Brought home my 2021 Suzuki Hayabusa: First Impressions

I had neither ridden the Gen 2 Hayabusa nor taken a test ride of the Gen 3. These impressions are therefore truly a "first".

BHPian GoBlue recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

The Falcon has landed!

There is no way to express in words how immaculate this bike looks in person (especially in this colour scheme). I'm reading a lot of opinions (on the internet) being expressed about Gen 3, I would urge those who are on the brink of deciding to visit a showroom and check it out in person. Pictures do NOT do it justice.

This rear looks superb in person. It will look even better with the accessory cowl, but that means losing the grab rail (in addition to the seat itself!), which isn't a reasonable trade-off. Function over form for me.

Notice how Suzuki has been naughty. The speedometer reads 290 kph, yet there's a marking that goes till 300.

This analogue + TFT cluster is simply incredible to look at and savour. It is a special experience to watch the needles do a full sweep at power-on. There's just something about analogue dials on a motorcycle that satiates the soul.

First impressions | Ride from Suzuki, Pune showroom to residence (~15 km):

1. Smoothness/refinement is out of this world
2. Fueling is immaculate
3. Tractability at low speeds is unfathomable. In 1st, 2nd and 3rd the bike could do speed breakers at slow speeds without slipping the clutch.
4. Ground clearance is adequate (at least for pillion only). no scraping anywhere.
5. The long wheelbase is not felt. bike shrinks around the rider.
6. Suspension suppleness is extremely well crafted (the lovely damping makes road undulations a non-issue)
7. I'm not sure if what I heard inside the helmet was the intake or exhaust sound (or a combination of both), but that sound is
8. Brakes are S-H-A-R-P
9. Clutch lever felt a bit heavy (this is negative. whether it breaks in and becomes lighter is to be seen)
10. Accelerator grip felt heavy (again a negative)
11. Filled Shell V-Power at a pump near home. It drank 14l of fuel. The dealership had given 5l without having to ask! much appreciated.
12. It is an attention magnet. I was totally uncomfortable with this. don't think riding in the city would be fun.
13. It began heating up whenever stopped in traffic. However, the temperature needle did not go beyond the halfway mark. heat let out by the dual radiator fans (single radiator, two fans) could be felt on the legs, was a non-issue while wearing full riding gear. Whether summer-season-tangdi-burns are a thing, time will tell.
14. Mass centralization is S-U-P-E-R-B! it feels like a 1000cc super-sport when in motion. spec-sheet weight numbers are just that, the actual "feel" while riding is that of an extremely nimble motorcycle.
15. The build quality of every single part is immaculate. it feels like a premium flagship motorcycle, which it indeed is.
16. Accessories installed prior to delivery: R&G radiator guard and frame sliders.
17. ODO reading of 0 km during delivery. felt pristine. In comparison, the Africa Twin had 5 km on the cluster.
18. The quick-shifter is good to have, but it takes the pleasure out of shifting. Need to get used to this.
19. U-turns are an acquired skill on this bike. Handle turn ratio is quite less. At full lock, hands get squashed between the bar and tank. Will be a problem to be dealt with during right-hand u-turns.
20. Have been asked to keep the RPM under 6K for the first 1000 km
21. Peregrine = Perennial Grins

Note: I had neither ridden the Gen 2 Hayabusa (ever) nor taken a TR of the Gen 3 (TR bike not available in Pune). These impressions are therefore truly a "first".

PS: My impressions of the Gen 3 shall be in isolation to Gen 3, having never ridden the Gen 1/2 - not in a position to relate/compare.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.