2018 Hayabusa - The Last of the Original?

Suzuki has made it official that the 2018 Hayabusa will be a carry over from the 2017 Hayabusa which was a carry over from the 2016 which was a carry over from 2015 which was a carry over from ……. okay, you get the point. During the bike’s 19 potent years as the original go-for-broke, large displacement sport bike, it hasn’t had too many changes. There were some improvements and revisions but it is undeniably the same machine that was launched to dropping jaws and itchy throttle hands in the last millennium. The fact that its styling was so unusual back then and nothing else looked like it is why it still looks darn good today. The rumours are swirling that there is a new Hayabusa in the works and some pundits felt sure that it would arrive as a 2018 model but that will not be the case. A supercharged all-new Hayabusa is still somewhere just over the hill via that twisty road. If it is a supercharged bike that debuts as the new Hayabusa, this may be your last chance to get the big, gorgeous 1340 cc inline four -the engine that was a favourite for drag racers. land speed record attempts and companion to extended swingarms. Kawasaki’s H2R has illustrated that the need for top speed has changed to smaller displacement, not-so-normally aspirated high tech power plants rather than the no-replacement-for-displacement old school approach. But it was that approach that made the Hayabusa so appreciated. It was a massive, hawk nosed missile with an eye towards aerodynamics intended to punch a big hole through the air. In the past 19 years has everyone who wanted a Hayabasu bought one? Probably not or Suzuki would not keep building them. The bike has long since paid for its development costs so it represents a substantial bargain compared to other bikes in the “sport” category. If this is the last of the old school Hayabusas, no matter how good the replacement, the original will be missed.

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