Hori Hayabusa Joystick

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1. Microswitches changed for more recent production Hayabusa levers, still feels like the original 2012 release

   The Hori Hayabusa lever debuted with the original Hori Fighting Edge joystick in 2012. Within months of the original release of the Fighting Edge joystick, Hori was selling its new Hayabusa and Kuro pushbutton arcade parts separate from the FE joystick base.
   Flash-forward a decade, the Hayabusa lever is still in production but the Kuro pushbuttons have been replaced for at least the last 5-6 years by the superior and more comfortable feeling Hayabusa pushbuttons! (Yes, the new pushbuttons share a common name with the control lever. Get used to it! Seimitus's naming conventions for its parts line is even more confusing! LOL)
   Go back just over 5 years ago, and one of the most surprising (and disappointing) bits of news was that Panasonic was discontinuing its microswitch line for arcade parts. We all know this affected Seimitsu and they made a big announcement on how they redesigned the LS-32 substrate to use Omron microswitches instead of the discontinued Panasonic models.
   What wasn't appreciated was that this affected THE ENTIRE arcade parts industry in Japan! Sanwa already used Omron microswitches in its JLF line or made the transition quieter than Seimitsu.
   Hori also incorporated Omron microswitches in its Hayabusa levers. The redesign for the Hayabusa frankly isn't obvious like it was for the LS-32. The LS-32 baseplate had to be recut to fit the new Omron microswitch substrate!
   Externally, a Hayabusa with Omron microswitches looks exactly like the earlier release Hayabusa with Panasonic microswitches. You wouldn't know WHICH switches were in the control lever until you remove the baseplate from the Hayabusa! Once removed, it's obvious which switches are in the lever's base. The Omron name is clearly printed on the exterior of the microswitches. To discover the ID of the Panasonic microswitch, you have to lift up the switch; the markings are on the switch side facing upward to the mounting plate.
   Like the Omron-equipped LS-32, I can't feel the difference between Hayabusa with the Panasonic or Omron microswitches. The joystick lever feels the same regardless of the microswitch brand. Omron, IMHO, did a fantastic job of making the switchover in 2 alternate lever designs feel like it never happened in either case! GeorgeC on Mar 15th 2023

2. IMO it's built better than the JLF

   Solid stick, not gonna write a comparison to the JFL in regards to feeling. I'll be commenting about things I think make it better than the JLF design wise.
   
   It's a little bulkier than the JFL, but I like it because it houses the micro switches without it being soldered on to the PCB so if there were any failures, it'd be much easier to change just a single micro switch without buying a whole new PCB or stick entirely. Also allows to mod different micro switches to your preference. The gate is screwed onto the housing which provides a solid feeling compare to the JLF snap on with gate inserts. Tony on Jun 19th 2022

3. Very solid stick

   I’m a big fan of this stick, personally my favorite Japanese style stick I’ve tried Unknown on Jan 1st 2022

4. Hori Hayabusa

   Excelente producto Unknown on Nov 10th 2021

5. The most comfortable control lever I have EVER used

   I've probably played with at least 8, probably 12 types of control levers between home consoles and the arcade.
   I've played with the Wico brand joysticks for Atari computers, the Atari 2600 joystick (the WORST quality brand joystick I've used), the Magnavox Odyssey 2 analog joysticks, Sanwa JLF (the most overrated control lever on the market), the Seimitsu LS-32-01, LS-40-01, LS-58-01, the Hori Hayabusa, Happ and iL levers in the arcade. On top of that I've played with clone levers in the Hori Tekken 5 10th Anniversary Joystick, the Hori Namco Arcade Stick, the Hori FightStick SS, the Ascii Fight Stick (battop version) for Sega Saturn, and the Agetec "Green Goblin" Dreamcast joystick.
   The Hori Hayabusa was by far the most comfortable joystick lever I've used and the most accurate for getting diagonal moves out. It's both a superior competition joystick and a better one to use if avoiding carpal tunnel is a goal of yours.
   I've played it with every type of game I have that supports joysticks and it's just a comfortable, versatile controller. Play it with Pac-Man, your favorite sidescrolling shooter, or any classic 2-D fighter and it's a superior control lever.
   I tried playing with the Sanwa JLF for over a year after Mad Catz realized its original Tournament Edition joysticks but I felt it had issues with the base and the stock restrictor gate was frankly awful. I never could get diagonals to register consistently ever after switching to an octogate. When I switched to the Seimitsu LS-32 as my main control lever, I quickly realized the JLF's issue was the base design. I've stuck to square gates in both the LS-32 and LS-40 and they never gave me the issues (and fits) the JLF gate did.
   As nice as the LS-32 is, I found the Hayabusa was more consistent in hitting the diagonals and was an ever more comfortable lever -- at least as far as I was concerned. That completely turned the corner for me where Hori hardware is concerned. I would never replace a Hayabusa lever in any Hori stick base unless it was damaged and I would always replace it with another Hayabusa lever! If the same joystick base had a JLF lever installed, I would quickly replace it with a Hayabusa lever or spare Seimitsu lever!
   As far as buttons go, the Hayabusa lever complements either the Hori Hayabusa pushbuttons or Sanwa's OBSF series very well. I can't imagine the Hayabusa doesn't coordinate well with Seimitsu pushbuttons but ironically all the joysticks I own that have Seimitsu pushbuttons have LS-32 levers installed. GeorgeC on Dec 30th 2020

6. A fine stick, but not really an upgrade over the gold standard

   The Hori Hayabusa feels very similar to a Sanwa JLF, maybe a little tighter/springier but with an ever so slightly longer throw. I think anyone could get used to and play well on this stick, but it does not strike me as an upgrade from a JLF, just a different feel. The feel is nice, but if you are used to a JLF, you may start out more inaccurate on this stick due to what feels like a slightly farther engage and longer throw. BP on Nov 16th 2020

7. Very Solid

   Highly recommended for JLF lever users looking to take their execution to the NEXT LEVEL! Roscoe Jones on Oct 19th 2020

8. Solid.

   It's got a little less tension than a stock Sanwa JLF, but other than that, this is a fantastic lever. Unknown on Dec 16th 2019

9. feels like im jiggling a stick shaped cloud in my hand

   feels good would recommend. Jerome Presher-Brosman on Aug 22nd 2018

10. Great Stick

    Made doing instant air dashes much more consistent for me in Dragon Ball Z fighters then the stock JLF that came in my stick.
    
    Highly Recommend this joystick, I'm using it with a 2lb spring, Octo Gate, and 0.5mm increased actuator size over stock pretty much what my JLF used, yet I'm way more consistent with this thing, its pivot is like magic. This stick will rebound on you and hit the other-side input if you let go to neutral without holding it, even with a 2lb spring which is it's only flaw, be aware of that. Steve on Aug 21st 2018