katana returns??????? [Archive]

betti

8th October 2005, 09:47

if anybody is a fan of the old classic kats, suzuki reckons this is the new one!!
jury still out for me, nice engine but I would have to hack it up and stick the old bodywork on it
opinions?

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/nav?page=motorcyclenews.articles.articleCategory.a rticle&resourceId=3301752&articleCategory=NEWS_NEW-BIKES

Ixion

8th October 2005, 09:55

Six cylinder? Got 6 zorst pipes anyway.

Sniper

8th October 2005, 09:59

Ugly looking thing aint it?

gav

8th October 2005, 10:10

Why not called it the Stratosphere? Don't mess with the Katana name, if they want to reuse the name do it justice, release a modified K5 with replica Katana bodywork, that would do....

Eurodave

8th October 2005, 10:16

Coyote

8th October 2005, 10:26

Why do people like the Katana so much?

Bonez

8th October 2005, 10:27

As Ive already stated in another thread,There will always be only one Katana.... THE ORIGINAL!!!! :headbang:
Forget the 250 version....a mere shadow of the real thing & forget this new 6 cylinder thing, it doesnt deserve the name!!!There's a 400 version which actually looks sweet. Looks like it's air cooled but is actually water cooled. There's one at Phil Turnbel's.

Eurodave

8th October 2005, 10:34

Why do people like the Katana so much?

In the late 70's early 80's there were a handfull of bikes that really stood out from the crowd,The Katana, Kawasakis Z1-R & the Guzzi Lemans, all of which were styled so well & looked so right that they didnt need to be "customised" any further & I for one consider these bikes classic icons of their era

Bonez

8th October 2005, 10:38

Why do people like the Katana so much?It's like asking why do people like Sporsters, Monsters, CBRs.........................BECAUSE WE DO!! That's all. :drinkup:

betti

8th October 2005, 10:39

AMEN to that eurodave, but that six pot engine, would it fit in the old frame?? :niceone:

Coyote

8th October 2005, 10:41

In the late 70's early 80's there were a handfull of bikes that really stood out from the crowd,The Katana, Kawasakis Z1-R & the Guzzi Lemans, all of which were styled so well & looked so right that they didnt need to be "customised" any further & I for one consider these bikes classic icons of their era
Wonder if the confederate bikes will be the same for this era

Jackrat

8th October 2005, 10:48

There can be only one.
An that ain't it. :argh:

Eurodave

8th October 2005, 10:49

There can be only one.
An that ain't it. :argh:

AMEN BROTHER!!! :niceone:

Bonez

8th October 2005, 10:56

looks like thy've taken their design clues off the Weaselhound thingimy bobs.

onearmedbandit

8th October 2005, 10:58

'Opinions'??

Looks like shit. Does a great deal of injustice to the Katana name. Leave it alone.

Bonez

8th October 2005, 11:02

'Opinions'??

Looks like shit. Does a great deal of injustice to the Katana name. Leave it alone.Yanks spoiled it any way. All their gsx600/750/1100s with total surround faings are called Katanas over there :crybaby:

nudemetalz

8th October 2005, 11:02

You've only got to see the "ORIGINAL" hot Katana pics in my thread to see how cool these machines are.
I did initally like this Stratosphere thing but now think it's rather hideous.

There can only be one : - The GSX1100SXZ !!

R6_kid

8th October 2005, 11:03

are they on drugs again?

Eurodave

8th October 2005, 11:07

onearmedbandit

8th October 2005, 11:29

I like to forget about the plastic-fantastic "katana'.

Storm

8th October 2005, 11:41

S' fugly. Nuff said

madboy

8th October 2005, 13:25

Nice tan seat. Where are the cup holders?

Avignon

8th October 2005, 13:48

Does nothing for me. :slap: The designer needs to take more acid.

tl_tub

8th October 2005, 13:51

As Ive already stated in another thread,There will always be only one Katana.... THE ORIGINAL!!!! :headbang:
Forget the 250 version....a mere shadow of the real thing & forget this new 6 cylinder thing, it doesnt deserve the name!!!

Wash your mouth out! There is a place for every bike in this world of ours.

Back Fire

8th October 2005, 14:26

That reminds me of a Beemer I once saw the got very well aqainted with a brick wall.... Saying that... the Beemer did look miles better for it...

Old Kat is much better

Kickaha

8th October 2005, 14:36

As Ive already stated in another thread,There will always be only one Katana.... THE ORIGINAL!!!! :headbang:
Forget the 250 version....a mere shadow of the real thing & forget this new 6 cylinder thing, it doesnt deserve the name!!!

At least the 250 styling stayed true to the original unlike that vomit inducing pile of crap

Zed

8th October 2005, 15:05

...jury still out for me, nice engine but I would have to hack it up and stick the old bodywork on itSounds like the jury has given its verdict with you betti, lol!

Very stylish. At first glance it looks like something is missing, like, the top half of the bike? But on closer examination you find it's all there! :eek5:

I could get used to it quite easily, would have to ditch the 'orrible orange seat though!

[Edit:]Btw, now that I've read through this post, stuff all this rivalry nonsense, you're all as bad as the Ford & Holden/Holden & Ford fanatics at the moment!! :psst:

Coyote

8th October 2005, 15:20

Yanks spoiled it any way. All their gsx600/750/1100s with total surround faings are called Katanas over there :crybaby:
Katana was such a cool name. Why did they slab it onto ugly bikes?

Sniper

8th October 2005, 15:53

Why are GSX-F's called Katana's??????

thehollowmen

8th October 2005, 16:04

Why are GSX-F's called Katana's??????
Rebadged overseas

notme

8th October 2005, 16:13

There's a 400 version which actually looks sweet. Looks like it's air cooled but is actually water cooled. There's one at Phil Turnbel's.

