Suzuki Hayabusa
Suzuki's iconic hyper-tourer — 1340cc inline-four, 188bhp. The 'Busa' is a legend — a 200mph-capable sport-tourer with classic 1999 silhouette refined for 2021+ third generation. UK from £16,599. Cornering ABS, traction control, ride modes, cruise control, bidirectional quickshifter standard. Direct rival to Kawasaki ZZR1400.
- Engine
- 1340 cc
- Power
- 188 PS
- Weight
- 264 kg
- Seat height
- 800 mm
- A2 licence
- —
Liquid-cooled DOHC inline-four
wet
The short version
Forecourt score
Value 61 · Insurance 30 · Theft 35
The Suzuki Hayabusa holds its value about as well as most bikes (around 26% lost over three years, against the 25-32% bike norm) and is expensive to insure (around £780/yr typical). Theft risk is high.
A bike-specific blend of value retention, insurance and theft risk (weighted 40/35/25). Bikes carry no MOT reliability data, so reliability isn't scored. Higher is better.
Variant: Hayabusa
Engine
Petrol · 1340cc
Power
188 ps
Torque
150 Nm
Weight
264 kg
Seat
800 mm
Transmission
6-speed manual
Economy
38 mpg
3rd-gen Hayabusa — 1340cc inline-four, 188bhp, 6-speed with bidirectional quickshifter. Cornering ABS, KTRC traction, three rider modes, cruise control standard. 20L tank.
Tell us about the one you're looking at
Tidy and well looked-after for its age — the typical clean bike.
Estimated market value
£12,283
Range £11,055 – £13,511
HIGH CONFIDENCE
Holding value
Bikes hold value far better than cars — typical motorcycle 3-year depreciation is 25–32%, against cars' 40–50%. Some bikes (Hayabusa, Gold Wing, classic Z1000) actually appreciate in the 7–15 year zone as cult demand outstrips supply.
New
£17,399
At 5 years
£11,135
At 10 years
£8,004
Value loss by phase
Each band shows the share of original value lost during that window — not cumulative. Appreciation (green, marked +X% gained) is real for bikes that develop cult status.
UK new price by year
How we estimate this
Phase depreciation derived from observed UK used-bike pricing — classified ads, dealer asking prices, and end-of-auction figures. Bike residuals depend heavily on theft history, service-stamp count, and crash-damage signatures. The figures here are indicative for clean, fully-stamped examples.
What it costs to own
Indicative running costs at 8,000 miles a year — the UK rider average. Chain-drive bikes carry a chain/sprocket consumable line; tax (typically £25–£100/yr) and depreciation are excluded — see the section above for value retention.
3-year total
£2,883
Per year
£961
Per mile
£0.12
Service costs assume independent specialist labour and OE parts. Tyre intervals reflect typical UK road riding — track-day usage burns through rear tyres in <2,000 miles. Fuel uses the variant MPG at £1.45/L. Lower-mileage riders see proportionally lower totals; higher-mileage commuters pay roughly linearly more.
Estimated insurance
ABI motorcycle scheme · Comprehensive · 5 yr NCB
Indicative annual comprehensive premiums for this bike. Bike insurance is far more sensitive to licence tier and rider age than cars — pick the combination closest to your circumstances.
Licence
Age
No-claims bonus
5 yearsRisk profile
Estimated annual premium · typical, age 30-39
£780/ year
Roughly £65 per month
Typical
Suburban postcode, 3+ years NCB, standard security (Thatcham chain + disc lock), no recent claims.| Age band | Lower risk | Typical | Higher risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age 17-21 | £1,287 | £1,716 | £2,402 |
| Age 22-29 | £790 | £1,053 | £1,474 |
| Age 30-39Selected | £585 | £780 | £1,092 |
| Age 40-49 | £515 | £686 | £961 |
| Age 50+ | £468 | £624 | £874 |
How we estimate this
Premiums combine licence tier, rider age, no-claims bonus and a risk-profile multiplier on top of a bike-specific baseline. Bike insurance is materially more sensitive to licence tier (CBT / A1 / A2 / A) than car insurance, and young riders pay considerably more than older riders even on the same machine. Always get individual quotes before buying.
Theft risk
Bike-specific · Met Police + insurance reporting
UK bike theft rates are an order of magnitude higher than car theft. Nakeds and supersports lose more to professional gangs; large adventure bikes and tourers are statistically much safer.
Theft risk score · 1 to 4
3/4High risk
High risk
Frequent theft target — appears regularly on UK police hot-lists, especially in London. Expect insurers to demand Thatcham chain + ground anchor + disc lock; tracker can knock 10–15% off premium.Theft hotspot postcodes
Postcode prefixes only; full London hot zone runs across E, N, NW, SE, SW, W boroughs depending on the model.
What this means for you
Iconic sportbike with strong used demand — chain + disc lock + ground anchor + cover essential.
How we set this band
Bands derived from Met Police bike-theft reporting (most-stolen lists) cross-referenced with insurance industry underwriting data. Model + postcode are the two biggest factors in motorcycle theft risk in the UK, materially more than vehicle value.
What goes wrong
5 known issues · sorted by severity
Documented failure modes from UK owner forums, dealer service bulletins, and aggregated mechanic feedback. Mileages are approximate — different riders see different intervals depending on use and maintenance. Always address "high"-severity items before resale.
High severity
0
Medium
2
Low / cosmetic
3
| Severity | Part / issue | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| medium | Chain & sprockets 10-14k mi | £300 |
| medium | Cam chain tensioner 30k+ mi | £380 |
| low | Front brake pads 8-12k mi | £140 |
| low | Battery every 4 years | £140 |
| low | Tyres (Bridgestone S22) 6-8k mi rear | £360 pair |
How we score severity
High — strands the bike or causes consequential damage if left. Medium — service item that affects ride quality or risks failure. Low — cosmetic or minor inconvenience. Costs are independent-specialist UK rates for parts and labour together; main dealer prices typically run 30–50% higher.
Safety recalls
Manufacturers occasionally issue safety recalls to fix a fault free of charge. You can check whether the Suzuki Hayabusa, or your exact vehicle, has any outstanding recalls on the official DVSA service.
Check on GOV.UKOpens the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency recall checker. Choose the make, model and year of manufacture — no registration needed.
Strengths
- +Iconic 1999-era silhouette refined for modern era
- +188bhp + 150Nm — genuinely hyper-touring capable
- +Bidirectional quickshifter + cruise control standard
- +Strong residuals — collector following
- +Comfortable sport-touring ergonomics for 1340cc
Watch-outs
- −Heavy (264kg)
- −Insurance very high (~£780 typical)
- −Aggressive ergonomics for daily commuting
- −Aerodynamic styling polarising