Suzuki two wheelers legend, the Katana still remains the sharp suited motorcycle with mega performance.
First released in 1981, Suzuki refreshed the Katana nameplate in 2019 with a modern engine, new features and new colour concept for enthusiasts.
Compared to its 2020 model, the new Katana comes with gold forks, colour-coordinated wheels and grey rear suspension.
With a new dark tone seat, the bike also features Metallic Mat Stellar Blue and Solid Iron Grey colour options.
Apart from that, the Katana gets a few touch of electronics features.
As for the engine, the 2022 Katana retains the 999cc, inline-four cylinder engine which is an evolution of the one found in the GSX-R1000 K5.
But for 2022, the new Katana gets a new intake and exhaust camshafts, valve springs, a 4-2-1 exhaust system and a new airbox that improves efficiency.
Suzuki says the new Katana has 3hp more than the previous model.
But that’s not all, Suzuki fans will love the face that the new Katana now comes with a two-way quickshifter, an updated slipper clutch, rubber mounted handle bars and also offers Suzuki’s new Easy Start system.
And to ease night riding, Suzuki has equipped the dashboard of the new Katana with a “night” mode.
There is no announcement about pricing and it is unlike to be available in Malaysia anytime soon.
Suzuki Malaysia posted in their Facebook that the new 2019 Suzuki Katana has arrived!
However, there is no official pricing or further details.
A search in Mudah.my found posts from last month asking for RM 85,000.
Suzuki Malaysia posted in their Facebook page that the new 2019 Suzuki Katana has arrived on our shores!
Unfortunately, they did not include the price, nor did they announce of any media unveiling of the price. We contacted Suzuki Malaysia but they company if off for the weekend. We hope to receive a reply on Monda.
However, we did a quick search in Mudah.my and found a couple of postings from early April and late March 2019. Both listed the price as from RM 85,000. On the other hand, Suzuki UK listed its price at £11,399 (RM 61,741.80).
We are not certain if that is going to be the exact price, as it means the Katana will cost more than the GSX-1000S that it is based on.
Not having any details to go on is definitely annoying. There have been many complaints about Suzuki Malaysia not engaging the media to spread news about the products in the last two years. Not that we are expecting advertising (although we definitely welcome it!) or test rides, but there has not been one single press release, even.
Consequently, most enthusiasts in Malaysia could only count on IF the media ever produces any news about Suzuki’s motorcycles. We only keep pushing news to our readers because of our love for all bikes, otherwise everyone will be in the dark.
So, if you’re reading this Suzuki Malaysia, please send some details to us in the media.
The price for the 2019 Suzuki Katana was revealed in the UK.
The original Katana revolutionized motorcycle styling.
When will it come to Malaysia?
While Suzuki Assemblers Malaysia announced that they will bring the 2019 Suzuki Katana to our shores, there is yet any date of its release and price.
The Katana name is among the legends from the Hamamatsu-based manufacturer, alongside the GSX-R and RGV (during the heydays of the two-strokes). Suzuki knows that most of their bikes have gone under enthusiasts’ radars for the past number of years. Hence rolling out the Katana ought to bring them back to the fore again.
The Hans Muth-designed first Suzuki Katana stunned many when it was unveiled. Some called it too big of a departure from contemporary motorcycle styling. But a bigger group who fell in love with it made a bigger noise, hence it came a legend.
However, the styling didn’t only bode well with enthusiasts, as it did so with other motorcycle designers, too. If this was a different dimension where the Katana never existed, current motorcycles would look a whole lot different.
So, this is what the manufacturer is banking on. Bring the heritage of the bike named after the Samurai sword back to (hopefully) those who are nostalgic for it and/or a newer generation.
Okay, okay, we’re sold. How much?
£11,399 (RM 61,741.80). We wish it’ll be that cheap when it arrives!
The name “Katana” alludes to the Japanese Samurai sword, hence the symbol. The name and logo went on to grace many other Suzukis thereafter. Here in Malaysia, remember Suzuki Best and RG owners would apply the stickers to their bikes? That was part of the Katana’s legacy.
