The never ending debate! Who is faster, the ZX12R or the Hayabusa?

It rages as much today as it did in the year 2000 and just like politics it seems to depend on which bike you prefer. Well, that may be the case but in this list of test results from a variety of tests carried out by magazines i think you can only draw one conclusion.

KINGS OF SPEED

ZX-12R Ninja vs GSX-1300R Hayabusa

Magazine Tests

These are some of the magazine tests pitting these two giants of the sportbike world. Both the Kawasaki ZX-12R Ninja and the Suzuki GSX-1300R Hayabusa are incredible machines on par with each other for the most part as the Kings of Speed. Of course, magazine tests are often inconsistant with each other, but this isn't about which bike is better,faster,quicker... it's about overall comparisons and the opinions of the test riders who piloted them. Either way, you can't go wrong with either of these machines.

Hayabusa vs ZX-12R TEST VIDEO!! (52MB)(Right Click and "Save Target As")

Probably the most exciting test I've seen done, these test riders take both the Kawasaki ZX-12R and the Suzuki Hayabusa to their limits in a head to head top speed race, 1/4 mile drag, and around a road race circuit!! Both riders swap bikes and compare results! Definately a MUST SEE video for any fan of either of these great bikes.

Click on titles for links to scanned articles and the summary.

Sportrider Oct. 2001 "BIG DOGS" / SUMMARYSTOCK (restricted)

Top Speed

ZX-12R - 185.6mph 

Hayabusa - 183.9mph

1/4 MileZX-12R - 9.95 @ 144.4mph

Hayabusa - 10.23 @ 140.6mph

Horsepower/TorqueZX-12R - 159.8rwhp @ 10,250rpm / 91.4ft lbs @ 7,750rpm

Hayabusa- 158.0rwhp @ 9,750rpm / 98.4ft lbs @ 7,000rpm

AFTER MODS (derestricted)Top Speed

ZX-12R - 193.5mph 

Hayabusa - 191.3mph

1/4 Mile

ZX-12R - 9.573 @ 146.75mph

Hayabusa - 9.559 @ 146.75mph

Horsepower/Torque

ZX-12R - 165.7rwhp @ 10,750rpm / 93.3ft lbs @ 7,750rpm

Hayabusa- 163.2rwhp @ 9,750rpm / 100.1ft lbs @ 6,750rpm

SUPERBIKE MAGAZINE / SUMMARY

Top SpeedZX-12R - 188mph

Hayabusa - 184mph

1/4 Mile

ZX-12R - 10.21 @ 144mph

Hayabusa - 10.05 @ 142mph

MCN March 2005 "NO LIMITS"  / SUMMARY 

Top Speed

ZX-12R - 185.09mph

Hayabusa - 178.65mph

1/4 Mile

ZX-12R - 10.44 @ 139.36mph

Hayabusa - 10.50 @ 140.42mph

0-60mph

ZX-12R - 2.90

Hayabusa - 2.91

Braking 70-0

ZX-12R - 48.10 meters

Hayabusa - 49.20 meters

FASTBIKES Magazine / SUMMARY

Top Speed

ZX-12R - 183.11mph 

Hayabusa - 181.93mph

1/4 Mile

ZX-12R - 11.22 @ 141.35mph

Hayabusa - 11.43 @ 142.95mph

Horsepower/Torque

ZX-12R - 156rwhp @ 10,100rpm / 87ft lbs @ 7,600rpm

Hayabusa- 154rwhp @ 9,500rpm / 94ft lbs @ 7,500rpm

0-60mph

ZX-12R - 3.83

Hayabusa - 4.22

60-120mph

ZX-12R - 4.56

Hayabusa - 3.79

6th gear roll-on 60-140mph

ZX-12R - 12.77

Hayabusa - 13.34

0-150mph

ZX-12R - 12.76

Hayabusa - 11.62

Cycleworld Magazine June 2002 / SUMMARY

Top Speed

ZX-12R - 186mph

Hayabusa - 184mph

1/4 Mile

ZX-12R - 9.93 @ 144.01mph

Hayabusa - 9.89 @ 143.55mph

Horsepower/Torque

ZX-12R - 162.8rwhp @ 9,900rpm / 90.5ft lbs @ 7,500rpm

Hayabusa- 159.2rwhp @ 9,250rpm / 98.2ft lbs @ 6,900rpm

0-60mph

ZX-12R - 2.59

Hayabusa - 2.47

Lasfida Magazine 2005 / SUMMARY

Top Speed

ZX-12R - 188.3mph

Hayabusa - 187.7mph

0-400m

ZX-12R - 10.3 @ 146.08mph

Hayabusa - 10.4 @ 141.36mph

0-1000m

ZX-12R - 18.5 @ 174.8mph

Hayabusa - 19.1 @ 166.7mph

Horsepower/Torque

ZX-12R - 155.8rwhp @ 9,940rpm / 90.3ft lbs @ 7,670rpm

Hayabusa- 151.8rwhp @ 9,490rpm / 95.1ft lbs @ 6,940rpm

T.W.O Magazine Dec. 2002 / SUMMARY

Top Speed

ZX-12R - 186mph

Hayabusa - 186mph

Horsepower/Torque

ZX-12R - 156rwhp @ 10,100rpm / 87ft lbs @ 7,600rpm

Hayabusa- 154rwhp @ 9,500rpm / 94ft lbs @ 7,500rpm

PERFORMANCE BIKES 2005 / SUMMARY

Top Speed

ZX-12R - 187.17mph

Hayabusa - 182.13mph  

1/4 Mile

ZX-12R - 10.71 @ 141.03mph

Hayabusa - 10.49 @ 143.46mph

0-100mph

ZX-12R - 5.83

Hayabusa - 5.61

70-0mph

ZX-12R - 48.39 meters

Hayabusa - 51.49 meters

Top Gear 40-120mph

ZX-12R - 13.0

Hayabusa - 11.7

Lap Time/Avg.Speed/Vulcans sections

ZX-12R - 3m03.02s/122.35mph/24.74s

Hayabusa - 3m10.64s/117.46mph/25.92s

FASTBIKES Magazine 2004 / SUMMARY

Top Speed

ZX-12R - 184.54mph

Hayabusa - 181.7mph

0-60mph

ZX-12R - 3.52

Hayabusa - 3.96

1/4 mile

ZX-12R - 11.13 @ 140.14mph

Hayabusa - 11.43 @ 142.95mph

Horsepower/Torque

ZX-12R - 165bhp @ 9,800rpm / (130nm)95.8ft lbs @ 7,800rpm

Hayabusa- 156bhp @ 9,000rpm / (134nm)98.8ft lbs @ 6,800rpm

MOTORRAD Magazine / SUMMARY

Top Speed

ZX-12R - 188.27mph (303km/h)

Hayabusa - 186.41mph (300km/h)

0-100km/h

ZX-12R - 2.6

Hayabusa - 2.6

0-140km/h

ZX-12R - 4.2

Hayabusa - 4.1

0-200km/h

ZX-12R - 7.0

Hayabusa - 7.3

This website is dedicated to Todd Shelton, King of Benchracing.