Hot on the heels of the showing of the Suzuki GSX-R 1000 Concept at EICMA in November is a rumour that an all-new Hayabusa replacement is in the works, and will be in production as soon as mid-2016.
According to Morebikes UK, Japanese motorcycle magazine “Young Machine” has published photos purportedly showing the engine and design concept for a supercharged 1,400 cc inline-four that is touted as the next-generation GSX-R1400.
The Hayabusa – the Japanese name for the peregrine falcon – is Suzuki’s top-of-the-line bike, and designed for sheer top-end speed. It is reported the photos were taken during a presentation to Suzuki’s decision makers ahead of the Tokyo motor show in October, showing engine options and concept design for the bike.
Rumour has it the new Hayabusa has been green-lighted and will undergo chassis and ride testing soon before a mid-2016 release. This is unusual since under normal circumstances, such a production decision would only be made six months after testing before being launched.
Perhaps this is Suzuki’s late-to-the-party challenge to Kawasaki’s H2R, which has taken the motorcycle top-speed crown away from Suzuki. Kawasaki’s H2R has a top speed of 357 km/h, and is not road-legal. The road-going H2 is reported to be speed-limited to 300 km/h, as is the current-model Hayabusa.
