Suzuki GSX 1300 R Hayabusa Bol d’Or 2022 — Specifications

Who still remembers the speed wars of the 2000s? That era when Suzuki and Kawasaki were battling it out to break the 300 km/h barrier, when every tenth of a second mattered and when the Hayabusa became a legend. Twenty years later, the Japanese peregrine falcon still soars on our roads, even though the market now favors lighter, more agile motorcycles that are more in tune with the times. No matter. Some machines transcend trends.

For 2022, Suzuki chose to pay tribute to its endurance racing pedigree with this GSX 1300 R Hayabusa Bol d'Or edition, a direct nod to the years of SERT domination at the Paul Ricard circuit. The livery leaves no doubt about the intent: deep black streaked with gold, like a venomous insect, designed by APX Factory. The result is flashy, unapologetic, almost arrogant. Love it or hate it, you can't ignore it. The SERT Factory Workshop handled the customization with an equipment list ranging from a racing screen to Akrapovic silencers, along with a seat cowl, anodized hardware, a gold chain adjuster, and a dedicated seat. Each unit receives its own numbered aluminum plaque. Everything comes with an exclusive "Welcome pack," a reminder to the owner that they belong to a closed club of around a hundred members.

Beneath that golden dress, the 1340 cc inline four-cylinder retains its locomotive character. The 192 horsepower at 9,700 rpm and especially the 151 Nm of torque available from just 7,000 rpm deliver massive, linear thrust—almost brutal when you crack the throttle wide open. The engine gains extra breath thanks to the Akrapovic exhaust system, which also shaves 3.9 kg off the scales. At 260 kg wet with a 20-liter tank, the Hayabusa remains an ocean liner. Don't even think about playing tightrope walker with it in the mountains. Its aluminum perimeter frame, 43 mm inverted fork, and manageable 800 mm seat height make it more of a highway devourer, capable of swallowing kilometers without tiring its rider. The Kawasaki ZZR 1400 shares this fast cruiser temperament, but the Suzuki cultivates a retro charm that its rival simply doesn't possess.

The sore point is the price. At 27,499 euros, the bill climbs more than 8,000 euros above the standard version. For a limited edition dressed by SERT, Suzuki France is banking on emotion and prestige rather than raw mechanical value. The Akrapovic silencers and accessories justify part of the premium, but you need to be a die-hard enthusiast, a collector at heart, to sign that check without flinching. Especially since the onboard electronics, with its riding modes and sharp traction control, remain identical to those of the base model, which is already very comprehensive.

This Hayabusa Bol d'Or is aimed at a handful of well-heeled nostalgics, those for whom the name SERT rings like a promise of glory and laps under the floodlights of Le Castellet. It won't appeal to the young A2 license holder or the track rider chasing the latest in technology. But for anyone who wants to park a piece of French endurance racing history wrapped in gold in their garage, there is simply nothing equivalent on the market.