Upgraded Suzuki Katana 1100cc lucky find

[AllanB]

I can't find a decent image of the metallic grey I was thing of but if you are looking for colours in this shade pop around to a couple of expensive European car yards for inspiration - I've recently seen in the local Maserati dealer a stunning colour - BMW's Audis etc tend to like their greys/silvers as well. The dealer will give you the paint code from the car if you find one or two you like.

My Honda Hornet 900 had a very nice titanium paint on some of the engine cases which worked will with the bodies gloss metallic paint.

There is always Ducati Red Looks stunning on my ...... Ducati!

[AllanB]

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....

There were a pair of Ducati Sport Classic wheels/brake disks etc on TM recently - asking a couple of grand for the pair. Rims to run 180/120

A Google shows Scrambler spoked wheel sets in the USA for $1500US. How much NZ.....?

There are companies that supply spoke hub sets for converting Katanas (Klasmo springs to mind) - not cheap, but those high end builds we drool over on the internet cost a fortune!



The bike you have purchased as lots of goodness on it, a excellent base to finish. Seat - somewhere in my collection of images I remember a Katana with a slimmed down version of the stock seat - the passenger part had been tapered rearwards significantly reducing the visual impact of the stock unit.

[HenryDorsetCase]

The bike you have purchased as lots of goodness on it, a excellent base to finish. Seat - somewhere in my collection of images I remember a Katana with a slimmed down version of the stock seat - the passenger part had been tapered rearwards significantly reducing the visual impact of the stock unit.

maybe an AC Sanctuary one? Them Japanese custom place know how to build 'em fo shizzle.


My beef with the stock seat is that it has all the visual delicacy of a loaf of shitty supermarket bread in a gaudy plastic bag.

http://www.bikeexif.com/ac-sanctuary-katana

The ICON one is still my favourite. Fuck all you haters. ;-)

[AllanB]

maybe an AC Sanctuary one? Them Japanese custom place know how to build 'em fo shizzle.


My beef with the stock seat is that it has all the visual delicacy of a loaf of shitty supermarket bread in a gaudy plastic bag.

http://www.bikeexif.com/ac-sanctuary-katana

The ICON one is still my favourite. Fuck all you haters. ;-)

No that one but it's better than many. One I was thinking off had been worked a lot - rear light was a small red square half the size for the stock one and the rear tail had been pulled it to suit. Shit I have such a tail light off a old Honda somewhere in my shed off a small postie bike or similar.

Custom bike scene - lots of goodness going on and some stuff that annoys me like: pipe wrap, Firestone tyres, clip-ons and forward pegs, lobster bend exhaust just for the sake of it when the curve is easily obtainable via a nice mandrel bend. In fact I've seen straigh sections welded up from multiple pieces just for a fashion look .....

[98tls]

There were a pair of Ducati Sport Classic wheels/brake disks etc on TM recently - asking a couple of grand for the pair. Rims to run 180/120

A Google shows Scrambler spoked wheel sets in the USA for $1500US. How much NZ.....?

There are companies that supply spoke hub sets for converting Katanas (Klasmo springs to mind) - not cheap, but those high end builds we drool over on the internet cost a fortune!



The bike you have purchased as lots of goodness on it, a excellent base to finish. Seat - somewhere in my collection of images I remember a Katana with a slimmed down version of the stock seat - the passenger part had been tapered rearwards significantly reducing the visual impact of the stock unit.

Awhile back bought a set of retro Ducati rims for $1300 Aus on a whim,should have waited the $s just getting better n better...

[IronPawz]

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.

Very nice. Love those old School do ups and touches of class from the day.

[IronPawz]

I can't find a decent image of the metallic grey I was thing of but if you are looking for colours in this shade pop around to a couple of expensive European car yards for inspiration - I've recently seen in the local Maserati dealer a stunning colour - BMW's Audis etc tend to like their greys/silvers as well. The dealer will give you the paint code from the car if you find one or two you like.

My Honda Hornet 900 had a very nice titanium paint on some of the engine cases which worked will with the bodies gloss metallic paint.

There is always Ducati Red Looks stunning on my ...... Ducati!

Ducati red on a Kat I'm pretty sure that is a form of blasphemy! Yes cars good call. I'd call any grey a bit of a yawn on a car (they are all grey/silver or white is seems) but on a Kat could be really good. Even the original silver leaned a little to gun metal probably work well. I'm thinking I'm more one colour than two tone generally also. The wheels likely black of could be a darker shade of same grey. Not very daring to be sure but I'm more 'off tradition' than daring in preference.

[jellywrestler]

Ducati red on a Kat I'm pretty sure that is a form of blasphemy! Yes cars good call. I'd call any grey a bit of a yawn on a car (they are all grey/silver or white is seems) but on a Kat could be really good. Even the original silver leaned a little to gun metal probably work well. I'm thinking I'm more one colour than two tone generally also. The wheels likely black of could be a darker shade of same grey. Not very daring to be sure but I'm more 'off tradition' than daring in preference.

nver liked the early kats, plain colour, once they added either blue or red over the top they were much sweeter and accentuated the lines too

[IronPawz]

There were a pair of Ducati Sport Classic wheels/brake disks etc on TM recently - asking a couple of grand for the pair. Rims to run 180/120
A Google shows Scrambler spoked wheel sets in the USA for $1500US. How much NZ.....?

