What does the name “Hayabusa” mean in the name of Suzuki’s flagship motorcycle?

In the name Suzuki Hayabusa, “Hayabusa” means peregrine falcon in Japanese.

Suzuki chose the name for its 1999 flagship sport motorcycle partly because the peregrine falcon is an exceptionally fast bird. The name also provided a pointed comparison with the Honda CBR1100XX Super Blackbird, which had been marketed as a very high-speed motorcycle.

The original Hayabusa was powered by a 1,299 cc inline-four engine and quickly became famous for its aerodynamic bodywork and extreme performance. Its name is commonly pronounced differently outside Japan, but the Japanese word itself refers specifically to the peregrine falcon.

The Hayabusa should not be confused with a motorcycle named after a generic eagle or hawk. Its bird reference is precise, and the peregrine is known for its high-speed hunting dives.