slightly boring and overweight motorcycle built with so much clinical finesse, it just can't stir up a riot of emotions. Is it still the fastest motorcycle in the world? Is it, instead, the world's most aerodynamic exercise in conformity? Surely, we haven't witnessed the end of the Hayabusa, no? At this point, I had to hit the brakes from about 220 kph, so I decided to return to that thought later.

Textbook Hayabusa moment. Since its very inception, it has assumed the role of being motorcycling's brand ambassador of effortless speed. It's why it came into being — to be the world's fastest motorcycle, something it accomplished all too easily back in 1999, wafting past the Kawasaki ZX-12R and the Honda CBR1100XX Blackbird that previously held that title.

Ever since, though, that accolade itself has been swept off the table, with a gentlemen's agreement limiting all top-speed ambitions to 299 kph. What, then, does that leave for a Hayabusa to do? Okay, I'd better slow down now.

The Suzuki GSX1300R Hayabusa, to state its full name, is part phenomenon, part engineering masterclass. A product of absolute aerodynamic surrender, the 'Busa has gathered a robust fanbase over the years not only for its bragging rights, but for translating into a shockingly sublime motorcycle.