New commuter bike

**James Deuce** · 28th May 2007, 23:15

Kept to budget and managed to combine two secret passions of mine: Suzuki Katanas and 400cc 4 cylinder engines. I was really tempted to buy Mrs Nudemetalz' RF400, but the stars weren't aligned correctly.

It's done 14000kms and it looks genuine. It isn't full of munt, the crevices aren't full of dust and old grease, bits aren't scratched and the only things I could find wrong with it were leaking fork seal (already discussed a fix with my maintenance mentor), a half worn rear tyre and the tank needs a repaint (crazefox - maaaaaaaate!). It was quite startling to start up a bike that old and NOT hear any cam chain rattles, have it wheeze a bit, or have to turn over more than a couple of times.

The VIR checked out as all good too.

I'm stoked! I've been sitting on my hands about this bike, desperately trying not to let on about its existence.

True, it isn't a small capacity, shaft driven twin, but at least I won't have to keep running out of the building and shooing people away from the Zed. There was a dude sitting on it today and it was everything I could do to smile and politely ask him to get off. If someone knocks the Katana over I'll be less gutted than if someone knocked the Zed over.

I'll keep the kays on the Zed down to fun and touring miles, and the Katana can deal with the commute and short haul stuff.

I'm hoping to get out on her this weekend.

Woohoo!

**Chisanga** · 28th May 2007, 23:23

To my uneducated eye it looks like a stealth fighter

Enjoy.

**Shadows** · 28th May 2007, 23:37

I like the look of that, very tidy.

**xwhatsit** · 29th May 2007, 02:25

Eh, nice purchase. Still a stunning looking bike, amazing you could find one in such good nick here in NZ. All you grown-up bikers need to purchase more small capacity bikes, they're loads of fun. Of course it's got far too many cylinders but you'll learn someday.

Extraordinary.

**Devil** · 29th May 2007, 07:58

Brings new meaning to the word 'ugly'. But if it goes from A to B, sometimes via C and D then thats all good.

**Pwalo** · 29th May 2007, 08:00

Well at least it's a Suzuki. The 400 Katanas have gotten some good write ups in the Pommie mags, and they sure look pretty in the stealth charcoal.

**James Deuce** · 29th May 2007, 08:03

Originally Posted by Devil

Brings new meaning to the word 'ugly'. But if it goes from A to B, sometimes via C and D then thats all good.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, O bloke whose TT600 fairing has fallen off.

**Kickaha** · 29th May 2007, 08:19

Originally Posted by Devil

Brings new meaning to the word 'ugly'. But if it goes from A to B, sometimes via C and D then thats all good.

Wash your mouthout with soap, the Katana was "The bike" from the eighties

you just need this hand beaten alloy fuel tank from Yoshimura to set it off
(I think they're about $3K US)

Nice choice Jim