2022 Honda Goldwing vs Suzuki Hayabusa – a quick comparison of two ultimate mile munchers

India is a country where a superbike is majorly bought as a symbol of the status quo. In that essence, there is no other motorcycle which enjoys iconic status as bigger as these two motorcycles here – the Honda Goldwing and Suzuki Hayabusa. Both these motorcycles enjoy a cult following not only in India but around the world for their unique virtues. While the Hayabusa is highly regarded as an intercontinental ballistic missile with its supreme aerodynamic design intended for crushing the speed barriers, the Goldwing is a mammoth modern tourer, whose ride quality, refinement and technologies on board are second to none.

In India, both these motorcycles are looked upon as status symbols and ultimate mile munchers. Here, we have compiled an extensive comparison to tell you all the exact details and specifications of these two motorcycles and which one should suit your purpose or wishlist more: 

Price

Compared to the price of Suzuki Hayabusa, which is fixed at Rs 16.41 lakh, the Honda Goldwing costs Rs 39.20 lakh – that’s more than 2.5 times the price of Hayabusa.

(prices mentioned above are ex-showroom, NCR)

Engine and Chassis

The engines of both the Honda Goldwing and Suzuki Hayabusa are completely different in the way they are engineered, but both of them are the perfect examples of typical Japanese refinement and reliability. The Honda Goldwing is powered by a unique flat-six 1833cc engine, which puts up 126.4 PS of power and 170 Nm of torque, whereas the Suzuki Hayabusa gets a more conventional setup for the inline-four 1340cc engine, which churns out 190 PS of power and 150 Nm of torque. The Goldwing also uses a very unique 7-speed dual-clutch transmission, as compared to a more traditional 6-speed gearbox in the Suzuki Hayabusa.

The uniqueness in the mechanicals of the Goldwing is not restricted to its engine, but also in its suspension, as it gets a double-wishbone setup at its front, which is unheard of in a motorcycle. On the other hand, the Hayabusa gets a more conventional setup of hydraulic telescopic forks at the front. At the rear, both of them have got pro-link mono-shocks. The gargantuan size of Goldwing results in it having wider tyres and bigger brakes in comparison to the Hayabusa.

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Dimension

If you get intimidated by the size of the Suzuki Hayabusa, be more prepared for the Honda Goldwing, for the latter is even bigger than the Hayabusa in every sense. The Goldwing is longer, wider, taller and heavier than the Hayabusa with significant margins. Given its inclination towards touring, the Goldwing gets a lower seat height.

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Design and Features

Apart from the bigger size and bigger powertrain, the mightier pricing of Honda Goldwing over the Suzuki Hayabusa is pretty much justified with the long list of features the daddy Honda gets as standard.

In terms of equipment, the Goldwing is heavily kitted out with features like dual angular LED headlamps with daytime running LEDs, LED turn indicators with the front ones integrated into the rearview mirrors, LED tail lamp, electrically-adjustable front windscreen, 7-inch TFT screen in the instrument console with Bluetooth, Android Auto and Apple Carplay, two USB Type-C charging sockets, cruise control, riding modes and cushioned leather seats with leather backrest with armrests for the pillion rider. The Goldwing also gets an airbag and a total trunk capacity of 60 litres from the side panniers and luggage compartment behind the pillion backrest.

The Suzuki Hayabusa might seem a bit under-equipped when compared to the Honda Goldwing. However, for its price, it is well equipped with features like an all-LED headlamp including an LED projector for low beam and daytime running LEDs, integrated LED turn indicators, an LED tail lamp and split touring seats. The instrument console of the Hayabusa might not be as modern as that of the Goldwing, but it impresses with its sheer layout and centrally-placed TFT MID screen. The other features available in the Hayabusa are a 6-axis inertial measurement unit, three riding modes, 10-level traction control with anti-lift control, a bi-directional quick-shifter and an engine brake control system.

Both the motorcycles also differ very much in terms of the way they look. While the Hayabusa looks like a proper sport tourer with a sportier and more committed riding posture and a fully-faired bodywork, the Honda Goldwing looks more royal with its huge size and semi-faired design, with slightly upright riding posture to make it more comfortable for long distances.

 Verdict

Comparing a Suzuki Hayabusa with a much larger and very different motorcycle like the Honda Goldwing might look like comparing an apple with orange at the first, and to some extent, it is true. However, considering that both these two motorcycles are purchased in India either for a style statement and a symbol of the status quo or their brilliant mile-munching abilities. In these virtues, kudos to Honda and Suzuki for their brilliant attempts in the form of Goldwing and Hayabusa.

It is hard to determine which one of the two motorcycles is better here – that’s not a valid question to ask. Instead, both these motorcycles cater to different riding styles and purposes. If you are someone who loves to push his motorcycle hard and loves riding in a sporty manner, the Suzuki Hayabusa with its true focus on high-speed riding manners is the motorcycle for you. However, if you are someone with a more relaxed mind, values technologies more, and loves to ride sedately on highways, the Honda Goldwing is worth making the steep stretch over the Hayabusa.

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