A huge honour!

[Pussy]

Having been around road bikes for a few years, I have always had a soft spot for the GSX-1100S Katana. The only one I had ridden (till today) was in 1982.... back then it was just the dog's bollocks.
As some of you will know, 20 E-27 (NZ spec) 1100 Katanas were built... wire wheels, slide carbs, different cams etc to get around homologation rulings, so the bikes could be raced in NZ. They were THE Katana.
Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think that I would get a chance to ride one. They were special enough back then, and are like rocking horse shit nowadays.
I GOT TO RIDE ONE FOR ABOUT 90km THIS MORNING!!!
It was bloody AWESOME!!
Power delivery from the big donk is really quite progressive, and the flat slide carbs fuel very nicely. Despite the fact that by modern standards the bike is quite heavy and has a long wheelbase, it steered very nicely. Felt quite stable as well. The technology for suspension finesse has come a long way since 1982.... but bearing in mind this bike is still stock in that department... it wasn't TOO bad, a whole lot better than it's contempories.
I still can't believe that I have finally got to have a ride on a genuine E-27 wire wheeled Katana. I was bloody near pinching myself as I was riding along!

In all sincerity.... THANK YOU VERY MUCH, Katman!
If you feel like changing your will... I would be a grateful recipient!!

And you looked pretty much at home on the sem fiddy!

[Katman]

It's nice to know that dinosaurs can still move the soul.

[ital916]

It's nice to know that dinosaurs can still move the soul.

You lucky bastard Pussy...I'm only 23 but love the old school katanas. Would love it if they came out with a retro katana again.

Can you post pics of your bike katman....would love to have a look see.

[Pussy]

You lucky bastard Pussy....

That I am, mate!
Neville Hiscock and Robert Holden have ridden the E-27 that I rode this morning.
I am VERY humbled by Katman's generosity!

[pritch]

Some of those NZ spec kats must've made their way to the UK. I remember reading about pom riders who had a "Mine's legal" patch upside down on their leathers in reference to the NZ spec bikes.

[Kickaha]

You lucky bastard Pussy...I'm only 23 but love the old school katanas. Would love it if they came out with a retro katana again.

They actually built them in the original shape(non wire wheel) into the nineties

They're one of the bikes on my wish list

[Katman]

They actually built them in the original shape(non wire wheel) into the nineties

They're one of the bikes on my wish list

The 'final edition' Katana was made in 2000 as a Japanese domestic market model.

[Pussy]

The Katana and sem fiddy.....

[BMWST?]

presumaably you talking a black pipe model?I had two mates with them.One was a nice bike,very progressive power smooth and relatively nice.One was awful,it was slow and vibrated....both were the noraml ones...A few years later i test rode a Z1000j at Norjos in CHCH the thing was an absolute rocket,and nice as well.Strangley i coudnt buy that one and had to take a new one of the floor,it wasnt a patch on the one i test rode.

[Katman]

presumaably you talking a black pipe model?

The 'Black Piper' was the spoke wheel version of the standard GSX1100.

The name came from the fact that they had a black exhaust system except for the middle two header pipes which were chrome silver.

[Crasherfromwayback]

It's nice to know that dinosaurs can still move the soul.

Only bike I ever got dusted off by, from a set of traffic lights when I owned my Z1RTC, was a turboed wire wheel Katana. Still got the shits over it.

[Pussy]

In my driveway!

[MSTRS:Me]

Pffft!! It's just an old bike. Nothing to see here...move along.
Bastard.

[jasonu]

I used to have one. 1982 Kat 1100. Bloody horrible thing. Crap suspension, not worn out, just the stock crap, and a REALLY cramped riding position. I am 5'8" and (was) 70kg. Be careful what you wish for...

[Katman]

Be careful what you wish for...

Oh no's.