Jet turbine-fitted Hayabusa is a true powerhouse

Ever wondered what it would be like to ride a jet? Yes, you heard right; we said ‘ride’. Well, instead of sitting around like the rest of us and wondering, a certain engineer named Tony Pandolfo decided to put his skills to work and fitted a Suzuki Hayabusa with a turbine from an F14 fighter jet. As if that wasn’t enough of a wow factor, the bike has been declared street legal. Pandolfo’s Hayabusa is built to catch the attention of bystanders as its distinct sound is akin to that of an F14 speeding down the runway.

Suzuki Hayabusa powered by jet fuel starter from an F14 aircraft

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Tony Pandolfo's Suzuki Hayabusa

Suzuki Hayabusa powered by jet fuel starter from an F14 aircraft

We know that the Hayabusa was pegged as the fastest ever production motorbike, going at 194 miles per hour. That’s impressive enough but Pandolfo’s version could make the production version look like a kid. With 300 lb/ft of torque, it’s a beast.

We don’t know how fast it can actually go but Pandolfo says it easily accelerates to 100 mph. Uprated brakes have been installed for this kerosene-run machine which, incidentally, won’t fare too well with the green brigade. According to the maker, the bike averages a mere 5 mpg.

Another feature that’s guaranteed to get admiring looks is the afterburner which lets loose a stream of flames. The powerful machine is surprisingly easy to handle, says Pandolfo, who likens the experience to riding an automatic scooter. He could have made it more powerful, of course, but decided against it.

Pandolfo is selling his creation for $60,000. He says that he’d be willing to convert any bike into a jet-powered one for the right price too so speed demons will have something to cheer about. Imagine cruising down the streets to the sound of a jet engine revving up. Pandolfo, who prides himself on being a private kind of guy, says that his creation has made heads turn.

Via: Thesun