2021 Suzuki Hayabusa review - third-gen of the firm's hyperbike, and still among the best there is

Fully adjustable KYB forks and shocks might look the same on the outside but the internals have been reworked to give astonishing results. As you’d expect from such a heavy bike, it doesn’t respond well to being forced into corners, but if you finesse it from upright to full lean it’s hugely capable and sure-footed. It positively glides over bumps and it’s this sublime ride quality mixed with unflappable high-speed stability, reassuring weight and such creamy power delivery that makes it so effortlessly quick over fast terrain.

New Bridgestone S22 tyres still have a flat, 1990s 50-profile rear, compared to the balloon shaped rubber used on current superbikes, but they do a fine job. They warm up fast and have more than enough grip for the road…and when they don’t there’s a whole army of the latest six-axis IMU controlled electronics to help you out.

The 2007-20018 Hayabusa suffered with poor braking feel and performance and Suzuki have addressed the problem with bigger discs and Brembo Stylemas, first seen on the Ducati Panigale V4, but they don’t have the firm, reassuring bite we know they’re capable of. That’s more down to the electronic brake-by-wire system than the actual hardware. But you’d always use a foot-full of back brake on a long, heavy bike like this, so there’s never any heart in the mouth panic moments even stopping from high speed.

Uniquely long and low with lots of bike in front and behind you, riding the Busa is like piloting a hyper speed canoe. The riding position is the same as it ever was, with both pegs firmly set in the ‘90s and there isn’t a lot of legroom for taller riders, but the bars have been pulled 12mm closer to you. There’s less of a stretch to reach them now, but there’s still a fair amount of weight on your wrists, so in true sportsbike fashion, you’ll be propping yourself up with your left elbow on the tank to relief the pressure through towns and villages. Happily, cruise control is standard, to let you shake your right wrist off on the open road, too, but disappointingly heated grips are an optional extra.

What's the 2021 Suzuki Hayabusa like for a less experienced rider?

With just two years' riding experience to call upon, our Online Editor Gareth Evans swapped the keys to his Triumph Trident 660 for a go on the new 'Busa during an event to celebrate 100 years of Suzuki.

He reports: "Once I got over the sheer size of the Hayabusa - its girth once you're sat on top makes it feel like you're straddling a nuclear submarine - I was surprised by just how easy this hyperbike was to operate.

"Thumbing the red starter button it thrumbs into life with a smooth idle, and it's only when you twist the throttle that the engine's sheer intent comes to the fore in the form of a spikey induction roar.

"The clutch is light and the power delivery at low speeds easy to manage, which is great as it leaves you time to appreciate the work that has gone into the handling. A bike of these proportions could easily feel unweildy, but in this case the big Suzuki turns in with confidence and composure.

"In fact, it never felt too much, right up until the point I started to exercise that engine. The in-gear acceleration simply has to be felt to be believed. Overtaking requires no more than a quarter throttle, and the speed at which you approach the redline is breathtakingly relentless.

"Overall this felt like a bike to cover big miles on. It's comfortable and user-friendly, while also benefitting from sensational performance and approachable handling. What an experience... one to tick off the bucketlist."