One of the most common complaints about the Suzuki Hayabusa is its bulbous and swooping tail section. The bike’s performance is certainly hard to fault, but plenty of folks are quick to hate on its appearance—and with such a peculiar rear end it’s easy to see why. Unlike most other sportbikes, a seat cowl only exacerbates the tail section’s unsightly lines, but Gregg’s Customs has created a quick and relatively simple solution to make the Hayabusa hind-half a point of admiration rather than ridicule.
The mechanical skill required for the complete installation is pretty basic and doesn’t run much deeper than a disassembly of the stock tail and subframe. If that sounds daunting don’t fret. There are only four bolts holding the entire stock subframe and undertray in place, and once the wiring is unplugged it all comes off in a snap. Replacing the bulky stock subframe and battery tray are a pair of beautiful billet aluminum side plates and battery box with a pillion seat bracket attached to the rear.
Make no mistake, the conversion kit isn’t a cheap mod, but there are different ways to affect the final price tag. The legwork required of the customer is to source a 2007-’08 GSX-R1000, and that’s where some savings can be found. After a quick perusal of some eBay listings we saw plenty of tail options; from lightly crashed street tails to aftermarket race bodywork there are all sorts of prices and conditions. The tail should ultimately be repainted to match the rest of the fairings anyways, so a squeaky clean sample isn’t necessarily critical for a good end result.
Detailed instructions are included with the kit, but we found that common sense and basic model knowledge were all that were required to complete the job from start to finish. Even with a few unforeseen hiccups such as rounded-off bolt heads, the complete job took less than two hours. For the time and money involved it’s one of the most visually stunning mods that can be made to the Hayabusa. It’s so powerful, in fact, that Hayabusa haters will have to completely rethink their take on the big bird’s styling after its undergone the basic nip and tuck transformation.
[1] The entire tail section,...
[1] The entire tail section, turn signals and taillight come off as one.
[2] The only glitch in the...
[2] The only glitch in the subframe removal process is the brake reservoir; simply remove it momentarily, then replace it once the hose has been slipped through the slot.
[3] Don’t waste time separating...
[3] Don’t waste time separating the undertray from the subframe, but rather pull the entire unit off as one.
[4] The stock charcoal emissions...
[4] The stock charcoal emissions canister can be relocated near the rear shock or removed.
[5] With the battery tray...
[5] With the battery tray and side plates in place the passenger bracket is then bolted on.
[6] Route the ECU and associated...
[6] Route the ECU and associated wiring into the new undertray where it will all fit snugly.
[7] Mounting points in the...
[7] Mounting points in the aftermarket subframe correspond with the various GSX-R tail holes.
[8] The end result is sleek...
[8] The end result is sleek and unique. It functions just as a standard GSX-R tail would and accepts a passenger seat or a cowl.
Sometimes a big old booty...
Sometimes a big old booty isn't all that attractive.
Next Month: Rizoma goodies on a GSX-R1000.