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Hayabusa Heaven |
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written By Steve Jelly |
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| Some of you have met Pete, my mate from work who owns a pair of Suzuki GSX1300R "Hayabusa" bikes. Well on a recent trip (obviously not in this country) I had the opportunity to ride his silver 'Busa. This is a very cherished machine, and I was about to get a thrill that most of us SV riders have yet to experience. To give you some idea of the scene, myself, Pete, his Wife Sarah, and her brother Mike were on a motorway type of road, riding for a day out. The compliment of bike consisted of 2 Hayabusa's, a 2002 Yamaha R1, and of course, my 2001 SV650S. We pull over..... |
| "OK Steve, let Sarah take your bike, and you take the silver 'Busa" says Pete. The adrenalin was already starting to pump. I've ridden a few bikes since passing my test 9 months ago, Fazer 600, SV1000S, VFR800 even a GSXR600 and an R6, but I'm now sitting astride over 172BHP, the fastest production bike available. |
| Off we go, taking it easy at first. What you notice first is how aerodynamic and quiet the bike is. Then just look at the dash, easy to read, with a proper fuel gauge. Open road ahead, let's see what I can do, 100, 110, 120 it's so easy. Doing 120mph the 'Busa is like 60 on an SV. Road clears again, nice and straight, let's have another go. The analogue speedo moves up so quickly and in no time I'm at 130 again; ease it round a nice left hander and open some more; 130, 140; 150, 160.... I'm reading 165 and Pete, who was on Mikes R1 is falling into the distance. At 160mph this bike is so stable it's unbelievable. Car coming up in the middle lane so I back off the gas. Pete catches me up and we slow down, waiting for Mike and Sarah to catch up. Soon we pull over, Pete takes my SV, I stay on the 'Busa. "3 more junctions and we'll change back" says Pete. |
| Off we go again, this time I'm a little more confident so I'm a more aggressive with the throttle. 1st, 2nd 3rd, 4th, 110mph in no time at all. This is an amazing bike, it's not just the performance, it handles so well, it's comfortable, but more importantly (and this the bad bit) it's so intoxicating. I just didn't want to get off. |
| So what did I learn from all this? You can travel very fast and be reasonably safe. When Suzuki set about designing the Hayabusa I wonder if they ever realised what a machine they would eventually produce. Awesome doesn't come close; yes I know it's big and it's a huge wheelbase (1.485m) and I know the R1 & GSXR1000 are the "hard on" sports bikes. But unlike the everyday sports bike, the Hayabusa has character. At slow speeds it's not cumbersome and it's easy to ride in town, although a little big (Pete rides a 'Busa to work, across London & back every day). |
| Would I have one? Well as long as I could keep my SV I reckon I could make room for a 200mph plus, 172BHP machine in the garage, if that's OK with the insurance man of course as it is a group 17! |
| So, where were we going in such a hurry? Well that's another story that I'll do another time |
| Pete's bikes can be
seen at http://www.cyfc.co.uk/busaboy.htm Steve Jelly 17/6/03 |