When motorcycle enthusiasts talk about pure performance, Suzuki’s Hayabusa tends to come to mind.

Suzuki never released a 2010 version of its Hayabusa leaving performance fans eagerly anticipating the 2011 model.

Not surprisingly, the Japanese motorcycle manufacturer have managed the image of its premier bike being considered the the hottest sportbike on the planet. Its combination of unsurpassed power, crisp handling and superb aerodynamics creates the ultimate sportbike.

Introduced in 1999, the Suzuki Hayabusa is the fastest, most powerful production sportbike motorcycle available today. Named after a swift flying falcon, the original Hayabusa was capable of reaching a speed of almost 200 mph. It was designed to compete directly against the now defunct Honda CBR1100XX Blackbird and Kawasaki Ninja ZX-12 and now ZX-14 motorcycles.

The reputation just might have something to do with the Hayabusa being equipped with a 1340cc, in-line, DOHC liquid-cooled engine with 16-valves, and Twin Swirl Combustion Chambers (TSCC).

Lightweight aluminum alloy pistons with a compression ratio of 12.5:1 are used for maximum performance in all conditions. Hard, smooth chrome-nitride Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) coating on the upper compression and oil control rings on each piston reduces friction while improving cylinder sealing.

The Hayabusa's engine is fed via Suzuki's SDTV (Suzuki Dual Throttle Valve) fuel injection system with dual 12-hole, fine-spray injectors per cylinder and ram air intake with large volume airbox. Suzuki Pulsed-secondary AIR-injection (PAIR) system ignites unburned hydrocarbons and reduces carbon monoxide emissions.

For ultimate control the S-DMS (Suzuki Drive Mode Selector) allows the rider to choose from three different engine settings depending on riding conditions or rider preferences.

The Hayabusa comes with an optimized 6-speed transmission. Oil spray to the 4th, 5th and 6th gears reduce wear and mechanical noise during highway cruising. Suzuki Clutch Assist System (SCAS) serves as back-torque-limiting system for smooth downshifts and also contributes to a light clutch pull.

A high efficiency curved radiator features dual electric fans controlled by the ECM for increased cooling capacity. The oil cooler has 10 row cores for increased heat dissipation.

Holding this all together, a lightweight and rigid twin-spar aluminum frame minimizes weight while maintaining high torsional strength. The Hayabusa has been outfitted with a fully adjustable inverted front fork featuring DLC (Diamond-Like Coating) coated inner tubes. The front suspension offers minimal friction resistance and provides outstanding suspension performance over a variety of riding conditions.

A bridged aluminum alloy swingarm features a cross-sectional shape for increased rigidity, which also helps cope with improved rear tire grip and increased engine output. The Hayabusa's fully adjustable rear shock absorber has a 43mm piston and 14mm rod diameter.

Because sooner or later, every rider has to stop, radial-mount front brake calipers offer maximum braking performance and allows for smaller 310mm front brake rotors resulting in reduced unsprung weight and improved handling. A lightweight single piston rear brake caliper works in conjunction with a 260mm rear brake disc.

As far as look as are concerned, vertically stacked twin headlights provide increased light intensity, improved light distribution and match the elegant flow of the Hayabusa styling.  Advanced aerodynamics offering superb wind protection both for normal and completely tucked-in seating positions.

The Hayabusa's instrument cluster features four analog meters for speedometer, tachometer, fuel gauge and water temperature with a S-DMS mode indicator, gear position indicator and adjustable engine-rpm indicator.

New for 2011: The Hayabusa is available in new colors and graphics (Pearl Mirage White with gold trim and Pearl Nebular Black with red trim).