New Katana ?

[fossie]

Given the amount of shouting & fanfare, I'd be pretty embarrassed if thats all i had......

My thoughts exactly..

[Uncle Bob]

I just noticed a new section on the site - well done! Be kind to any anyone posting!

[Uncle Bob]

I'm happy with it there. I don't have an issue if someone does post in it. After all the 750 Popup wasn't a Target Design bike and we have the XN85 (plus Shark from time to time). Scooters and Teapots I draw the line at though!

I've seen some more images of the bike and some with people on it and it's growing on me a bit more. I don't think realistically Suzuki were never going to have a budget to make a completely new bike so using an existing model was really going to be the way. The same with Kawasaki and the Z900 / Z900RS. I like they kept the more or less the rectangular headlight and other touches that nod to the original. The only bit I so far really have trouble relating to is that rear number plate /indicator hanger. I think they could have found a way to keep that under the rear light somehow.

Anyway, from some other biking mates who are not classic bike fans and have modern bikes it seems it went down well. In the end it is the people that will spend £10K or so on an new bike it has to appeal to and looking at the list of bikes we own in footers on here, it probably isn't us!

I'll be keen to see it for real and sit on it - I wouldn't spend £10k on a new, even if I loved it and it was fantastic, one but if I liked it enough I would consider a 2nd hand one in 2 or so years time.

[stockcar]

Very good.......

[fossie]

My next door neighbour who is 20 years younger than I , popped into the garage tonight and asked what I thought about it. He's not into bikes per say but rides a fazer800 to work everyday, so somehow he heard of this event.
His opinion is relevant because of the points above....he can see the original bike but it is heavy and fat from yen front. But yep he recognised it as a katana. mmmmmmm

[johnr]

why didnt they start off wth the gsx1400 rather than the gsxr?

It was always going to have to be a water cooled motor due to emissions and tighter regs but no reason why it couldn’t look air/oil cooled and I’d have much rather preferred a round tubular frame.

gsx1400 is watercooled, it shared a basic layout with the hyabusa but has, as they say, been retuned for bottom end power. the gsx1400 would have been perfect, its cooling fins are fake to make it look aircooled, its fuel injected, twin shock and big enough to accomodate a rider and pillion in comfort. they might even improve the seat, which is really the 1400's only vice.

[johnr]

ah right, id assumed it was watercooled due to the radiator which i now see as a fecking huge oil cooler. when it was introduced they said it shared the internal dimensions of the hyabusa, hence my assumption that it was also watercooled like the busa. every days a schoolday.

[pookie]

You been on the rum again John? I'm pleased that Suzuki have revived the Katana but it really does look like a rush job, Suzuki were definitely looking to see how the Kawasaki Z900rs was received by the press and public, unfortunately the Z900rs has a tubular steel cradle frame, fake fins on the cylinder heads and a styling nod to the original bike, this new Katana is just a GSX1000s with semi Katana looks, the fairing does look very wide from the front and unlike the original it does look like you sit 'on' it rather than 'in' it like the classic Kat, to sum up its a very capable bike but could have been a whole lot better

[Pedda]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzF_DXn0ZPk

The more I look at it the more I like it.

[katmarch]

What's the seat height

Bet it wasn't made for the Japanese market like mine was.