From Intermot 2018 for Katman and ?

[pritch]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZ9k1tFb_HI&frags=pl%2Cwn

[Katman]

At least it's silver.

That's about all I've got to say about it.

[pritch]

At least it's silver.

That's about all I've got to say about it.

Well this is 2018. Surely you weren't expecting some fancy anti-dive gimmick on the forks?

FWIW I quite like it.

[Katman]

Well this is 2018. Surely you weren't expecting some fancy anti-dive gimmick on the forks?

FWIW I quite like it.

It looks more like a whale than a sword.

[slofox]

Hmmmm...I've never taken a sword on a ride.

[Katman]

Hmmmm...I've never taken a sword on a ride.

I don't think any of us want to know about the whales you might've ridden.

[HenryDorsetCase]

I don't think any of us want to know about the whales you might've ridden.

they dont call it a "blow hole" for no reason.....


also that is hideous IMO. Looks like an ADV bike, which is the biggest insult I can give to anything.

[BuzzardNZ]

FWIW I quite like it.

Same, it looks awesome to me :2thumbsup

[sidecar bob]

It looks more like a whale than a sword.

I guess you would know.:facepalm:

[husaberg]

I guess you would know.:facepalm:
Its not exactly a secret he has swallowed both the p̶o̶r̶k̶ sword and the s̶p̶e̶r̶m̶ whale

[AllanB]

At the start of the video with just the tank/nose shots I was getting a bit excited, then the tail/seat started trouser movement.

Then the handlebars caused concern - what no clip-ons?

And the final full exposure shot.

No, sir, I don't like it.

[sidecar bob]

At the start of the video with just the tank/nose shots I was getting a bit excited, then the tail/seat started trouser movement.

Then the handlebars caused concern - what no clip-ons?

And the final full exposure shot.

No, sir, I don't like it.

Did you actually not like it, or are you just not quite sure what to make of it?
I bought a katana 1100 when they were three years old (still have it) & it attracted all sorts of positive & negative comments for years. People couldn't pigeonhole it.
The fact that people have an opinion & there's a thread about it puts it well ahead of many new bike released recently, including the Z900rs, which means the new one is certainly not a beige wall.

[Katman]

I guess you would know.:facepalm:

Dude, you're as bad as that other fucking retard who loves to follow me around.

[HenryDorsetCase]

Did you actually not like it, or are you just not quite sure what to make of it?
I bought a katana 1100 when they were three years old (still have it) & it attracted all sorts of positive & negative comments for years. People couldn't pigeonhole it.
The fact that people have an opinion & there's a thread about it puts it well ahead of many new bike released recently, including the Z900rs, which means the new one is certainly not a beige wall.

The issue to me is the changes in motorcycle architecture (driven by function) from the early 1980's (late 70's if you count Hans Muth's original concept for (I think it was) Moto Guzzi). The original Katana was long, low, and the view from the side is dominated by the horizontal lines and the huge aircooled engine which is very long as well because it doesnt have a stacked gearbox or inclined cylinders or airbox where the fuel tank should be.

The modern bike has an anonymous lump of an engine that has that stacked gearbox and has that inclined cylinder bank and air inlet on top. So what that does is concentrates the visual mass into a lump just behind the front wheel. Its like one of those ridiculous guys that is a bodybuilder: all shoulders and neck and tiny bandy legs. Staple onto that some "Katana" design cues, and the result is nowhere near as pretty or as integrated as the original. But that's why I dont like it.

I also really hate the seat/tail on the original Kat as well. Most of the custom ones do better but honestly, the passenger seat looks like a big blue loaf of bread stapled on out the back.

When they came out I was going to buy a Kat - I was riding a GSX750 at the time and was all keen.... until I sat on one and realised that my arms were too short and I was lying on the tank with my ballsack squoooshed up against the back of it, and my neck at an acute angle.. Horribly uncomfortable. Taller people didnt have the problem

IMO of course.

