Suzuki GSX 1300R Hayabusa - New Busa vs. Old - Big Bird Smackdown

On the road, the difference in acceleration between the two bikes feels even more dramatic than the dyno figures suggest. The second-generation bike absolutely walks away from the old bird in any gear or riding situation, whether from a dead stop or rolling on. Initially, this was confusing: Despite the 16-horse difference in peak power, the dyno charts for the '07 and '08 bike are virtually indistinguishable up to 8250 rpm, with essentially equal low- and midrange power. What's more, the '08 bike tips the scales at a shocking 29 pounds more than the '07 model, mostly due to the new, Euro 3-compliant exhaust. Looking at the numbers alone, the new bike should feel slower on the street; instead, the old bike feels like it's tied to a post. What gives?

The answer is revealed after you juggle the parameters of the dyno readout. Graphing horsepower against time instead of rpm shows that the '08 bike arrives at 8000 rpm more than a second quicker than the '07 bike--so it gets to the meat of its power more quickly. Suzuki's extreme efforts to make the new motor rev quicker pay big dividends on the street. These internal engine changes, along with slightly shorter gearing (now 18/43 for an overall ratio of 2.39, compared to 17/40 for 2.35 in '07), let the new bike spool up faster, giving the perception of more power.

Tags: History, Motorsports, donut, leather, fastest, King, busa, Suzuki

*Update it is missing the fuel computer! I really like that feature on the original.


Here's a close up of the power mode switch. Not much to look at but its effect is noticeable. 3 different power modes which makes the Hayabusa suitable for even the less experienced? According to the manual the power modes make significant differences - BUT I have only used the A mode so far.

Quality of the plastics is the similar to the original but the garnish panels on the side of the dash appear less sturdy? Back to the dash plastics, the new Hayabusa has a 4 piece dashboard surround whereas the original had only 2. I prefer the original Hayabusa - only because it looks better.

2009 Suzuki GSX1300R Hayabusa - Higher 'Busa

Suzuki's Big-Dog GSX1300R Hayabusa Finally Gets An Update. Bigger, Faster, And Stronger, The Old Dog has Some New Tricks.

Nine years. That's an eternity in sportbike development cycles, but nine years is how long the Hayabusa has remained essentially unchanged since its shocking release in 1999. Back then, carburetors were still in fashion. Honda's 178.5-mph Blackbird was the fastest bike around. And the GSX-R1000 and ZX-14 were no more than doodles on cocktail napkins.