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With a Dazzling New Treatment, This Legendary Japanese Motorcycle Has Never Looked Better

It’s been breaking speed records for well over two decades, but the latest special edition is breathtaking in a different way.

Close-up of a blue motorcycle fairing with a white graphic design, black air vents, and part of a black textured seat. The fairing has a silver trim and a small circular fastener.Suzuki Cycles

By Steve Mazzucchi

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Two fun related facts: First, hayabusa is Japanese for “peregrine falcon,” a bird of prey whose vertical hunting dive can reach 202 mph, faster than any other flying fowl.

Second, in 1999, the Suzuki GSX1300R Hayabusa did its namesake proud — and shocked the entire two-wheeled world — as its top speed of 194 mph made it the world’s fastest production bike.

Blue and silver sport motorcycle with a sleek aerodynamic design, black seat, and large exhaust pipe, parked on a concrete surface with mountains and a partly cloudy blue sky in the background. The motorcycle features a prominent white Japanese character decal on the side fairing.
The 2026 Hayabusa boasts no major mechanical updates. But when the Special Edition looks this good, who cares?
Suzuki Cycles

The groundbreaking moto has been an icon of speed ever since, but what should not be lost in the shuffle is that it’s actually pretty damn good all around, from handling to comfort to reliability and more.

All of which is to say nothing of the bike’s looks, which may have reached their pinnacle with the 2026 Special Edition.

The casually stunning aesthetics prove that sometimes the window dressing can be nearly as exciting as the 1,340cc liquid-cooled, inline-four-cylinder beast under the hood. Here’s what jumps out.

1. Color coded

A blue and white sport motorcycle leaning sharply into a turn on a winding road, ridden by a person wearing a red, white, and blue helmet and black and white riding gear. The background shows blurred greenery and a curving road.Suzuki Cycles

Dubbled Pearl Blue Vigor, the blue-and-white paint scheme alone is a highlight, creating the impression that on a clear day, you could ride this speed demon right into the sky and blend in amongst the clouds.

2. Humble brag

Blue Suzuki motorcycle fuel tank with white and blue stripes, featuring a silver fuel cap and black handlebar grip visible in the upper right corner.Suzuki Cycles

The bike gets a big round “special edition” emblem on top of the tank, which just might be the best spot. You can see it if you glance down mid-ride, but for any innocent bystanders, it’s either IYKYK or simply letting the rest of this beautiful bike speak for itself.

3. Solid mold

Close-up of the side fairing of a blue and white sport motorcycle, featuring a large white Japanese kanji decal, black air vents, a black textured seat, and a visible Brembo brake caliper on the front wheel.Suzuki Cycles

That boomerang of white isn’t simply paint, it’s actual molding that accents the blue. Oh and in case there were any doubt, the Kanji character on the fairing does indeed mean “falcon.”

4. Craft single

Rear section of a Suzuki Hayabusa motorcycle, featuring a blue and white color scheme with the "Suzuki" logo on the white part and the "Hayabusa" logo in white on the blue section. The tail light is integrated below the rear seat cowl.Suzuki Cycles

Perhaps the coolest feature is this “single seat cowling.” That little piece rounds out the whole look, yet it can be removed to expose the pillion seat should you need room for two.

5. Pipe dream

Rear section of a motorcycle showing a close-up of the exhaust pipe, rear tire with blue rim, and part of the brake disc. The exhaust pipe has a metallic finish with black end caps.Suzuki Cycles

Suzuki notes this edition’s “special muffler” without dishing what that means. Still, whatever treatment it got is working: on the product page, you can press a button for “engine sound” and hoo boy, if it doesn’t give you goose bumps, you might want to check for a heartbeat.

Availability and pricing

Details are not yet available. However, in the US, the 2025 Hayabusa starts at $19,399. Presumably if this Special Edition makes its way stateside, it’ll run at least a bit north of $20,000.

Blue and white Suzuki sport motorcycle with aerodynamic fairings, a black seat, and blue wheels. The bike features a large exhaust pipe on the left side and a prominent Japanese character decal on the side fairing.Suzuki Cycles

2026 Suzuki Hayabusa Special Edition

About the Author:

Now managing editor, Steve has served in a variety of roles with GP since 2019. Having previously written and edited for such publications as Men’s Health, Men’s Journal, Esquire and ESPN, he enjoys covering a range of topics — but mostly those pertaining to cycling, snow sports, pocket knives and motos — and dreams of a utopian world in which everyone’s bike seat is at the proper height.

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