Whenever one mentions the name Hayabusa, a million images pop up in one’s head. In the case of Indians, it is all from a specific movie. But even worldwide, the name carries a lot of weight. After all, the name emerged at a time when motorcycle manufacturers were locked in a top-speed war. One significant name at the time was Blackbird. And then came the Hayabusa. You know the story, right? Hayabusa means Falcon, and they hunt Blackbirds. Quite an interesting lore, but repeated too many times, so I’d avoid beating that particular dead horse.
The short of it is, the Hayabusa became the top speed king, and it remained there for a long time. Even after the Gentleman’s Agreement, most people agreed that it was the fastest. It remained at that particular summit till the H2 came knocking on its doors. But when something is at the top of the pile for so long, it becomes a legend. The Hayabusa is one. The inline-4 engine, the bulbous silhouette, the two massive exhausts on either side; you know, the works.
I have been a fan for a long time. I have owned a Blackbird. Never got the opportunity to own the first-gen Busa, but had the second-gen for a while. Did a few pan-India roadtrips on it. A trip around New Zealand on its naked counterpart, the B-King. Then I sold it off. But my love for the Busa remained. Then the third-gen came out, and I got one. I have ridden it a lot, around India for another roadtrip, on the racetrack, and on the high-speed test track of NATRAX.
The Axor Brutale helmet offers all that you expect from Axor helmets: comfort and safety. But it elevates the style quotient with a unique dual-spoiler design.
Recently, I got another opportunity to ride it on the racetrack. Not too long ago, I treated it with another striking livery. It is a beautiful combination of Blue, White, and Red. Along with my usual signature elements. Another thing that has a prominent place in this livery is a certain brand. The brand has seen a bit of a resurgence. Or better yet, a revolution and suddenly, it has become a matter of national pride. I am talking about Eurogrip.
Eurogrip has been a well-known name for a long time. But in recent times, it has really scaled and evolved at an unprecedented rate. It is suddenly an OEM supplier for brands like Aprilia, and with a product line that can hang with the best in the world. The Aprilia RS 457, made in India for the world, is shod with Eurogrip Protorq Extreme tyres, and it is shipped worldwide with those tyres! Moreover, they have entered the big bike game as well. And that is what this piece is about, alongside my experience on the Busa.
We have had a very good experience with Eurogrip Roadhound tyres. During RTU’25, our ZX-10R was shod with Roadhound tyres as we went around India. Eurogrip has also been kind enough to invite us over for their track days, and we have seen the Roadhound in action there as well. So when I was going around looking for a new set of tyres for my Busa, I decided to give them a shot. And I have been very, very impressed.
Right after the tyre change, I got an opportunity for a track day. Instead of just taking my ZX-10R, I took three motorcycles and alternated between them. The Suzuki Hayabusa was one of them. For the most part, Eurogrip Roadhound tyres are meant for the road. Big bikes, yes, but for the roads. So, imagine my surprise when they held up on India’s fastest racetrack along with one of the fastest motorcycles out there!
At the moment, Apex Racing Academy has more than 5,000 students who are training. A lot of them are there to brush up their skills on the racetrack, and a lot of them are people who want to be professional racers. So whether you want to refine your skills or pursue a serious career in motorsports, Apex Racing Academy offers what you need.
The opportunity of riding on the racetrack was courtesy of Apex Racing Academy. If you want to learn the art of riding on the racetrack or even full-fledged racing, they are one of the best out there. The academy organises track days all around India and has more than 5,000 students at the moment. Thanks to the expert instructors and a structured learning program, they have produced a fair few national champions as well. So, if you are interested in riding on the racetrack or racing is something you have on your mind, check them out.
Now, back to the experience. Because the Suzuki Hayabusa is meant mainly for straight-line speed (and it comes really easily, almost deceivingly so) and these tyres are not ‘meant’ for the racetrack, I was taking it easy. But as the laps piled on and I gained more and more confidence, I pushed the Busa as hard as I could without scraping its exhaust pipes. If you take a look at the pictures, I was really going for it.
Despite that, I never felt limited by the tyres. Surprised? Well, I was too. But here’s what’s going on. The Roadhound tyres are a result of cutting-edge technology and innovation in tyre manufacturing. The majority of the credit goes to what Eurogrip calls Quadrazone technology. In simple terms, it uses multiple compounds in various places on the tyre based on the need.
The centre part of the tyre has a harder compound. Since that is the patch that is worn the most during regular usage, this compound gives these tyres a very impressive mileage. Now, around the shoulders, there is a softer compound. That ensures a predictable and dependable grip when the motorcycle is leaned over. But that is not it. At the edges of the tyres, there’s an even softer compound that ensures even more confidence when you are really pushing it. Like I was, and that too with a Busa on the Buddh International Circuit.
I loved how much traction and confidence I had, even when I was braking hard entering a turn or accelerating hard exiting one. Being able to handle the loads and forces generated by a motorcycle that weighs over 260 kilos, makes nearly 190 bhp of power and has 150 Nm of torque, it needs a special set of tyres. And the Eurogrip Roadhound tyres did it with abject ease.
But then, I was curious about how they do on the road. After all, these are meant to be road tyres, right? And while not as intense as the racetrack, public roads bring their own set of challenges. The unpredictability of the road conditions and the unpredictability of the sheer number of people on the roads. You need nothing but the best. I am very happy to say that these tyres did as well as I expected after RTU’25.
Stellar airflow for comfort, certified to the highest standards for safety, and designed to grab eyeballs wherever you go with its unique dual-spoiler design, the Axor Brutale is a true stunner!
The groove configuration is widely spaced and designed to expel the water from under the contact patch as quickly as possible. So in wet conditions, Eurogrip Roadhound offers a ton of grip. Though I did not encounter any such occasions where I had to utilise the wet grip, we had a bit of that during RTU, and therefore, I have no doubts about it. Other than that, in the dry, they are just rocksteady. Highway speeds are a breeze, and even some naughty escapades are welcomed by these tyres.
Overall, I found these tyres to be excellent all-rounders. I had a very good time on the racetrack and had absolutely nothing to complain about on the road. If you like sports-touring and even want a jab at the racetrack, you cannot go wrong with these tyres… even on a superbike! Anything other than setting blazing lap times or competitive racing, these tyres can do it all. But do not take my word for it, give it a shot. I KNOW you will be thrilled!
