Hello from North Wales

[Bluesman]

I'm Paul,
I've had both the 1100 &1000 Kats back in the 80's had to sell them due to problems with my neck and shoulders, hard going when its a daily rider. The 1100 was/is my dream bike. Unbeknown to me my eldest son has been, for quite some time, looking for another 1100. He found a 1983 1100 SD in Switzerland!!! it had been stored for more than 30 years. A van was hired last March and off, with youngest son as well, we went. The bike is now all ready just awaiting a V5 from the DVLA!!!

Will no doubt speak again soon

[Uncle Bob]

Hello and welcome,

The 1100 can be hard on necks and shoulders! I have sold my 1100's now and ride the 400 which i find easier.
I got an 1100 from Switzerland back in 2018 (now sold on). I think the Swiss Kats were down on power (but sure how it was done), so bare that in mind. The one I got was originally from Italy and imported in Switzerland so full power - I remember the original advert of the Swiss guy being quite specific about that! I'm guessing though if your son was worried about power he would have went for a new bike.
There are quite a few Katana owners up your way (well across to Chester and Manchester), so hopefully you'll get a chance to meet some.
We also have a FB group as well, you find some use both and others one platform or the other, up to you.

Hopefully DVLA will be quick in getting you your V5.

Out of interest how did you sort the Customers clearance for the VAT to be paid? HMRC changed things a couple of years ago and it's harder now to import as you seem to have to use a Freight forwarder or the like to get the VAT paid, so allow you to get the NOVA. I have imported a few bikes but the last (a Suzuki X7) due to the changes was expensive so haven't bothered since.

UB

[Bluesman]

Hello Bob,
Thanks for the welcome, I have tried to find out if the Swiss bikes were limited in any way, and if so how, as yet not found out anything.
Sorry I can't help on the customer clearance question, the bike is a present for my recent birthday so no info re any costs etc. is forthcoming.

Bluesman

[stockcar]

Later EF type bikes were limited to circa 100hp by differing cams but seeing as an 1100 will only make around that anyhows I suspect they aren’t limited??

[Bluesman]

Later EF type bikes were limited to circa 100hp by differing cams but seeing as an 1100 will only make around that anyhows I suspect they aren’t limited??

Thanks, that's a good point.

[Uncle Bob]

From the Swiss advert (sadly I still have it in my archive!) the seller said "She is originally from Italy and has therefore installed the 111PS camshaft - very rare in Switzerland !!!"
I think the Swiss ones might have had a 100bhp limit and limited by the camshafts by the sounds of it. The seller on the one I bought had also fitted 36mm carbs from a 1150EF.
He'd got banned, I think from speeding on it, and his family had made him sell it.

Checking the parts fiche, the SZ only shows 1 part number for the camshaft, but the SD shows 2 different ones, but the Swiss one (code E18) is the same as the UK one (code E02) and Italy (E34), so that sort of rules that out using that as a guide.
However looking at the carbs on the SD Switzerland (E18) does have parts numbers unique to there, so maybe it was carb restricted (though pilot and main jets are same)?

So maybe SZ was the same but the SD was restricted in some way.

Doesn't really clear things up does it!

[Bluesman]

HaHa clear as mud now!

[Bluesman]

I'll wait to see how she runs when I can put it on the road

Really appreciate the help