The Suzuki Katana was designed by Hans Muth and his company, Target Design. Muth was the ex-design chief at BMW and was tasked with overhauling the Japanese manufacturer’s image.
Suzuki chose one of Muth’s designs and the first production Suzuki GSX1100S Katana was made public in 1980. While they didn’t follow the concept’s design to the letter, many important design cues were adopted.
The design was avant-garde from the cookie cutter bikes of the era. Most notable feature was how the rear part of the fuel tank and front portion of the seat blended together. Also, the passenger’s seat was slightly raised and coloured differently, lending to a solo-seater look. Yes, it was the Suzuki Katana that started it.
The 1075cc, air-cooled, DOHC, inline-Four produced 109.5 bhp and Suzuki claimed the Katana as being the fastest production motorcycle. It ran the ¼-mile (400m) in 11.9 seconds at 191.5 km/h.
Following in the 1100’s tyre tracks, Suzuki launched the GSX750S Katana in 1981 and it had no windscreen. The model with the windscreen was the 750SS. The 747cc, air-cooled, DOHC, inline-Four produced 68 bhp.
1981 also saw the superbike racing homologated 1000S, since superbike racing capped the engine capacity at 1000cc. it had Mikuni smooth-bore carburettors among other racing accoutrements. This was the rarest Katana and collectors will pay a ransom for one!
1982 saw the Katana’s futuristic looks being modified to feature a round headlamp and tail unit from the previous year’s GSX1100E for the American market. Buyers there were obviously slow in adapting to change.
Not many changes were afoot for the Katanas in 1983, but it was 1984 when the 750 was forever known as the legend.
For that year, the GSX750SE Katana was a completely new model. The 16-valve, oil-cooled, inline-Four was taken from the GSX750R/ES/EF and made 90 bhp. It was also given the Positive Damping Forks up front and Suzuki Full Floater rear suspension which did away with the dual shocks. The frame, parts of the wheels and engine were painted in gold.
The most well-known feature was of course the pop-up headlight.
The Suzuki GSX750S continued into its last year of production in 1985 for the worldwide market and 1986 for the domestic market, making these models somewhat rare. Many collectors would love to have one in their collection.
It was sadly the same on the GSX1100S Katana front as it faded in obscurity as Suzuki had launched the GSX-R750F sportbike in 1985. Affectionately known as the “Slabside” or “Slabby,” the first Gixxer heralded the new age of race replica sportbikes and Suzuki went all out to capitalize on it.
Perhaps realizing their mistake, Suzuki in America tried to revive the Katana name in 1988, by slapping the name and symbol on a host of sport-touring and touring models, but it was not to be the same.
It’s a great shame to lose the Katana as it is still beautiful even after 27 years. It was truly unusual for its time and it still is somewhat today (that’s why there are many customized Katanas around today).
Having shown us the Recursion concept during the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show, Suzuki’s intent at bringing forced induction into bikes is very clear indeed. Fuelling the flame further are rumours of said concept being finalised for production in the last few months, followed by the fact that the mighty S-brand’s move towards trademarking the ‘Recursion’ name and filing patents for designs surrounding the bike’s unique powerplant.
Well, at the on-going 2015 Tokyo Motor Show, it appears that Suzuki are indeed one step closer towards making the Recursion a production reality. At the heart of Suzuki’s stand was this, a compact and turbocharged two-cylinder engine called the EX7, presumably made for Recursion.
Other than the fact that it has twin camshafts (DOHC) and four valves, Suzuki did not say much about this turbocharged and intercooled parallel twin. It is presumed that the mill displaces about 588cc, which was the quoted engine size of the Recursion concept. The concept also envisioned the mill to generate just over 100hp and at least 101Nm of torque too – not bad for its size.
There is still no sight of the Recursion concept’s production version during the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show, which likely suggest that we will only see it next year or early in 2017. However, we are led to believe that Suzuki could surprise all with a reveal in this year’s edition of EICMA that will take place in just several weeks time in Milan, Italy.
