Suzuki Celebrates Hayabusa 25th Anniversary at MCL 2024
Suzuki’s iconic Hayabusa will be taking centre stage at Motorcycle Live 2024, as it celebrates 25 years since its introduction
Motorcycle Live 2024 will mark the 25th anniversary of one of the most recognisable bikes of all time, Suzuki’s legendary Hayabusa.
The Hayabusa, also known as the GSX1300R, was first introduced in 1999, at a time when three of the big four Japanese motorcycle makers were slugging it out to see who could build the fastest bike.
While the ZZR1400 from Kawasaki was likely the comfiest, and the Honda CBR1100XX Super Blackbird the nicest handling, point-to-point the Hayabusa was widely regarded as the best of the bunch. It was a bike that had it all: speed, power, poise and much more comfort than the track-biased GSX-R1000 sports bike.
The reputation of the bike led to a production run that went from 1999 to 2020, when Suzuki withdrew the bike from sale. While many mourned the loss of yet another iconic model from the market, Suzuki took the opportunity to diligently update and improve the model behind the scenes, announcing and launching the third-gen Hayabusa to the public in 2021.
You can find our 2021 Suzuki Hayabusa review here.
To help celebrate the bike’s life, Suzuki UK will be dusting off a first-generation Hayabusa which will be taking centre stage in a display that will also include a second-generation machine from 2008 and an anniversary edition of the latest third-generation Hayabusa. The three stock bikes on the Suzuki stand will also be joined by some not-so-standard bikes, with some highly customised bikes joining some high-speed dragsters on the stand.
Suzuki will also be shining a light on a lesser-known string to the Hayabusa’s bow, as an engine of choice for kit and track cars. One of the most famous cars to utilise the 1,340cc 190bhp powerplant is the Radical SR3. Suzuki will also be displaying an SR3 on the stand for the duration of the event.
Hayabusa owners can also get involved in the celebrations, by uploading a picture of their bike to a dedicated portal. Suzuki will then incorporate the pictures into a graphic wall that will form part of the celebrations.
You can upload your images to the portal here: https://hayabusa-anniversary.suzuki.co.uk/
Speaking about the plans, Suzuki GB motorcycle marketing manager Jak Tyrrell said:
“It’s very easy for brands to overuse terms like ‘icon’ or ‘legend’ but I think both are genuinely apt when it comes to the Hayabusa. There aren’t many other motorcycles that have the sort of history it has, in terms of both length and reputation. It changed the face of the hyperbike market when it was launched, did so again in 2008, and today it remains in a class of one.
“It is also still the weapon of choice at drag strips all over the world, and has a cult following and customisation scene that no other motorcycle can match. As a result, it was only right we celebrate it at this year’s show and we’re really excited to see the display come to life at the NEC in November.”
Suzuki can be found on stand 2D20 in hall two, and for more information or tickets head to the Motorcycle Live 2024 website.
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Simon (AKA Toad) has been working within the motorcycle industry for more than twelve years, and a member of the motorcyclist family since birth. Growing up around British-built single and twins, it was inevitable that a life on two wheels was on the cards, from a very early age!
