Optimistic sellers

**husaberg** · 3rd February 2019, 10:25

Originally Posted by speedpro

wire wheeler, black pipe was the biz. South African spec?

More Colemans? suzuki spec.
They speced or made the changes on the required number of bike 25?to make sure it was legal enough and fast enough.
cams, carbs, heavy duty clutch, fuel tank was modified as new carbs were taller, the centre header section was still chrome, the outer headers & mufflers were black & had a 32 mil outlet, standard chrome pipes were 28 mil.
Wire wheels were so they could run the right size Tyre, not sure re rims but the hubs were just std suzuki fare of the time (even used by the GN250 Front)
Whole thread on them and other ones here.
https://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/s...post1131030389
Some might say Katanas are iconic i say they are just ugly they were then they still are now.

**HenryDorsetCase** · 3rd February 2019, 10:32

Originally Posted by jasonu

Yes cool bikes.
I had one. Fucking horrible to ride. Worst riding position ever!

Yes. I had the horn for them something chronic, rolled in to buy one, sat on it and went yeah nah. BMW RnineT racer edition is almost exactly the same.... I wont be buying one of them either.

**HenryDorsetCase** · 3rd February 2019, 10:34

Originally Posted by F5 Dave

"70th Anniversary Edition The most powerful Katana Original condition"
Sheesh! Has it been that long already?! I must have over slept

243kg!!!!!

blimey

**AllanB** · 3rd February 2019, 12:13

Originally Posted by HenryDorsetCase

Yes. I had the horn for them something chronic, rolled in to buy one, sat on it and went yeah nah. BMW RnineT racer edition is almost exactly the same.... I wont be buying one of them either.

Agree re the RnineT racer - I found it worse due to the weight of the engine cylinders handing out - sitting on it, stretched out like some dominatrix has tied me down for a good spanking, it was a noticeable heave to get the bike upright. Still bars can be changed.

BMW have the variations from the original on sale presently at a much better looking price.

**pritch** · 3rd February 2019, 12:15

Back in the day some of those "Coleman's" spec bikes must've gone north 'cause some Brit Katana riders had an upside down "Mine's legal" patch on their leathers. The upside down thing being that strange Pom reference to lands down under.

**AllanB** · 3rd February 2019, 19:01

Poms are strange.

**F5 Dave** · 3rd February 2019, 19:34

As a skinny 19yr old I had a 750 version of the first one. I rode Wellington to Auckland in complete comfort. Did heaps of miles. Even sort of ok in the gravel. I always had a suspicion that Japanese motorcycles were made specifically for me.

Well except the serious dirt bikes. . .

Had a girlfriend who seemed to have a thing for spanking. Turns out she was putting it on to be interesting. Her not me sickos.

**Voltaire** · 4th February 2019, 06:49

Originally Posted by AllanB

Agree re the RnineT racer - I found it worse due to the weight of the engine cylinders handing out - sitting on it, stretched out like some dominatrix has tied me down for a good spanking, it was a noticeable heave to get the bike upright. Still bars can be changed.

BMW have the variations from the original on sale presently at a much better looking price.

Wanting to change the bars is the bodies way of saying you are too old and need a Harley instead, or that awful Ducati cruiser thing.

I find the original 1974 R90/S has almost the perfect riding position and with over 67HP on tap just touching 200 kgs its most agreeable, with the added plus of $50 a year rego, not having to darken the doorway of dealers, with an unparalleled parts support network.
As for reliability with its freshly rebuild engine and gearbox it should do another 160 000kms quite easily.

**pritch** · 4th February 2019, 07:29

Originally Posted by Voltaire

Wanting to change the bars is the bodies way of saying you are too old and need a Harley instead, or that awful Ducati cruiser thing.

Well it is true that it is one of the first signs that you're over the hill, but it could still be a while until the Harley becomes the solution.

**F5 Dave** · 4th February 2019, 12:01

A solution looking for a problem.

Perhaps a divorce and attempt to reinvent yourself as a comedy badass.

**WALRUS** · 4th February 2019, 14:14

Are Paso's going up in value now? Not long ago there were a handful of these for sale over here for $3k or so

https://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/mot...6ade8749e07301

They're not exactly the prettiest Duc's out there and for fewer dollarydoos you can pick up a 916 engine'd Monster, a Hypermotard, a handful of SS's

**layton** · 4th February 2019, 17:01

feeling optimistic?

https://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/mot...3afe9f8fcd4c81

**husaberg** · 4th February 2019, 18:43

Originally Posted by layton

feeling optimistic?

https://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/mot...3afe9f8fcd4c81

Well looked after crack tested and in demand in the USA.
likely wrong size for most modern post classic but period legal widths, so its wide for its time at 2.5

Morris mag as used by AMA supberbike Yoshi GS1000 etc
https://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/s...uro-etc/page33
Yamaha wheels of the same period look similar as do some Yamahas and Triumph

the rears were ahead of their time in having a cush drive

**layton** · 4th February 2019, 19:06

Originally Posted by husaberg

Well looked after crack tested and in demand in the USA.
likely wrong size for most modern post classic but period legal widths, so its wide for its time at 2.5

Morris mag as used by AMA suberbike Yoshi GS1000 etc
https://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/s...uro-etc/page33
Yamaha wheels of the same period look similar as do some Yamahas and Triumph

the way i read it, it was crack tested 15 years ago, when it was painted? personally that seems like an awful lot of coin for a front rim with no rotors.

Forged OZ Front Wheel: 7.60 lbs
Magnesium front wheel 7.5 lbs

i understand its "period" but really? do people pay this sort of money ?