Suzuki Motorcycles has announced cessation of production of their legendary GSX1300R Hayabusa sportbike, after a 20-year model run. The announcement came as a surprise to some (author included), amid speculation that Suzuki would actually soon debut an upgraded model. This is truly the end of an era in the world of +1000cc Superbikes, or as one writer called them, “Hyperbikes”.

Since it’s premier back in 1999, the Suzuki Hayabusa has been a dominating street bike, leaving other manufacturers chasing shadow and exhaust for years. With an initially unrestricted top speed of (allegedly) 194+ mph, the ‘Busa could consistently turn 10s in the quarter mile, and for years blew everything it faced on the road or drag strip. Only in recent years has its early numbers been topped, by the incredible Ducati Panigale R and the supercharged Kawasaki Ninja H2.

Unable to meet the Euro-4 emissions regulations, Suzuki decided to pull the plug on development and production of the vaunted machine, letting it slip into the annals of motorcycle history and legend, effective this past December 31, 2018. The Hayabusa was only sold in Japan and Europe up until that date, and now all remaining stock is being shipped to North America, where they will be sold off until gone in 2019. So get one while you can.

Interestingly, Suzuki has renewed the trademarks for the Hayabusa name, so it’s within the realm of possibility that the company could introduce a third-gen of the bike at some point down the road. In the meantime, a chapter in motorcycle history has been inked and closed. The ‘Busa set a high bar for street bike performance that to this day has been hard to top. Definitely a bike for the ages.

*first reported for our friends at Born To Ride magazine