[sidecar bob]

Dude, you're as bad as that other fucking retard who loves to follow me around.

"Fuck off shitforbrains" :facepalm:

[Katman]

"Fuck off shitforbrains" :facepalm:

Yeah, that's the one.

[Paul in NZ]

I don't like it. Its very generic and not really much of a tribute to the original bike. When the Katana was current it was a world where you had a motorcycle or a car. The original Katana could be used as a sports bike but had enough room for a pillion and or luggage. This bike is an occasional toy ...

It will get 'modified' when it moves to production. It will become blander... It will be built to a price and become irrelevant and pointless...

[sidecar bob]

It might have been smarter to start with the GSX1400 as a base.
Big boned & huge old fashioned lumpy motor.

[HenryDorsetCase]

It might have been smarter to start with the GSX1400 as a base.
Big boned & huge old fashioned lumpy motor.

Now you're talking.

One of my favourite race bikes currently is this bad boy:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZOhEgv5Xqg

Suzuki GB Katana racebike. Hubba Hubba

[AllanB]

It might have been smarter to start with the GSX1400 as a base.
Big boned & huge old fashioned lumpy motor.


Along those lines. If you think of that air/oil cooled Honda 1100 'tribute' bike of a few years back - modern tech with a old school look.

The Z900 at least has a clean looking modern engine, so again quite achievable.

No reason why they could not have run up a decent handling tube frame for a tribute Katana. Who was that frame builder who used a large diameter single backbone frame in the 80's? Egil or something.

[husaberg]

It might have been smarter to start with the GSX1400 as a base.
Big boned & huge old fashioned lumpy motor.

Isn't the modern way to build a replica Katana to use no Katana parts other than a piece of the tank.
https://www.iomtt.com/~/media/Images/News/2018/08/Jay_Lawrence_and_Carl_Cox_Classic_Katana_Donington-817.jpg?mh=620&mw=620

[sidecar bob]

Isn't the modern way to build a replica Katana to use no Katana parts other than a piece of the tank.
https://www.iomtt.com/~/media/Images/News/2018/08/Jay_Lawrence_and_Carl_Cox_Classic_Katana_Donington-817.jpg?mh=620&mw=620

Ahh, my pleasant craft beer swilling hipster buddy.
There's a lot more katana parts in that bike than you are alleging. Believe me, I have touched virtually every one of them.
But to be fair, yes, it is fairly "bespoke"
Not sure where you got the "piece of tank" thing from. The tank is a completely hand made from scratch alloy one off.

[husaberg]

Ahh, my pleasant craft beer swilling hipster buddy.
There's a lot more katana parts in that bike than you are alleging. Believe me, I have touched virtually every one of them.
But to be fair, yes, it is fairly "bespoke"
Not sure where you got the "piece of tank" thing from. The tank is a completely hand made from scratch alloy one off.

In the blurb in CR that was the only part they mentioned, the rest were generic to the other suzi's
What else is there?
https://www.pressreader.com/uk/classic-racer/20171219/281539406295829

[MD]

For years I eagerly waited for the media releases from Intermot. Full of exciting new bikes, ground breaking techno or crazy, fab design stuff. This year, so far as I've been able to find on the webby, boring!!

So far. Triumph add a few HP to the 900 twin asthmatic motor. Suzuki try to breath life back into the Katana. IS THAT IT?

Well those Industry gems will have hoards of punters rushing to their bike shop - NOT. For decades rarely a fortnight would go by that I didn't find myself wandering through a bike shop. Nowadays, if I need a tyre or service I have to google the address because it's been so long. The up side is there is no temptation to spend any money on bikes.

[Katman]

https://www.google.co.nz/search?q=new+suzuki+katana&client=safari&channel=ipad_bm&prmd=inv&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwisiejxk-zdAhWIslQKHWvIAHcQ_AUIESgB&biw=1024&bih=672#imgrc=vzUEo5OKElI7TM:

Looks like shit.

