Upgraded Suzuki Katana 1100cc lucky find

[IronPawz]

You took the words right out of my mouth.

If you decide to go back to an original seat though, I have a spare base and foam that you're welcome to.

That Sir is a great offer and I'd be really keen. I think over time the seat will just continue to not be Katana and the seat just really is a part of the bike like the tank (I cannot imagine any other tank doing the job). Functionally it is great and will do for certification. It would be good on the track also.

I've booked it in for Taupo 30th track day (nanna in Group 4) so I better at least primer the tank before then. Thanks that is a really generous offer given I know you like the Kat straight. I'd never cut up an original which is why I like getting them pre-done so I can mess with them.

[IronPawz]

Fwiw colour wise i like the look of this....

Huh, same motor GSX1135 and very similar swingarm with internal shock. Not crazy on the black and red down the middle (especially the lines on the tank seem wrong). The way people leave the side plastics just hanging in space under the seat over time looks wrong to me also. I might just be tempted to make that area more as it was. There is the cool of empty space, light weight concept but it just kind of ends.

The original also sort of ends there it just have black things in that space. Also the modernised ones get a nice visual space between seat and tire I guess due to smaller rims? Or do they raise the seat (I'm not tall). Mmmm my original 7/11 comes back next week I'll have to spend time with them side by side. I'm not really adverse to a primarily traditional colour scheme (slightly darker great does look good mind could consider some options there).

Pays to keep in mind for me I want to put some high KM's a year on the old girl so function is really important. Gun metal grey, sounds so good.

[Katman]

Is the 7/11 tidy enough to take back to original looking? - now that you've got the new one.

That's a project thread I'd follow.

[IronPawz]

I like those bikes and very nearly owned one back in the day. Until I test rode it and realised that I was lying flat on the tank with my tiny stubby little arms straight out locked at the elbows. I bought my GPz750 soon after and was very happy with it.

I really dislike the original seat - it is stupidly big and way too bulky visually (IMO) If they just commited to a single seat (which is cool) and shortened it up it would be way better. Personally I dont like that modern tail on it but its your bike and your call.

My recent favourite modded one is the MACCO one.


http://www.bikeexif.com/suzuki-katana-custom

Something like a KZ650 or Z900 seat works with those lines IMO.

Or there is this which is freakin' awesome:

http://silodrome.com/suzuki-katana/

Thats a tail that works.

That first one really turns a Katana into a GS Suzuki (and I just never loved them like the GSX or the Kat) they look cool as a cafe racer but the idea of a cafe racer Katana is to me just wrong. Appreciate the comments mind you have to keep an open mind. I would see no point in turning the iconic Kat into a GS Cafe racer personally.

As for the Icon Katana it is a wet dream on two wheels and I LOVE it and have for ages I've watched this so many times.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSXNRZou7Ws
Still that is the full retard Kat where $$ is no object and it is just a track machine. That seat needs a lot to pull off and it would probably be pretty terrible 2 hours a day riding. If I ever dedicated a track Katana that could be the ticket it is the dogs nuts, still manages to be Katana (which is another good reason to consider the Kat standard colours) and makes me sigh every time!

Yeah the seat is just to modern. It is really nicely done and comfortable but.. Also I've completely agreed on the repsol Orange it does not fit off the track and it has to go. Gloss black would probably be ok I've never been a fan of the original Kat wheels (other than the wire ones which are sweet).
Fat wire wheels... That would be cool.

[IronPawz]

The decals on the choke made me laugh.

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Don't - choke - cock yeah that is classic. My choke switch has been setup as a seat release which is a cool feature. Might have to think of something for that also.

[IronPawz]

Im very interested in the thread. Being a owner of the same Katana 1100 for 33 years now & owning a GSX1100 race bike (for others to use ) & also in the process of building a stunning Katana 1100 pre 82 race bike.
As I said, maybe you could go to a standard tailpiece, because currently, it appears to represent two era's, with the front half looking 80's & the rear half early 2000's
Keep the thread updated, there are a bunch of interested people, im sure.

Thanks I jumped the gun on my early comment. Great collection there! Hope there are some images coming on your build. Also fantastic to see other Kat lovers about (GSX1100 in general for that matter). The builder mentioned the back shock was never as stiff as he hoped even fully adjusted and he'd planned to have it rebuilt.

Yeah the tail put on in 2005/6 would have been really modern then but that era is harder to love now (if you like the earlier classics and the current race bikes are different again). I probably sounds stupid but at one stage I was quite keen to cover a cat seat in really dark NZ possum fur (even selectively shot a few and skinned them, I don't kill anything without a purpose). I still kind of like that idea (as a removable thing) and possibly a rabbit addition just because it would look caveman (not as a regular thing).