:psst: There was an example of the 400 in my gargre for a while...definitley a classic!

Bonez

8th October 2005, 16:20

:psst: There was an example of the 400 in my gargre for a while...definitley a classic!Was surprised how big the seat is. Looked quite comfy for two up riding.

Bonez

8th October 2005, 16:23

Rebadged overseasOnly in Merica I think.

skidz

8th October 2005, 19:00

I like the six cylinder engine with 180 BHP.

inlinefour

8th October 2005, 20:02

Not sure about the new one though. :whistle:

gav

8th October 2005, 22:57

Damn near bought a Katana 1100 as my first road bike many years ago. Well, not quite my first road bike I had owned a GT380 as a 17 year old. I was 20 and had been racing MX and enduros for a couple of seasons on Hondas, had been racing an XR250, then a XR200RE, then a hot XR350RD, which eventually dropped a valve and hand grenaded. Was that pissed off with the whole dirt bike thing, though "thats it, time for road bike". The local Honda dealer I dealt with had two possible bikes he'd do a deal on, one was a CB750F that the shop had raced at the Castrol 6 hour on and the other was a GSX1100 katana. The only reason I bought the CB750 was it was raining and the rear tyre on the Kat looked a bit bald for a rookie road biker (yip, seriously, if it had been fine, probably would have bought the big Kat) Kept the CB for 12 months and traded it on a GSX1100EX, posted photo in some other thread. Always wonder how I would have got on with the Kat, if it had been fine....

ajturbo

8th October 2005, 23:16

sorry but it an't a kat!

Pixie

9th October 2005, 10:38

Wonder if the confederate bikes will be the same for this era
No
Because it is american
"American styling" and "german styling" are oxymorons.
One notable exception being the designer of the Katana,who was German but was working for a Japanese company.His design for the BMW RS was pedestrian.
The Katana was first bike in which the lines of the bike followed the angle of the cylinder rather than just being horizonal

Pixie

9th October 2005, 10:41

Katana was such a cool name. Why did they slab it onto ugly bikes?
A katana is wot you use to slash your guts out

Coyote

9th October 2005, 10:59

No
Because it is american
"American styling" and "german styling" are oxymorons.
One notable exception being the designer of the Katana,who was German but was working for a Japanese company.His design for the BMW RS was pedestrian.
The Katana was first bike in which the lines of the bike followed the angle of the cylinder rather than just being horizonal
That's a bit pig headed. What about Late 60's/early 70's american muscle cars?

Coyote

9th October 2005, 11:00

A katana is wot you use to slash your guts out
Duh, everyone knows that :p

Pixie

9th October 2005, 13:29

That's a bit pig headed. What about Late 60's/early 70's american muscle cars?
:puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke:

Bonez

9th October 2005, 13:48

That's a bit pig headed. What about Late 60's/early 70's american muscle cars?
In the 60s and 70s they where called family sedans....................

Coyote

9th October 2005, 14:57

:puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke:
Your taste is up your arse

gav

18th October 2005, 06:18

This is what Suzuki should be releasing!!!
GSX1400S Katana

Eurodave

18th October 2005, 07:32

Now we're talking!!! I'd even buy one [after I win Lotto]

Kickaha

18th October 2005, 17:37

Very nice, although that exhaust needs work, hope they got the instruments in the same style as the original as well

froggyfrenchman

18th October 2005, 17:44

not for me. The origonal isnt too bad though, for and extra heavy underpowered crap handling bike that is...

Kickaha

18th October 2005, 18:02

The origonal isnt too bad though, for and extra heavy underpowered crap handling bike that is...

Maybe compared to todays bikes, but it certainly wasn't when it was new

vince25

18th November 2005, 20:47

gots me a new 600 version. no where near as crazy looking as that, but i tell ya, she rides like a dream

Katman

19th November 2005, 00:28

Katana??? Load of fuckin shit!!!

Katman

19th November 2005, 00:33

Like they called the 50cc scooter a katana - load of fuckin shit. Or did I say that already?

T.W.R

19th November 2005, 09:40

Thats not a Katana's arse! an insult to the original, Hans Muth would be severly pissed at that thing being called a Katana ( those you who don't know Hans Muth was the man contracted by Suzuki to design the original Katana)
that thing may out do the original in performance & handling but that would be it!

the original Kats are appreciating in value because their a modern classic, that thing will never reach that status

vince25

19th November 2005, 09:59

are you talking about my bike TWR?

T.W.R

19th November 2005, 10:23

nah sorry vince, your bike & the F model gsx suzuki were only named katana as a marketing ploy for the US the genuine Kats finished with the GSX750 SE katana with the pop-up headlight.

the original Kats were a styling exercise that worked, thats what sets them apart. the 1100s & 750 kats are classics, genuine wire wheel models are rare classics, & the 1000szx is the rarest of them all.

Katman

19th November 2005, 14:12

Actually the NZ spec 1100sxz is the rarest. Only 20 ever built by Suzuki.

Fart

19th November 2005, 14:31

I remember the Katana. A very nice bike. Love the shape, very retro.

Katman

19th November 2005, 15:37

Retro???? Surely you jest! When they came out there had never been anything that looked close to them (still isn't!). I still remember a description from a bike magazine back in 1981 - "looks like a demented insect humping itself".

nudemetalz

19th November 2005, 16:52

I still reckon the description I heard when Dad brought his brand-new SXZ (Yup, NZ-one) to Pukekohe and someone said "Katana ? ....more like Sultana Banana..."

BTW I love those "REAL" Katanas to bits !!!