Katana (old) Prototype

[Dadpole]

the old piece of shit racing class

Gets my vote as a new class anyway.

[dangerous]

Technically, you're totally correct. In the spirit of motorcycling, D is also right onto it.

I'm picking that the 82 data was picked because there's a particular beast that was released in 83 that they want to exclude...

Ahh just Kick being Rog, I understand his point and it needs to be adhered to 82 technology is where post classic stops.

I'd say 82 was chosen as it was the year before powervalves, 4 valve heads and water cooling became common practice, just as pre 72 was with the Japs getting a strong hold in motorcycles.

[nudemetalz]

Oops, I hope I didn't stir up a hornet's nest with stating the Kat as being an '83 model...

[dangerous]

Yeah ya bloody trouble maker, now look whats happened. Na man, apparently theres a legality thing involved just saw the tail end of a MSN message, maybe Kick will clarify, something I'm not up to speed on.

[nudemetalz]

Well my thoughts are, what performance advantages are there over a stock 1981, 82 & 83 1100 Katana anyway ?
If you're racing you would play around with rim sizes as far as the rule book allows anyway.

Maybe the 120hp of the w/w model over the 111hp std model would be different but then again a good 4:1 and some rejetting would probably get you those 9hps....

Hmmm,...okay I'll stay out of this.....

[orangeback]

back ot o/e thead A
As everything began
Masao Tani gambled highly and risked his job and neck. The SUZUKI marketing boss for Europe was tired to be responded again and again about the boring SUZUKI design. European-wide the importers required a more obliging style for the otherwise protruding SUZUKI technique.
The managing director of the German SUZUKI commerce company, Otto de Crignis, finally took the initiative into his personal hand and persuaded Masao Tani to unusual acts:
A very sporty, futuristic design had to change complete the, so far dull, SUZUKI image. The participants, Hans A. Muth, Hans Georg Kasten and Jan Olof Fellström, stood also ready for it, and so the project GSX 1100 S KATANA could be started in April 1980. Already after 3 months the TARGET-troop had finished the prototype for presentation.



Stressed and nervously Masao Tani sat in the presentation-room and stared to his president Osamu Suzuki, while the model was revealed. With no expression on his face, examined the president the German proposal, breathless silence prevailed in the room. Then the SUZUKI-chief started applauding.
"It pleases me, it reminds me of the CONCORDE!" he expressed and all present ones began to donate applause also. Even SUZUKI stylists took part in the ovations although European design had seemed always too drastic to them.
Masao Tani had won. For the first time in motorcycle history, now excellent Japanese technique is to be brought with progressive German view, by form and functionality in connection.
Masao Tani, descendant of an old Samurai family (this knight clan were abolished in Japan 1950), will not have to repent a marketing strategy, which is not inferior to its ancestor in courage.
Naming
KATANA the term of the traditional Samurai sword.
It seems already a little strangely: Since the 2-stroke KAWASAKI "Samurai" there were no more Japanese motorcycle, which have been called by an original Japanese name. In deed, a German had to become this kind of idea.
Hans A. Muth surrounded the naming with an aura of theatrics:
"...Japanese Samurai (knights) carried a mouth protection, because the fine-polished steel would already steam up by the breath of the warrior. It succeeded to the best one of these elite troops, to three-divide with the Katana sword, a leaf falling from the tree, with three unbelievably fast body turns ...."
(quotation from SUZUKI company magazine SUZI-Rider).
Also if the actual purpose of this razor-sharp sword was not of a very friendly nature, it is the symbolism of the association of precision, speed and effectiveness, which inspired this motorcycle.


Design and technique
Hans George Kasten were assigned with the technical implementation : "The most important facts for us, were functionality and ergonometry to fit the rider into the machine. He must feel connected with it, sit as he were in it. Therefore we provided for an extremely close knee conclusion at the tank... "

The double-seat, planned by Jan Olof Fellström, is likewise unusual. Visually splitted, although as a double-seat designed, it looks like a solo seat.
The wild-leather referred seat had a further special feature: The front section could be opened upward.

Complex aerodynamic tests have been absolved at Turin/Italy. Where is the manufacture of PINIFARINA, an italian chassis stylist.
The frame-fixed spoiler fairing, an idea which Muth had already tested at the MV AGUSTA, should the aerodynamics improve and the lift-off forces lower on approximately twelve kilopond at the front wheel.
The driving qualities are substantially better thereby than during a steering wheel-fixed cockpit fairing.

