Although the Hayabusa engine is already renowned for its reliability, durability and longevity, the development team was committed to further evolving it to a higher level.

The result of the engineering changes (highlighted in yellow) is better torque and power delivery with a more linear power curve in the low-to-mid speed range, which is where riders ultimately spend most of their time.

The new Hayabusa proudly carries on the legacy of the previous generations by providing riders with greater output and smoother torque than any other sports bike at engine speeds up to 6,000 rpm.

The Gen III is also the fastest-accelerating Hayabusa yet, boasting quicker 0-100km/h and 0-200m times than the previous iterations.

While the Hayabusa continues to employ forged pistons with chrome nitride PVD coated oil control rings, it now adopts a new piston shape that has been optimised to match the new TSCC shape. Changes to the crankshaft oil passages increases the flow of the piston cooling oil jets, which in turn cool the pistons more efficiently. Advances in CAE analysis made it possible to remove enough material to reduce the weight of each piston by 26 grams. This reduces internal vibration, which in turn contributes to enhanced durability.

While the proven lightweight titanium valves are carried over from the previous generation, the new Hayabusa adopts a revised cam profile that reduces valve lift overlap to improve performance and controllability at the most commonly used low and mid range speeds. Improving emissions performance and reducing the action angle places added load on the slipper surface, so the width of the cam lobes was increased to achieve even greater durability.

Suzuki’s newest TSCC design promotes faster and more efficient burning of the fuel air mixture. It employs a four valve design with each pair of intake and exhaust valves positioned in adjoining semi hemispherical depressions. During the intake stroke, these depressions channel the incoming air fuel mixture into two controlled high speed swirls. Squish areas in the front and back of the chamber accelerate the speed of the swirls, igniting the mixture more quickly and effectively. After closely examining and analysing the flow of air as it entered the chamber to further leverage the inherent strengths of the TSCC design, the combustion chamber around the intake valve was machined further on the new Hayabusa engine. This expands the valve curtain area and improves the flow coefficient by 5% as the valve begins to open and reaches 5mm in lift height. As a result, this change increases combustion efficiency and helps satisfy Euro 5 emissions standards.

The Hayabusa’s chassis is designed to empower the rider with sure footing, nimble handling and predictable control that inspires confidence and enhances the riding experience. It delivers a smooth and comfortable ride that absorbs everything the road surface throws at it and responds faithfully to the rider’s will. It effectively transfers the power of its legendary powerplant to the pavement while fully leveraging its intelligent control systems to run and brake effectively, whether riding straight or leaning through corners.

The Hayabusa’s tried and true twin spar aluminium frame and swingarm incorporate aluminium castings along with extruded aluminium sections that lend the right amount of suppleness and strength to its overall rigid alloy frame structure. While more costly and demanding to fabricate, extruded aluminium sections pay off in achieving the optimal overall balance required by a machine that delivers ultimate performance and reaches a top speed of 299km/h. This is why extruded aluminium can also be found used on a number of supercar frames, and why the Hayabusa also leverages its benefits.

The new sub frame designed in conjunction with the bike’s styling changes features straighter pipe sections and reduces weight by 700 grams.

Both front and rear suspension settings have been optimised to eliminate any hint of oversteer at lower speeds and achieve a stable ride with neutral feel at all speeds. These combined with the low centre of gravity, long wheelbase and new tyres result in nimble handling along with reassuring straight line stability at highway speeds.

Up front is an updated version of the previous model’s fully adjustable KYB inverted forks with 43mm outer diameter diamond-like coating (DLC) coated inner tubes. The internal structure has been revised to further improve the forks’ ability to absorb the road surface and ensure a smoother, more stable ride with optimum grip. In similar fashion, the internal structure of the fully adjustable KYB rear shock absorber has also been updated to help optimise comfort and straight line stability.

Mounting the handlebars 12mm closer to the rider vastly improves comfort and reduces fatigue, particularly when touring or taking other long rides It also enhances handling when enjoying a sporty ride by giving the rider better feedback on how well the front tire is gripping the road, by better supporting the rider’s posture to improve stability when braking, and by offering the rider greater freedom in movement to control cornering.

One standout new feature is the TFT LCD panel mounted in the centre, between the two main meters. It displays either the current SDMS-? systems settings or an Active Data display that shows lean angle (with peak hold function), front and rear brake pressure, rate of forward/reverse acceleration, and the current accelerator position. The panel also shows clock, gear position, odometer dual trip meter, ambient temperature, instantaneous fuel consumption, riding range, trip time, and average fuel consumption on and voltmeter displays. An ambient light sensor automatically adjusts the instrument cluster’s brightness level based on surrounding conditions, but the rider can also opt to make manual adjustments.

Both the low beam and projector type high beam headlights adopt LEDs that provide clear illumination and help make the Hayabusa clearly visible to pedestrians and other traffic at night. The vertically stacked design creates a sharp new look with its large, bold styling and eye pleasing presence.

Attention to achieving a memorable look extends to every detail. The two upper and two lower LEDs for the low beam are mounted in the corners where they shine across a reflector panel and fill the light assembly with attractive illumination.

Fine touches throughout the headlight assembly include the use of black parts that heighten the sharp looks, as well as the inclusion of the Hayabusa kanji character on top of the black cowl above the high beam lamp.