Older Suzuki 400/750 Katanas

[Tigadee]

http://www.suzukicycles.org/photos/GSX/GSX250S_Katana-brochures/1991/1991_GSX250S-Katana_700.jpg

I was admiring the older 1980s-1992 Suzuki Katanas and loving the look of them - those clean sharp 'jet-fighter' lines, incredibly low handlebars and aggressive stance... And so I just wondered if they were any good?

Reliable? Quick (I'd guess so)? Comfortable? Economical (probably not, aye)? Easy to fix in this day and age? Fun?

[MSTRS]

If it wasn't for them, we wouldn't have the GSXR. And all the other-brand copies...
No doubt Katman will be along shortly to tell you they are the shizz. But only if they have wire-wheels.

[Tigadee]

"Wire wheels"? :scratch:

[MSTRS]

http://www.sportbikerider.us/Pics4/Suzuki-Katana1100-1982.jpg

[James Deuce]

Here's a picture of my old 400 that I resurrected from a rusty heap.

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=72761&d=1191868212

[MSTRS]

And a beauty it was, Jim. A veritable feast of pleasure to ride, too.
I wonder what became of it?

[avgas]

I still think the old pop-up is one of the sexiest motorcycles to date.
http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj80/Dunnopic/Rats1/Katana.jpg

[Tigadee]

All beautiful but have to agree with AVgas, the pop-up is unique and sexy!

And with streamlined indicators too:
http://www.suzukicycles.org/photos/suzuki-history/1985/1985_GSX750S4_Katana_450.jpg


Spokes, son, spokes.

Doh! :facepalm: My bad...

[Katman]

And so I just wondered if they were any good?


The one that you have pictured is a 250.

As has been said the 400 is a great bike to ride. I'm looking forward to getting mine out on a trackday.

[Maha]

Some had red seats?

[Katman]

Some had red seats?

The 550 and 650 had two tone red and black seats.

The '83 and '84 1100's (we didn't get them here in NZ) had two tone red and cream seats.

[Maha]

The 550 and 650 had two tone red and black seats.

The '83 and '84 1100's (we didn't get them here in NZ) had two tone red and cream seats.

Not sure what year it was but maybe 83'-84'? I worked with a bloke who had a Katana with that seat combo thing going on.
The bike itself looked so radical by comparison.

[FJRider]

The bike itself looked so radical by comparison.

Depending what it was compared to I guess ...

Interesting reading ...

http://www.katanacentral.co.uk/history/katanatimeline.asp

[Maha]

Depending what it was compared to I guess ...

Interesting reading ...

http://www.katanacentral.co.uk/history/katanatimeline.asp

My toothbrush.

[avgas]

Seriously....it was supposed to be out years ago!!!!!!! (&$*($^^@%@%!!!!!!!
http://www.diseno-art.com/images/suzuki_stratosphere_front.jpg

[Kickaha]

I still think the old pop-up is one of the sexiest motorcycles to date.


All beautiful but have to agree with AVgas, the pop-up is unique and sexy!

You should both be beaten with a big stick for uttering such heresy :spanking:

[pete-blen]

I had a 82 1100... bought it from Swift Suzuki in Nelson
new for $7500...In the day they were a great bike...
but yer had to cruse at 160kph so the wind took your
body weight of yer arms/wrists.. There was a hinge in
the frame around the swing arm pivot area..was very
noticeable on winedy uneven roads.. the best set up
I had on mine was with the front fairing/nose cone
off & flat bars..bike felt half the size.. sold it got the
first of the GSXR750..

I only bought the 1100 Kat because I had a XN85 on order
but they weren't imported into NZ in the end.. got sick of
waiting.. The XN85 was Suzuki's turbo 650.. simular styleing to
the katana's.. the later katana 750 took is styleing from the XN85...

[Tigadee]

Look at what this guy did to his Katana:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVgb7rEtOlo&feature=related


87 Katana, has VFR Single sided swingarm. K8 GSXR1000 fully adjustable rear sets. TLR1000 modified rear brake set up. GSXR 1100 front end. Ducati 999 modified rear end. some wind deflecters off a Harley road king and many other little bits and pieces.

Just removed the original swingarm. Measured the width of the VFR one Ground out the Katana till the it fitted. Then went about making the 14ml swingarm bolts for either side of the bike. Used all the bushes that came with the VFR swingarm except 1 which i fabricated to get the wheel sitting central. Took a lot of time mucking around with spaces and the bushes getting the wheel to sit central so the chain would run true on the sprockets.

[Katman]

I only bought the 1100 Kat because I had a XN85 on order
but they weren't imported into NZ in the end..

Yes they were.

[FJRider]

You should both be beaten with a big stick for uttering such heresy :spanking:

Why not ... They're suzuki's ... They were beaten by everything else ... :killingme

[Sable]

Look at what this guy did to his Katana

That is fucking nasty.

[Peeteey]

I still think the old pop-up is one of the sexiest motorcycles to date.


All beautiful but have to agree with AVgas, the pop-up is unique and sexy!

Yup, as an owner of one, I have to agree. I remember seeing them as a kid and thinking they were the coolest things on earth! Had to get one when I could ...

Here's mine:
263827

263828


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqvDf_-r4yk

[sidecar bob]

I bought a '81 1100 Katana off Robbie Dean in '84. I still have it, now mainly as a hallway ornament.
I am also building an '81 1100 kat pre '82 racer with a 1260 engine & wire wheels for a top contender to ride.
I will post pics if my missus can teach me how too.

[Akzle]

I'm waiting for Laava to comment here. he done a mint MINT resto on an '85 gsxr. he could tell you all about parts, costs, wheretos and whyfores.
as far as parts goes -- not easy. import from yurp.

i'm presently ridin a. '89 gsx750... nothing wrong with it for a poorly maintained bike of the vintage. with love, they be solid.
fast? not expecially.. top end yae, but hardly the gear for doing standstills or wheelies.
for a "big bike" i actually find the riding position a bit off. (i'm 6ft +) sitting up it's a pretty central cruising position (>130k/h and you're a parachute), but when tucking in my elbows are behind my knees and my back is bent... less than comfortable. i'm probably going to flatten the seat a bit so i can get my ar5e further backwards.
i'll be going a tooth up when i have to change sprokets so i'll see what diffrence that makes too...

[Katman]

i'm presently ridin a. '89 gsx750...

Nice teapot.

[Dadpole]

Nice teapot.

:rofl: ..................

[dangerous]

I was admiring the older 1980s-1992 Suzuki Katanas and loving the look of them - those clean sharp 'jet-fighter' lines, incredibly low handlebars and aggressive stance... And so I just wondered if they were any good?
Reliable? Quick (I'd guess so)? Comfortable? Economical (probably not, aye)? Easy to fix in this day and age? Fun? all off the above really altho some would say back in its day they were rather uncomfortable but compaired to today they were a cruser.



I only bought the 1100 Kat because I had a XN85 on order
but they weren't imported into NZ in the end.. got sick of
waiting.. The XN85 was Suzuki's turbo 650.. simular styleing to
the katana's.. the later katana 750 took is styleing from the XN85...They sold here new, as did all the factory Jap Turbos (less the CX650)

Had both in recent times (750Kat and long time Loan XN) very similer bikes nice to race and tour on... ps XN sold last week for 6.5k on tardme and Kickaha has or had my Kat.

Now the opener poster was asking about the 400and 750... bit odd really as the 400 is somewhat different to the 750, its an inport for a start, the 750 should be related to the 1100 and the 400 to the 250.

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