The New Katana

[Northpoint]

My old man is looking at buying a new bike and quite likes the new 750 Katana (I think the price helps). The problem is he still has a little while to go before he gets his full licence so he can't take one for a test ride. Apparantly they are selling really fast so he doesn't no whether to buy one without riding it. Anyone have any thoughts on what they are like??

[orangeback]

there is no such thing as a bad bike any more, just some are better than others , dont get forced in to any thing b4 your ready , they are just spinning shit buy telling you they will sell out , they will find you one when ever your ready to buy :banana::cool:

[paturoa]

... the new 750 Katana (I think the price helps).


meh?
10 chr

[James Deuce]

What the heck? "New" 750 Katana?

[Northpoint]

What the heck? "New" 750 Katana?

By new I mean latest model.

[James Deuce]

Hasn't been a Katana in NZ for a couple of decades. The Teapot that they called a Katana in the US is quite a good bike, but calling a teapot a Katana is a definite no no.

You mean the GSX750F which was discontinued in 2006. I think the last new model in NZ was 2004. The GSX600F was on sale until early this year.

The following website will help tremendously.

http://www.katanatom.co.uk/pagemaker.php?page=teapot

[bane]

okay, Im assuming this is about summerfest, where Suzuki NZ have got the final bunch of K6 GSX750Fs ("Katana 750" in USA), for $9995.

The model has been replaced by the new GSX650F
http://www.suzukicycles.com/Products/GSX650FK8/Default.aspx


Basically a biggish sports tourer with a retuned late 80's GSXR750 air cooled motor.

93hp, ~210kg. Top speed ~225kph, ~18km/L economy

Pro's:
Comfy upright riding position, fast enough for many (will cruise at 160kph all day), 2 up not an issue, mechanically simple and robust, great mirrors and lights. fuel gauge. "Stable" handler.
Versatile tourer, commuter, weekend blast.

Cons:
old tech suspension, brakes. Slow compared to a modern 600, (let alone anything larger). Air cooled 4 is a bit vibey. Handling slow and heavy compared to modern sportsbike.


Depends what your looking for, but the fact it can do a bit of everything without major compromise means owners are usually happy (until they get suckered in to buying a supersports, and get crippled by the riding position)

[limbimtimwim]

http://www.katanatom.co.uk/pagemaker.php?page=teapot
[/LEFT]I love when you mouse over the teapots, it changes the picture to an erm.. Teapot.

I quite like RWH's GSX750 however, it sounds really good and the colour (Light blue) manages to avoid all the other quite horrible colours many bikes were in circa 1993.

[James Deuce]

I really regretted selling my GSX600F, even though it was in reality a yellow teapot. It did go downhill rather well.

[Bren]

The following website will help tremendously.

http://www.katanatom.co.uk/pagemaker.php?page=teapot


Nice site....good find....and the "soiled teapot" at the end was gross....
...reminds me what my toilet looks like after a spicy indian curry:sick:

[Northpoint]

Sweet as. Cheers for all the info.

[SVboy]

Hahahahaha that teapot site is funny:niceone:

[HungusMaximist]

Well, I have a 91 750 Kat that I am looking to sell. If you're looking for something with character and good looks (as new ones look like a bubble compared to the older models before the face lift) that my one (or older ones) are the way to go. It comes with a full GIVI pannier set, top box and side panniers so it's perfect for the summer touring.

The engine is based on a GSX-R but toned down and it's rather bullet proof and if you keep it maintaned the 100,000 km mark shouldn't be a problem. Comfortable pillion seats, quite a upright riding position and more than fast enough for old dads.

The cons for me is definitely the weight hence why I am upgrading.

Before deciding to purchase a brand spanking new Kat, I would recommend trying out some older models to do a comparision.

[MidnightMike]

I love when you mouse over the teapots, it changes the picture to an erm.. Teapot.

Or if you run the mouse over the scooter you get a great picture of someones big shit that they just took. :sick:

[Busy]

I have the '06 Katana (600) which is the same as the 750 in every way except the engine size, the 600 is the 750 mtr destroked, 600 = 80hp, 750 = 98 hp

The bike itself is awesome, handles very well, corners great, a very easy bike to ride. I've had mine about 10 months and am just about to watch the miles click over to 10,000 (is on about 9974).

I brought this one because of the price, now they are selling the 750 for the same price ... I should of waited, oh well, I'm still happy with what I got

If there is anything you want to know, weight, fuel, handling ... just ask

[xwhatsit]

Well, I have a 91 750 Kat

No, you've got a Teapot :niceone:

Which is what the original poster was looking for, I suppose...

[crazybigal]

i dont know about that!!
just ask the poor barstards who got new triumph scramblers with rusty wheels and out of true hubs and discs.!!


there is no such thing as a bad bike any more, just some are better than others , dont get forced in to any thing b4 your ready , they are just spinning shit buy telling you they will sell out , they will find you one when ever your ready to buy :banana::cool:

[xwhatsit]

No such thing as a bad Jap bike.

Unless you buy a DR250 which leaks oil from the valve cover almost from new, right, Merv?

Maybe you should buy a Honda ;)

[Bonez]

i dont know about that!!
just ask the poor barstards who got new triumph scramblers with rusty wheels and out of true hubs and discs.!!My goodness already. The 30 yo ones on my CB550f seem ok ;).

[rwh]

I quite like RWH's GSX750 however, it sounds really good and the colour (Light blue) manages to avoid all the other quite horrible colours many bikes were in circa 1993.

I quite like it too :) I have to admit the colour was one of the things that stood out about this teapot when I saw it on Trademe. Remember though that my exhaust isn't standard teapot, so the sound may be a little different.

