Suzuki GSX 1300 R Hayabusa Yoshimura SERT Motul Replica 2022 — Specifications

When Suzuki decides to thank a rider, the brand doesn't do things by halves. Sylvain Guintoli, winner of the Bol d'Or, the 24 Heures du Mans, and World Endurance champion under the SERT banner, received a one-off example of the third-generation Hayabusa, repainted in the colors of the Yoshimura SERT Motul team. A powerful gesture for a rider who gave a great deal to Hamamatsu, whether in endurance racing or in the development of the GSX-RR in MotoGP. And you have to admit that the Busa dressed in Yoshimura red, with just the right amount of SERT blue pinstriping, cuts a very different figure from the eternal MotoGP replica liveries found on just about every sportbike in the catalog.

The livery is eye-catching, but make no mistake. Beneath the fairing, it's the stock 2022 Hayabusa doing the work. Its 1340 cc inline four-cylinder, with an 81 mm bore and 65 mm stroke, pumps out 190 horsepower at 9,700 rpm and, more importantly, 150 Nm of torque from just 7,000 rpm. This engine is a sensation turbine. Not the kind to throw a tantrum at high revs like a supersport unit, but rather the kind that pins your back against the seat with continuous, massive thrust. The 12.5:1 compression ratio and the well-spaced six-speed gearbox contribute to this feeling of quiet force, capable of reaching 299 km/h on the speedometer — electronic limiter obliging.

On the chassis side, the recipe hasn't changed in its fundamentals. The twin-spar aluminum perimeter frame handles the 264 kg wet weight without flinching. The 43 mm inverted fork and rear monoshock do the job, without claiming to rival the suspension of a Panigale V4 or a ZX-10R on track. The Brembo brakes — two 320 mm discs clamped by four-piston calipers — deliver reassuring stopping power to bring this ocean liner to a halt at full tilt. The 800 mm seat height and the 20-liter tank are reminders that this motorcycle is built to devour miles, not to string together chicanes.

What really changes on this third generation is the electronics. Suzuki has loaded its Hayabusa with rider aids worthy of a cutting-edge sportbike. Six riding modes, three power levels, traction control linked to an inertial measurement unit, quickshifter, anti-wheelie, engine brake control, launch control, cruise control, and speed limiter. The list is long — almost too long for a machine not intended for the track. But on long highway hauls or fast A-roads, the entire arsenal reassures and protects, especially when you have 190 horsepower under your right hand.

The only regret is that this Yoshimura SERT livery remains a one-off gifted to Guintoli. Suzuki would have every reason to offer this color scheme as a limited edition, ideally paired with a Yoshimura exhaust system to give this big four-cylinder some voice. The sponsor logos are all there — Motul, Bridgestone, Denso, PIAA — but the Yoshimura exhaust is sorely missing from the package. As it stands, this Hayabusa SERT Replica is aimed at fans of ultra-fast GTs, those who want to cross France in one go with the power of a missile and the comfort of a touring bike. Not a track weapon, not a city bike. Simply a traveler in a hurry.