[HenryDorsetCase]

Ahh, my pleasant craft beer swilling hipster buddy.
There's a lot more katana parts in that bike than you are alleging. Believe me, I have touched virtually every one of them.
But to be fair, yes, it is fairly "bespoke"
Not sure where you got the "piece of tank" thing from. The tank is a completely hand made from scratch alloy one off.

Thats the one. I fucking love that bike

[AllanB]

Appears to be a GS1000R with new clothing.

I hate to say this but picture it with knobbly tyres and rear saddle bags and it may be one of the better looking adventure bikes out there :2thumbsup

[tri boy]

https://www.google.co.nz/search?q=new+suzuki+katana&client=safari&channel=ipad_bm&prmd=inv&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwisiejxk-zdAhWIslQKHWvIAHcQ_AUIESgB&biw=1024&bih=672#imgrc=vzUEo5OKElI7TM:

Looks like shit.

Gotta agree there.
Just looks like a chubby fuckup that should never have left the drawing board.

[jellywrestler]

they're even uglier than the original kats, at least they didn't put the dumb fake suede seat on it, i they were impossible to clean once they had a finger mark in them

[AllanB]

If you can do this with the quite vanilla CB1100 Honda, Suzuki could have build an entirely different modern Katana for the faithful.

[sidecar bob]

they're even uglier than the original kats, at least they didn't put the dumb fake suede seat on it, i they were impossible to clean once they had a finger mark in them

They were no problem to clean, spray on aerosol carpet cleaner, scrub & hose off.
I was the only bloke with a clean katana seat for years.

[jellywrestler]

They were no problem to clean, spray on aerosol carpet cleaner, scrub & hose off.
I was the only bloke with a clean katana seat for years.

interesting, every one i saw had grease marks on them after a while..., shows ya how many blokes no good cleaning products eh?

[sidecar bob]

I considered starting a thread about this, but I'll chuck it in here & the smart people will find it.
For removing ancient grime of otherwise good paintwork, like fairing panels directly behind the front wheel etc, use a rung out damp rag, with plenty of Jif. It is truly the best grooming product I have discovered & any dried up product washes straight off when you clean the bike, just make sure that the rag is wet first.
For extremely difficult stains, paint, tar, glue, or any shit that won't otherwise move, damp the rag in turps & put Jif on said rag. If anything will move something without damage, that will.
Also, if in doubt, rub wd40 on any part of your motorcycle that needs attention apart from the brake discs. It's particularly good at reviving rough cast painted alloy wheels. The stuff is magic, even on paintwork & plastics, it's mainly Vaseline in a liquid form, I've become a huge fan of its results.

[husaberg]

I considered starting a thread about this, but I'll chuck it in here & the smart people will find it.
For removing ancient grime of otherwise good paintwork, like fairing panels directly behind the front wheel etc, use a rung out damp rag, with plenty of Jif. It is truly the best grooming product I have discovered & any dried up product washes straight off when you clean the bike, just make sure that the rag is wet first.
For extremely difficult stains, paint, tar, glue, or any shit that won't otherwise move, damp the rag in turps & put Jif on said rag. If anything will move something without damage, that will.
Also, if in doubt, rub wd40 on any part of your motorcycle that needs attention apart from the brake discs. It's particularly good at reviving rough cast painted alloy wheels. The stuff is magic, even on paintwork & plastics, it's mainly Vaseline in a liquid form, I've become a huge fan of its results.

Handy andy works great getting the grime off wheels and casing apint it on neat and wash it off with water.
Pledge works well on leather seats and plastics and smells nice if you use the lemony one.
I have heard of people degreasing egine parts in the dishwasher as well. But i have never tried it.
We used to use jiff slightly watered down on plastic tanks XR etc as it gets the dirt out of the cuts.