The pic in my avatar is off the Clymer manual cover, and shows the American Katana labeling if you look closely enough.

Richard

[90s]

Basically a biggish sports tourer with a retuned late 80's GSXR750 air cooled motor.

The GSX600/750Fs are actually air/oil cooled.

In the US they were launched in '88 as Katanas, and were known as that in the UK and other territories as well. The 'real' Katana goes back little further and has no more 'right' to use the name - although the 50cc scooter Suzuki also calls the Katana is a little rich.
(I mean, there's got to be a limit somewhere ... )

The GSX engine is based on the original GSX-R750, and has proved ubustable and reliable. My 6 has got just 43ks on the clock and runs like a dream. Oh, 100,000 has gone around too of course.

The new GSX-650F is an all-new bike, and as I understand it, based on Bandit bits.

The only people that tend to slag off the 'teapots' have never riden them. In a recent thread Morcs, who called them slow, claimed his racing RVF400 was much faster. In fact over the 1/4 mile or to 100kph the GSX-600F is faster; the 750 way more so :2guns:. Morcs replied that in reality pushing it the RVF would be faster, and maybe so. But this mistakes the purpose of the bike. It can tour, it can commute, it can run suprisingly fast. Maybe around a track a race-rep would cane it. Maybe not. People that have seen these bikes down at the Taupo track with a good rider are always suprised that they keep up with the Gixxers when pushed (although the brakes are not awe-inspiring).

Get a teapot. Call it a Katana.

[limbimtimwim]

The only people that tend to slag off the 'teapots' have never riden them. In a recent thread Morcs, who called them slow, claimed his racing RVF400 was much faster. In fact over the 1/4 mile or to 100kph the GSX-600F is faster; the 750 way more so :2guns:. Morcs replied that in reality pushing it the RVF would be faster, and maybe so. But this mistakes the purpose of the bike. It can tour, it can commute, it can run suprisingly fast. Maybe around a track a race-rep would cane it. Maybe not. People that have seen these bikes down at the Taupo track with a good rider are always suprised that they keep up with the Gixxers when pushed (although the brakes are not awe-inspiring).Funnily enough, I couldn't get past a GSX750 at Taupo on Saturday on my RVF. Maybe if I'd have another lap, I could have got him. ;)

[banditrider]

Traded my '89 750F with something like 68,000k's on it. Only comment from bike shop when trading it was that the shock was stuffed - motor was sweet as a nut. Mine had panniers on it which made it a good little tourer.

My mate had a later model one which was a bit nicer in the looks department and went really well until it got written off. He did the Southern Cross on it and it just ate that up.

Good cheap sports-tourer.

[MotoGirl]

Hasn't been a Katana in NZ for a couple of decades. The Teapot that they called a Katana in the US is quite a good bike, but calling a teapot a Katana is a definite no no.

We've got a friend with a late model Katana. I think it's an '06 model or thereabouts...

[James Deuce]

We've got a friend with a late model Katana. I think it's an '06 model or thereabouts...

Canadian Market GSXF leftovers. Make sure the headlight dips the right way, because a new unit is $1800.

[gsxzone]

I've got a '99 'Katana' aka GSX750F. I've had it for a bit over a year now. It's been a great bike to get back into motorcycling on. I don't find the weight too big an issue although I only ride on the weekends thesedays - no commuting for me. It actually helps to keep the bike a lot more stable at highway (and greater) speeds. It can keep up with modern 600s on the roads if its ridden by a good rider. It does need to be pushed pretty hard to do this though. The bike has been totally reliable. It starts and runs well whenever I need it. Even if its been sitting for a couple of weeks. The suspension is fully adjustable but cheep. As it is a 'new' bike your looking at it should be ok but it doesn't last as long as the more expensive modles. I have take my girlfriend on a few rides and it all holds up pretty well. She doesn't upset the bike much when she wiggles around either. If you want some great info on these bikes and interested in any sort of upgrades they are capable of handling check this site out www.katriders.com They have all the technical data you need for servicing it properly too.

[Katman]

My old man is looking at buying a new bike and quite likes the new 750 Katana

Ohh the humanity!:msn-wink:

[HungusMaximist]

No, you've got a Teapot :niceone:

Which is what the original poster was looking for, I suppose...

Hahaha thanks.........

Well not for very much longer... I am in the market for a new bike......

Would you like to buy mine?

It's stands much better than your natalie during blustery days and especially those friggin cross winds.

It's also has a full GIVI luggage system, micro indicators, +50 head light, new air filter, aftermarket dash board LCD clock, recently changed the engine oil, mirror extensions, spare parts, and it's currently getting serviced for cam chain, suspension.. etc...

WHOA what a package! ! ! :apint:

[xwhatsit]

Ewen's bike is a great piece of kit. How much better is it after you did the air filter?

Too many cylinders for me though ^_^

[HungusMaximist]

^ Well I wouldn't know because as soon as I put the new one on and pulled the old dirty fucker out it started running richer than rich. The last time I synched the carbs was with my mate and that was on a really dirty air filter and an air choked engine. Imagine now what happens when I put the 'hi flow' filter in... eek....

I don't have the gauge, otherwise I would've done it myself. But now it's all the local workshop getting sorted out.

When I get rich (one day), I am gonna deck my place out with a proper workshop so I don't have to wait for other people to sort my bike out....

And yea, you're right about the cylinders and the carbs.. it's way too much trouble...

I am looking in getting a fuel injected bike but the ones I want are pretty frikking pricey dicey...

Oh yea you know much about the Yamaha TRX850? I am real keen on getting one!