On Yahoo.jp now

[Brad GSX1100SD]

My apologies,,
Yes it has been rude of me not to "Say hello", but just managing to pop into the site every now and then. I will make a constructive effort to correct my ommisions 'toute suite'.
I have recently become a proud owner of a stolen recovered 1100SD from Clive, in the most unfortunate circumstances when thieving reprobates take away someone's cherished possesion, needless to say, the red & silver seat has disappeared, air filter cover/lid & left side panel (although the thieves left the choke dial?).
I will be searching for a genuine replacement as I was captivated by his Katana the first moments I set eyes on it.
I'll perhaps elaborate more when I say hello but also wonder if a red & silver seat was ever offered to anyone in the South East/London area in the past 18 months..... identification of the seller may lead to finding who the thieving toerags are.
Cheers for now,
Brad.

[fossie]

Hi there ,Brad .....no info about the seat or the original panel but all those bits are available , the seat in those colours are probably best sourced on e site you posted the intro on
Though Italian eBay has had more SD on than most ....
Welcome along.

[Uncle Bob]

I have recently become a proud owner of a stolen recovered 1100SD from Clive...

Hello Brad,

That bike was mine back in the late 90's early 2000's. It was an Italian import that I think I was the first owner of in the UK (well not including the guy who imported it) but not 100% sure now. The guy I got it from was in Paddington (paid £2900) and I picked it up from there and rode it back to Norwich. I got the Yoshimura exhaust from a guy in the US who contacted me through my KatanaCentral website.
I ended up selling it to Clive for I think about £2200 (his mum lived about 20 miles from me near Beccles in Suffolk so delivered it to her) after getting caught twice in 2 weeks going a bit too fast (one a camera van which I didn't see so it didn't slow me down, so I then got stopped by a bike cop, then the camera van ticket arrived in the post So I sold it to take the temptation away and regretted it, so did finally buy another. I have kept in touch with Clive since though off and on, so he has had it a lot longer than I did, and was upset for him when it was stolen, but pleased (and surprised) that he got it back, if even with some parts missing. I guess the experience has just made him want to sell the bike. I hope you can get it all complete and going again, those parts should be fairly OK to get, just a case of waiting until they come up. I'm glad it will be back on the road again.

You maybe interested in that if you get this book https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/293251612632 the Katana used in it is your Katana! I was contacted by the author I presume ( via KatanaCentral) and sent them the images, then forgot all about it. Some years later (after I has sold the bike) I was in a book shop and saw the book in a sale rack and was surprised to see the picture and the credit to me in the back. The backdrop doesn't look very Norfolk though (there is a hill!) but it was taken at a small village nearby called Shotesham.

Stay in touch.

Thanks

UB

[Brad GSX1100SD]

Thank you for your information on your old Katana & for giving me a chuckle as your story brought the return of a similar personal memory regarding speed cops & tickets in France. You have strengthened my determination to keep the standard looks as although I have appreciated & applauded some gorgeous Katana specials with different rear ends, etc., I shall endeavour to find a genuine seat. I believe its length & style helps to show the Katana's intention of a high speed bike, even whilst standing still.
I'm not one for keeping total originality above improved safety & practicality (braided lines, tyres, updated illumination, exhausts, etc.) as I wish to see older models ridden & enjoyed by use. Even if only limited miles I prefer to see engineering art, (which many motorcycles, especially these Katana are), at work, not in a display cabinet scenario, however, we all have our right to our personal choice & I have been proud of some specials I previously built myself.
Call me nostalgic, I believe it is now time to protect & preserve the older standard looking motorcycles which have not yet been "customised" as they are becoming rare finds but that is not to say I would not spend more time looking at & studying a customised bike.
Well this is my philosophical approach nowadays & I am grateful for your links to helpful sources, I will follow up on these.
One thing, (but is it for certain), I doubt the engine will let me down;
the GS750D I once owned & thrashed all over Europe was unburstable in the 65k miles I rode it, unlike the two z650s, which I still own, but which blew shells & cranks on three occasions. I still have these awaiting tlc but one special I did was to put a GS750 engine into a z650, now that's one I should have kept.
Thanks once again for your intel., I feel welcomed into your Club & at this rate I shall have trouble knowing what to put into my personal introduction.
Please excuse me for babbling on,
With respect,
Brad.

[fossie]

Reference seat .
https://www.ebay.de/itm/353476909508?ha ... Swbs1gKQFM.
It's in Germany but I did find a correct Colourway seat cover on another eBay site.
https://www.ebay.de/itm/114871261829?_t ... %3A2047675
German eBay also had a gulliari seat for 1100 that you could sculpt and recover.