There are companies that supply spoke hub sets for converting Katanas (Klasmo springs to mind) - not cheap, but those high end builds we drool over on the internet cost a fortune!

The bike you have purchased as lots of goodness on it, a excellent base to finish. Seat - somewhere in my collection of images I remember a Katana with a slimmed down version of the stock seat - the passenger part had been tapered rearwards significantly reducing the visual impact of the stock unit.

Fat spoke I still very much like this idea. I could stretch the budget a little. I'm going to sell the Blade (been giving it beans in the commute recently just to enjoy it until it is gone, really very clinical and fantastic machines but I'll not miss it riding my 'grey ghost').

I always though the stock seat is quite slim looking anyway. The modernised look makes more space between it and the wheel which visually slims it down. Plus I need to sit on it 2 hours a day and 4 hours at times riding with friends etc. Might even get the wife on the back again one day. That current seat is REALLY comfortable.

[IronPawz]

maybe an AC Sanctuary one? Them Japanese custom place know how to build 'em fo shizzle.
My beef with the stock seat is that it has all the visual delicacy of a loaf of shitty supermarket bread in a gaudy plastic bag.

http://www.bikeexif.com/ac-sanctuary-katana

The ICON one is still my favourite. Fuck all you haters. ;-)

Yeah I LOVE the ICON (I'd live with the seat its not totally me but on that bike it is totally part of the look). That AC one is great I'd say that is pretty stock with just a nicer designed cover and a minor reduction of the plastic underneath (I'm no expert just looks that way). Mmm the Icon seat... It is blasphemous for sure but then I can live with that. I like that fact that the ICON is so modernised and manages to still be 100% recognisable as Katana more so I think than the current setup on my bike. Perhaps it is just because I've spent so much time looking at it and have become familiar.

[IronPawz]

nver liked the early kats, plain colour, once they added either blue or red over the top they were much sweeter and accentuated the lines too

Somethings I think the tone looses the lines in the tank but I'll be looking. Most likely it will live on the road in some primer colour for a while. This bike is going to get ridden. It will also probably change colour over the years. Be good to see some more options in the flesh, photos just loose a lot of the reality which might be my problem. I've not seen a two tone with my own peepers.

[IronPawz]

Original Kat is apparently a little weepy from the fork seals. They where new a few years back and not ridden a lot since so hopefully they settle down with some riding. So it is still in the shop at the moment.

My mechanic mentioned something about an additional spring in the Smooties to stop them staying open, sounds like a plan (they are a bit scary coming into a corner when they don't shut off right away). The engineer mentioned the suction holds them open so it makes sense some spring arrangement could help.

Some other things the engineer gave me with the bike. The fork ring for a steering damper (I'd consider it if it can be mostly hidden away and was useful so opinions welcome here). Set of cast break disks. He mentioned they are great on track but tend to stick in the wet (so keen to get some track rims set them up with sticky tires and swap them out for race days).

Lastly I brought a 'race' battery for the 92 Gixx it is crazy light. The bike starts but I need to change the gas and oil it smokes like a bitch. If that and say some moreys does not fix it then it is probably to smokey for the track (we will see it came as is with no history so on my own head, plus I really just wanted the forks and wheels!)

[jellywrestler]

The fork ring for a steering damper (I'd consider it if it can be mostly hidden away and was useful so opinions welcome here).

it may surprise you but a steering damper is a safety device, if you're going for looks above safety that'll end in tears.

[IronPawz]

it may surprise you but a steering damper is a safety device, if you're going for looks above safety that'll end in tears.

I'm not interested in looks at of a damper all. In fact I don't think they would suite the Kat and therefore if it is actually useful in terms of the road and or track to have it in a way that could still be hidden then I'm all for it. I've had bikes shake their head under power and I assume that is what they are all about, preventing that shake. I suppose it goes like this, ride it, see if it does tend to shake, consider a damper.

I'm more interested in function than looks but this is really the only bike I've totally coveted and for the first time I do feel some look consciousness, but not over safety. I NEVER clean my fireblade (couldn't care less) but I will probably clean the Kat.

If I gave the impression I'm into a damper for the looks that was just poor wording on my part. I think it would look stupid but I'd live with it for enough good reason (like with that suspension on that bike if you want to put it on the track you really need one, then I'd do it and if I could and still make it work hide it if possible).

[jellywrestler]

If I gave the impression I'm into a damper for the looks that was just poor wording on my part. .

you gave me the impression that unless it fitted in with the look you wouldn't use it. remember the geometry/suspension has been altered and may or may not be more prone to needing one.