[jellywrestler]

, it's mainly Vaseline in a liquid form, I've become a huge fan of its results. get that tip from scrivy did ya?

[AllanB]

It should have looked like this concept drawing.

[pete376403]

Has there ever been a designer who cannot resist "improving" a previous work (especially if the original was by someone else)

[AllanB]

Has there ever been a designer who cannot resist "improving" a previous work (especially if the original was by someone else)

Boob implants. Like bikes they are not always a improvement!

[HenryDorsetCase]

Boob implants. Like bikes they are not always a improvement!

Well.....


Sometimes an imitation can be as good as or even better than the original. Think about almond milk, or fake boobs,” said local resident Carl Krookstrand. “The Dirty South is kind of like fake boobs squirting almond milk, which is pretty awesome if you ask me.

http://www.chattanoogabystander.com/2018/09/30/drive-by-truckers-to-open-for-drive-by-truckers-tribute-band/

[Voltaire]

The issue to me is the changes in motorcycle architecture (driven by function) from the early 1980's (late 70's if you count Hans Muth's original concept for (I think it was) Moto Guzzi). The original Katana was long, low, and the view from the side is dominated by the horizontal lines and the huge aircooled engine which is very long as well because it doesnt have a stacked gearbox or inclined cylinders or airbox where the fuel tank should be.

The modern bike has an anonymous lump of an engine that has that stacked gearbox and has that inclined cylinder bank and air inlet on top. So what that does is concentrates the visual mass into a lump just behind the front wheel. Its like one of those ridiculous guys that is a bodybuilder: all shoulders and neck and tiny bandy legs. Staple onto that some "Katana" design cues, and the result is nowhere near as pretty or as integrated as the original. But that's why I dont like it.

I also really hate the seat/tail on the original Kat as well. Most of the custom ones do better but honestly, the passenger seat looks like a big blue loaf of bread stapled on out the back.

When they came out I was going to buy a Kat - I was riding a GSX750 at the time and was all keen.... until I sat on one and realised that my arms were too short and I was lying on the tank with my ballsack squoooshed up against the back of it, and my neck at an acute angle.. Horribly uncomfortable. Taller people didnt have the problem

IMO of course.

I like Hans Muths 'other' design.
https://www.motorcyclistonline.com/sites/motorcyclistonline.com/files/styles/655_1x_/public/images/2015/03/mcy1214_root_r90s-028.jpg?itok=OVmo3ba9

[pritch]

Pledge works well on leather seats and plastics and smells nice if you use the lemony one.


You should probably stay away from paint shops after using that. Apparently it contains a lot of silicone.

I was a bit startled to see mention of Jif, does that not contain abrasives?

[sidecar bob]

You should probably stay away from paint shops after using that. Apparently it contains a lot of silicone.

I was a bit startled to see mention of Jif, does that not contain abrasives?

Yep, but if you use a wet rag, you can't harm a thing.
I've use it on a rupees electric buff to shine up dull body panels on cars.
Plenty of Jif & absolutely critical to use a wet rag or polishing wheel.
Cool thing is that the worst thing that happens is you get very clean hands.
It's win win.

[husaberg]

You should probably stay away from paint shops after using that. Apparently it contains a lot of silicone.

I was a bit startled to see mention of Jif, does that not contain abrasives?

Jiff is mild kind of like baking soda
use jiff slightly watered down and not on laquered surfaces.
the pledge is mainly plastic tanks or seats. you can use it on painted surfaces no worries as the prep will removed any si it has.

[sidecar bob]

Jay Lawrence on the Suzuki GB owned Katana, run by Carl Cox Motorsport. Classic TT I.O.M 2018.

[husaberg]

Jay Lawrence on the Suzuki GB owned Katana, run by Carl Cox Motorsport. Classic TT I.O.M 2018.
i want to see sparton 3 pics esp the harris one i have never heard of.

[Drew]

New Katana looks awesome. Sit on an old one, then tell me it's not an upright by today's standard.