Suzuki unveiled the Hayabusa in 1999, and from then we’ve not seen any significant changes on the bike. Ever since its debut in 1999, the Hayabusa has been hugely popular among two-wheeler addicts globally. In its 19-year run, the bike received only one significant facelift, which was a decade ago in 2008. With the increasing competition, the Hayabusa has started to show its age, cosmetically and mechanically too. Over the past few years, however, Suzuki had hinted at bringing out the third generation of the motorcycle, and it looks like that we might finally see a new Hayabusa in 2019, the year when bike marks it’s 20th anniversary.
Details of the third-gen bike have emerged online and it seems the wait has been well worth it. Recent patent pictures show that Suzuki is also working on a new semi-automatic gearbox that could signify a new direction for the Hayabusa, with touring getting more prominence alongside outright straight-line speed.
The gearbox has an external sensor which works in conjunction with a servo to engage the clutch, along with another actuator to shift gears. The patent images reveals that Suzuki unit is fitted externally and doesn’t require any modifications to the inner mechanism. This means the semi-automatic gearbox could be offered as an universal option to other bikes as well.
The Suzuki Hayabusa has always been a popular bike with those in the drag racing circuit, and now, with the new gearbox, Suzuki wants to go a step further. It is expected that the bike will be fitted with launch control, making it easier for the less experienced drivers to aggressively launch the bike.
The gearbox is good and will improve the bike but we’re expecting more from the bike. Whether it will offer a turbocharged engine? We expect a turbocharged 1,400cc engine that can make 200hp. We also expect the bike to be loaded by the electronics because one of the big handicaps faced by the current Hayabusa is the lack of electronics. It is revealed by a site that the upcoming model will be loaded with an all-new electric package inspired by the new GSX-R1000, including ride-by-wire, multiple ride modes, multi-level traction control, IMU, cornering ABS, wheelie control and cruise control. The new-gen will continue to keep the DNA of the bike-iconic egg-shaped design.
The current Hayabusa is assembled by Suzuki in India and is priced at Rs 13.87 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi), which makes it cheaper than the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14R. Whether Suzuki will assemble the third-generation Hayabusa in India or not? Stay tuned!