[IronPawz]

A colour scheme I don't overly like for my bike but I kind of link in itself. I do like what is happening in the background mind in terms of the other Kat.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...1156156817.htm

[IronPawz]

This is the type of bike the motor comes from GSX 1135 EFG. That one is on trademe at the moment, 1987 with a real 5,428kms from new.
http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...1155673998.htm

Edit - F - unky old bus in amazing condition for $7,900. Seems to me it should have been something older (1983 GSX1100) or newer (198X GSXR1100) to keep in that km's and condition. Still that is the donor motor in standard form with 85,000kms smoothies and decent exhaust.

[Big Dog]

Don't - choke - cock yeah that is classic. My choke switch has been setup as a seat release which is a cool feature. Might have to think of something for that also.

I read it as "choke the chicken" our don't...

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[HenryDorsetCase]

Fat wire wheels... That would be cool.

not sure about rim sizes but I've seen a few customs using Ducati Sportclassic wheels. 17 inch rims I think and in sizes that fit modern ish rubber. There are also a pair of spoked wheels sitting in the local Ducati stealership which I think are options on the Scrambler range.

I believe that Suzuki hub and disc spacing is similar across a lot of models so you could have stock Suzi hubs maybe with 17 inch rims etc.

you would have to have a real good measure up for disc spacing and all that. plus lower to the ground - ground clearance issues which might be a problem for a track bike....

[98tls]

Huh, same motor GSX1135 and very similar swingarm with internal shock. Not crazy on the black and red down the middle (especially the lines on the tank seem wrong). The way people leave the side plastics just hanging in space under the seat over time looks wrong to me also. I might just be tempted to make that area more as it was. There is the cool of empty space, light weight concept but it just kind of ends.

The original also sort of ends there it just have black things in that space. Also the modernised ones get a nice visual space between seat and tire I guess due to smaller rims? Or do they raise the seat (I'm not tall). Mmmm my original 7/11 comes back next week I'll have to spend time with them side by side. I'm not really adverse to a primarily traditional colour scheme (slightly darker great does look good mind could consider some options there).

Pays to keep in mind for me I want to put some high KM's a year on the old girl so function is really important. Gun metal grey, sounds so good.

Was thinking the same colour as these rims i bought for the TL,bodywork in this colour and possibly paint your rims black or even do them to in this.

[IronPawz]

Is the 7/11 tidy enough to take back to original looking? - now that you've got the new one.

That's a project thread I'd follow.

The 7/11 is totally original other than the 530 chain and the Engine is apparently a GSX1100E but there is no way (as I understand it) to identify any of the GSX motors of that time from a GSX E / SZ and several others. Some had bigger gets in the carbies but the engine numbers as all something like GS110X. So it is standard. The paint job is reasonable but not perfect. Carbies are standard looking with the normal air box. Standard wheels, oh it does have a 4 into 1 with an exhaust I never liked (to loud but looks ok not to modern).

I'll get some images of it up next week and I might well sell it. Might well sell the 92GSXR or swap it for a smaller more setup track bike (I want to learn more than go fast I want a knee down).

I'll go see if I have some decent pics of the 7/11 on my laptop (verses wifes I am using). I'd love to do it up like a black pipe original with wire wheels.

[IronPawz]

Was thinking the same colour as these rims i bought for the TL,bodywork in this colour and possibly paint your rims black or even do them to in this.

That is a very nice colour for a Kat. Perhaps a few Japanese stickers typical of some well sorted Katana.

The builder of this Kat also said he could cast the alternator side covers (yosh). I think if some people would be interested in these he could certainly do it (make larger mold from his template so they shrink to correct size he explained it all to me). I'd certainly be interested, not sure of price but if people are interested I can ask.

This is his GSX1100SZ and the GSX1135EFG engine that is in the bike side by side. I do love that cover they are part of Katana history.

[IronPawz]

Is the 7/11 tidy enough to take back to original looking? - now that you've got the new one.

That's a project thread I'd follow.

Some a picture of my 7/11 they are old but nothing has changed other than clutch getting sorted out.
The other shows it in the buff and the stable at that time. The RF is gone and lets not mention that Red stain on my reputation and memory.

[98tls]

Cool,ive got a Yosh clutch cover for the TL in the shed somewhere,bloke in Germany cast some clear covers so bought one of them,years back bought a genuine Yoshi ECU adjuster,plug in and play,bit primitive by todays standards but works.