Thread: Kawasaki ZZR1400 And Suzuki Hayabusa GSX1300R

The number 300 for movie buff may signify Leonidas and his army of 300 Spartans. Suffix this number with km/h and it symbolizes two of the most powerful bikes that have ever descended on earth - the Kawasaki ZZRI400 and the Suzuki Hayabusa GSX1300R. Both these bikes are among the rare machines that have the ability to breach the 300km/h mark. Inspite of being capable of such incredible top speeds, the bikes are ironically categorized as 'sports tourers' by their makers. Sports tourers are supposed to munch hundreds of miles and return great fuel efficiency while still offering great riding comfort. Paradoxical, I know, but very real.

There I had the two great machines right in front of me. I started off with the Hayabusa, the bike that held the crown of being the fastest production machine for almost a decade. At first glance, it looks quite unlike anything else on two wheels owing to its huge built and bulbous bodywork. Though ugly to most eyes, the 'Busa was designed exhaustively in the wind tunnel to be one of the most aerodynamically efficient bikes, promoting function over form. The super sized instrument console feels like the cockpit of a rocket ship.

Get astride the bike, however, and it baffles you with it incredibly comfortable riding posture and easy maneuverability. The term Hayabusa stands for a peregrine falcon in Japanese - a bird known to attack its prey at a high rate of speed. Like the falcon, the bike curs through the wind and attacks the road with precision and elegance. The chassis has been engineered to iron our every atom of twitchiness, making for rock solid high speed stability. As far as riding comfort is concerned, the 'Busa towers over every other track bred bike on the market.

The lower footpegs, longer clip-on handlebars and wider seat take the weight off the rider's wrists. Having done more than 600km in a day on a Hayabusa earlier, I can vouch for the bike's comfort. Compared to a supersport it's incomparably easier for a novice to ride this 1300CC monster. The bike catapults from naught to 100 km/h before you could complete one breathing cycle. The acceleration is progressive and linear and doesn't shove you back like a typical supersport bike.

The ZZRI400 makes a brave attempt at looking aggressive compared to the Hayabusa. The instrument console is the first element thatll catch your eyes once you get into the ZZR's saddle. It's a brilliant combination of analogue and digital units and features a lot of utilities like a reserve trip counter, temperature, etc. which is an added advantage for long distance touring.






This Kawasaki was purpose built to dethrone the 'Busa and I wanted to know just how perceptible the difference was, as I cranked the bike up. The 14' s acceleration isn't as cultured or sophisticated as the 'Busas. Low down the revs, it was subtle, but as I hit6,000rpm my brain was pinned to the back of my skull. After all, the bike can manage a sprint to 180 km/h in less than six seconds. Inspite of such brutal acceleration, the tyres don't spin out nor does the chassis lose balance. The Ninja achieves this by way of a monocoque chassis unlike the conventional twin-spar frame. This aids better high speed stability and it was evident on the highway. The monocoque design also allows for a larger, flatter and wider tank which helps in better mounting of a tank bag while touring.

Other bits like an extra pair of grab rails, centrally located below the seat on either side (which also double up for a bun gee chord attachment while touring with extra luggage) and a centre stand are an added advantage over the Hayabusa. The longer, single seat offers better comfort not only for the rider but also for a pillion. The bike we sampled boasted of an aftermarket double-bubble windscreen and other safety accessories from Seventh Gear.

The structure of the aftermarket windshield allowed better flow of air and aided aerodynamics. I got past the 200 kml h mark in a jiffy on an open stretch. At that speed, the ZZR's engine felt much more refined than the Hayabusa. The throttle response was incredible something that is a given with all Kawasakis. The quadruple projector beam headlights give the bike a distinctive (though not very beautiful) look and at the same time offer better visibility as compared to the 'Busa's unit - thus making it a much better tourer overall than the Hayabusa.

Governments from around the world consider the 300+ km/h top speed to be a potential danger and have hence restricted these machines to a maximum top speed of 297km/h. A more severe limitation in India comes in the form of crowded highways. Even if you manage to find an empty stretch, there are idiots who scratch their heads in the middle of the road pondering over what they set out from their homes for. But as I said earlier, it's not only about the top speed. Under the skin, both the bikes are great 'sport tourers' (cough!) that can make fodder of hundreds of kilometers without the slightest hint of fatigue.

The latest advancements in fuel injection also imply that you get the most out of the last drop of petrol. Though both bikes offer great function through their ugly form, it wouldn't be hard for me to conclude which bike I would like to take home. The 'Busa has always been my favourite for it great virtues. However, the ZZRI400 lives up to its stature of being a 'sports tourer' by offering better functionality and features over the 'Busa. And while doing so, the Ninja also manages to outrun the 'Busa in a straight line. These factors coupled with the aggressive design, the brain shuffling punch, the impressive comfort and the psychological benefit of having a l)1achine with higher cubic capacity are what incline me more towards picking the Ninja.