For the debut in Germany the 1100th preserved however still another small aerodynamic "deflector", as Muth calls it.
The tiny instrument board with his unusual scale page and pointers, moving in opposite directions, moves deeper and is covered by the cowl. The small front surface enables an air resistance (air resistance factor c/w multiplicated front-area) of 0.488 square meter, a good value for an in principle uncovered motorcycle (to the comparison: the uncovered BMW R 100 S has an air resistance of 0.495 square meter)
Functionality may not lead to unaesthetic solutions, according to the opinion of Muth. An example of it is the old SUZUKI choke at the steering console, which reminds too much of a car. "The rider wants to access down to the engine." Result of this consideration is switch on the left side, integrated in the connection between tank and seat.
Also new are the electronics switches on the right side of the central tract, which can be used for additional devices. Thus a function was granted to the side covers. Muth calls it "service panel".
Engine
With the GSX 1100 KATANA succeeded SUZUKI such a good development, like it in these performance sets still nobody else established.



Already essentially of the origin GSX, the unchanged taken over four-cylinder engine with four-valve cylinder head - TSCC combustion chamber (Twin Swirl Combustion Chamber), there is nothing comparable in the "Big Bike Class". Particularly since this, from the GS 1000 of the same manufacture developed powerful engine system, for the KATANA service was still continued to improve. Around still better performance yield and running culture reworked.
The competitors HONDA CB 1100 R and KAWASAKI GPZ 1100, could learn at least in one point of the KATANA. In acceleration of speed and passage values the SUZUKI engine emerged as the largest one. Only eight seconds elapsed, until the KATANA reach the 160-kph-limit, and in the passage from 60 to 120 kph, in the fifth gear, its submitted the optimum within 6.9 seconds.

Result
It would be possible to enumerate page by page the already published advantages, peculiarities and perceptions of this unusual motorcycle classical.
Fact is that the KATANA did also not lose after over 20 years anything of their fascination. Even the engine technique is still up-to-date. SUZUKI's powerful engine systems of the subsequent models such as GSX EF/ES GSX-R and Bandit structure on this technique.
Naturally a due portion of fatalism belongs to the owner of such a "sword", with its own head, to force it through the curves. It could be more easily and more comfortably with the modern technique.
Maybe one reason for it: Who rides KATANA identify himself with his bike. It is also a special kind of life attitude, far from the regulation, not daily, interesting and sometimes also a hard proof, but that has to be accepted.
Some KATANA riders have already successfully tried the symbiosis - KATANA technique and modern technique. Meanwhile there are magnificent STREETFIGHTERS to admire at many places, which are almost not inferior to the new models on the market. On the contrary, they still look very extraordinary. Because a KATANA always remains unique - exactly like their owners. Webmaster Katana-Berlin

[orangeback]

mint one on trade me
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...px?id=72910390

[nudemetalz]

Very interesting, Orangeback.

[Dadpole]

Thanks for that orangeback. Interesting (though strange) article. They were dead right about the "boring SUZUKI design" of the time. Very UJM, and Suzuki were a usually conservative company in the design stakes - but they had the occasional brainstorm such as the RE5.

although some may count my GT750 as a superbike too.

Still dangling a leg in the water to see if a Great White (Ixion) swims by.

[Ixion]

Nah, the Kettle never claimed to be a Superbike. It was the last in the series of Suzuki tourers, the grandest Grand Tourer of all. Not a Ferrari, more a Bentley Continental.

Nothing quite like it in its day, nothing like it since, and never will be.

[Clivoris]

They should have called it the old piece of shit racing class.

Hell, I wouldn't even need a bike to be eligable.

[imdying]

Hell, I wouldn't even need a bike to be eligable.

bahahahahahahahahahah

[orangeback]

bahahahahahahahahahah

with out these old pices ove shit from the past we would not have the modern shiters we all ride to day, they where a step in the wright direction being the first bike with clipons and raced by all the old greats , in there off seasion here in NZ buy people like Crosby & Freath , at Wanguni

[imdying]

with out these old pices ove shit from the past we would not have the modern shiters we all ride to day, they where a step in the wright direction being the first bike with clipons and raced by all the old greats , in there off seasion here in NZ buy people like Crosby & Freath , at Wanguni

Ahhh, don't read my words with contempt, there's quite a few old pieces of shite I have much affection for Doesn't make them any less a piece of shite though

[Blondini]

my partner had an 84?pop up model was white,but after he died i passed it on to one of his best mates,i didnt want it sitting wasting it then got painted bright orange and entered in the post classics at manfeild year or so ago.nice to see it back in action ,but sorry it not about now