OzVMX Forum
Clubroom => Bike Talk => Topic started by: Graeme M on October 27, 2008, 08:00:17 pm
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OK, I know this is way off beam, but I was just reading an article about the 82 YZs and came across an advert for the Suzuki Katana 1100. Full page. You hardly see those things around anymore, but I was reminded how good they look. Even today they still look all swoopy and space-age. My mate had about the first one in town and I got to ride it a bit. I loved it. Grunty, raw, rough, all those nice visceral vibes. Crouching over that big tank and reaching down to the clip-ons was such an experience after a diet of standard 750 four cylinder UJMs. The thing went like stink too and wheelied as soon as look at it.
1982! Suzuki Full Floater RMs. PE175s. Katana 1100s. And the DR250 and DR400. Man, Suzuki had it happening.
Now, what else is there that had the presence, the trend setting design of the Katana (and yes, I know they weren't all THAT good as a roadbike)...
1982. I'd do it again in a flash.
(http://www.ozvmx.com/images/forum/kat1.jpg)
(http://www.ozvmx.com/images/forum/kat2.jpg)
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boss currently owns a katana bored to 1600 and turbo it the scariest meanest bike ive ever seen but they make an excellent drag bike ;D
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Not a bad thing were they! Rode one up to Mt. Tamborine many moons ago.
You do still see a few around, there was one down here for sale a while ago, I think he only wanted around $2,500 for it...was slightly tempted...but I prefer my Z. :)
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The Japs still love 'em.
(http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn458/mx250syd/img186.jpg)
(http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn458/mx250syd/img129.jpg)
(http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn458/mx250syd/img17.jpg)
I'm not sure if the oil cooled was a Jap model or they adapted the Katana bodywork to the gsxr1100. If they adapted they did a damn good job.
I think it is still a current model (or recently dropped).
http://www.yoshimura-jp.com/en/complete/1135r/index.html
There's always Saturday's lottos $20mil
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(http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn458/mx250syd/katana_1.jpg)
(http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn458/mx250syd/katana_2.jpg)
(http://i323.photobucket.com/albums/nn458/mx250syd/katana_4.jpg)
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There's one of those on my "to get" list. Always loved them.
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Had one with a pop up head light, was a really kewl thing but novelty wore off when it got stuck.
Got a mate whitey who is GSX mad, cant think of nothing he hasnt done with one, dragged it, side cared it and now has one running in period 5 is it ? those gsx 1100 motor seem to have always been strong bunnies no matter what frame they stuck em in over the years
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one of these
(http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s297/Lozza85_2007/RG_Sprangskiss.jpg)
slightly altered into one of these(without the pillion seat)
(http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s297/Lozza85_2007/KS34_3.jpg)
I think the Katana was the first bike you sat in rather than on
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mmmmm.... RGV500. I lusted after those too. I far preferred the two-strokes of the time too. RD350LCs, RZ350/500, RGV250, RGV500 (or was it just RG500?). I had a few RD-LCs, an RZ350 and an RGV250. Loved em!!!
(http://www.ozvmx.com/images/forum/rgv.jpeg)
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I reckon the Katana has ageless looks. I remember at the time I had my Z1R Kawasaki and my mate had a rare 1000cc wire wheel model Katana. Apparently a small number of these were made to homologate them for the then 1000cc proddy racing limit (or maybe superbike, I can't remember). The Katana looked so much more purposeful with wires than with the (in my opinion) ugly alloy wheels. I'd love a Katana today no matter what wheels.
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un-stoppable
??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ???
This Kat doesn't seem to be going anywhere ::) ;D.
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un-stoppable
??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ???
This Kat doesn't seem to be going anywhere ::) ;D.
Got me there clever cloggs ;)
The motor "MX250" the motor.
They kept going and going.
you know,! unstoppable 8)
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Graeme, had an 81 Katana back around 85 which had been used as a superbike, had braced swing arm, 1136 kit, smooth bores and a 3 and a half inch wide 16 inch front wheel (doesn't sound real big now but was back then), use to go out to Lakeside once a month on it and also took it upto Willowbank to the drag strip, ran 10-6 at 134 MPH in 4th gear. What a bike!! (even if it was a Suzuki ;)), sold it to a bloke I new he rode it to work on the first day and got stolen for the carpark >:( some real arseholes in the world ???
Shane
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Wost tankslapper of the century,16" front wheels worst modification of any roady bike, seem to remember them spitting more blokes off than nearly every other production roady of there time, had some grunt in a straight line though ???
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Rosco, Would agree in general with the 16 inch fronts but on this bike was great (16" was not a standard on Katana), the bike steered great and only had a bit of shape if you got off the gas hard at speed. Would buy one again in a flash as they were a great bike.
Shane
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Katana ? Older next door neighbour to my sister, asked her the other week "would you brother like that old blue SL175 Honda he has his eye on, I am not going to be riding it anymore. Oh and he may as well take that grey Suzuki 750 pop up headlight bike as well cause I haven't ridden that for a few years too !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ;D Tim (trust me I am really really wanting to get to Adelaide!!!!!) Should cut up to a great VMX sidecar...... :o
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I HAD A 750 KATANA
WISH I HAD KEPT IT
MY MATE HAD A SPOKE WHEEL BATHURST KATANA
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don't mean to hijack this Katana page, but vmxman talking about RD's and RZ's got my juices flowing. here's a few of my old ones;
my Dad never did get that job as a photographer, note expensive protective gear;(http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/oo249/vmxwoody/RD250LCx2.jpg)
couple of 250's (one a bit worse for wear)
(http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/oo249/vmxwoody/RD250sx2c.jpg)
pride and joy (gee could she buck!)
(http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/oo249/vmxwoody/RZ500x2s.jpg)
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My Bro Has an 83 Kat 1100, and has had it for years. It's currently being fully restored. He also has a much newer Honda Blackbird 1100. I love riding the Kat. Sure it doesn't handle anywhere near as good as the blackbird, but the grunt is awesome. I learnt to ride roadies on that Kat and when I jumped on the blackbird I thought there was something wrong with it. It does nothing (and I mean nothing) until you get it above 7000rpm. Then its as fast as hell but I love the "just twist it on at ant revs in any gear "of the KAt. Its just like my CR500. ;D
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Nice Katana down at the Tassie, Ross Show last weekend.
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d14/photos2u/Ross%2008/Katana.jpg)