The third-gen Suzuki Hayabusa finally arrives in its Euro 5/BS6 avatar with a fresh look and plethora of internal updates.
Back in 2018, the motorcycle community was taken aback when Suzuki had killed off the beloved and venerable Hayabusa in Europe, owing to emission regulations. Likewise, we too had to bid farewell to the king of speed when the BS6 emission norms kicked in from April 2020.
Now though, all that gloom can be put behind us as the new, 2021 Suzuki Hayabusa has been fully revealed and more importantly, the third-generation model is Euro 5/BS6-compliant, which means that it will also make its way to India soon.
Essentially, the 2021 Hayabusa uses the same 1,340cc liquid-cooled inline-four DOHC motor and chassis as the outgoing model. But Suzuki claims the third-gen model has received over 550 new parts during its upgrade, so therefore, it features plenty of updates to justify the generation change while retaining the original DNA of its predecessors.
Design
The 2021 Hayabusa features some significant design updates but despite the changes, it has retained the signature design cues like the famed aerodynamic silhouette and the iconic seat hump. Thus, in profile, the bike harks back to the outgoing model whilst featuring straighter, sharper design lines, a new side fairing with redesigned vents, new rear-view mirrors and reprofiled straight-edged exhausts. A new, vertically-stacked LED headlamp set between new angular air intakes gives the 2021 Hayabusa a fresh face. The air intakes are flanked by new, super-sharp position lights that double up as integrated turn signals. Arguably though, the biggest design change on the 2021 Hayabusa is the new rear cowl and the new LED combination taillamp.
Engine & Chassis
On paper, the 2021 Suzuki Hayabusa is less powerful and produces less torque than the outgoing model – a direct consequence of the Euro 5/BS6 upgrade. Compared to the latter's 197bhp & 155Nm, the 2021 model develops 188bhp @ 9,700rpm and 150Nm of torque @ 7,000rpm. The new model comes paired to an improved six-speed gearbox and so far, there's no mention of the rumoured semi-automatic gearbox making it to the third-gen model's options list.
Talking about the changes, the 1,340cc motor has been heavily reworked – that's because it's been fitted with new, lighter pistons, conrods, valve springs, reprofiled camshafts, revised crankshaft & crankcase and a new cam chain tensioner, to list a few! The gearbox has also been tweaked and gets gears with revised bearing width for improved gear shifts. A new assist-and-slipper clutch has also been added to the mix, to accommodate a new up-and-down quickshifter.
The 2021 Hayabusa also uses a new ride-by-wire electronic throttle system that's been set up to produce greater power output at low and mid-range engine speeds. Thanks to all these changes and a flatter torque curve, the 2021 Hayabusa is the fastest-launching 'Busa to date – reaching the 100km/h mark from standstill in 3.2 seconds, 0.2 seconds quicker than the outgoing bike – despite its reduced power & torque output. The top speed remains electronically-capped at 299km/h.
As mentioned before, the new Hayabusa is built on the same chassis but, it's been given a new subframe that's 700g lighter. Speaking of weight saving, the updated exhaust also helps save 2kgs, resulting in a total weight loss of 4kgs – the 2021 model tips the scales at 164kgs. The third-gen model sits on updated 43mm KYB forks and gets fully-adjustable front & rear suspension. Braking duties are now performed by Brembo Stylema callipers (front brakes only) that sit on bigger, 320mm discs (10mm larger than before). The new, seven-spoke alloy wheels come shod with specially-developed Bridgestone Battlax Hypersport S22 tyres.
The handlebars have been moved 12mm closer to the rider for improved ergonomics and long-distance riding comfort.
Electronics
In its third-generation, the Hayabusa has gained a new, comprehensive suite of electronics that gives the bike almost any electronic riding aid or feature one can think of.
One of the biggest highlights of the latest version of the Suzuki Intelligent Ride System (SIRS) is the Suzuki Drive Mode Selector Alpha (SDMS-α) that offers three preset rider modes and three user-defined modes. Plus, the SDMS-α also governs a 10-mode traction control, three power modes, a two-mode bi-directional Quick Shift System, Anti-lift Control as well as an Engine Brake Control System.
Some other significant electronic riding aids on offer include an IMU-governed ABS, Cruise Control, Suzuki Easy Start System, a three-mode Launch Control System, Hill Hold Control and an Active Speed Limiter.
All these settings can be controlled by a new TFT display (with auto-brightness adjust) that now sits between the Hayabusa's iconic twin dials, the latter also being redesigned. The analogue tachometer and speedometer feature bigger numbering and LED lighting for improved legibility. As for the TFT display, apart from the SDMS-α settings, it also displays information such as lean angle (with peak-hold function), front and rear brake pressure, rate of forward/reverse acceleration and the current accelerator position.
In the UK, the 2021 Suzuki Hayabusa will go on sale at £16,499, which is about ₹16.5 lakh.
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