- Harga bagi model Suzuki Katana 2019 telah didedahkan di UK.
- Model Katana yang asal telah merevolusikan reka bentuk motosikal.
- Persoalannya, bilakah ia akan tiba di 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!
Source: MCN
The new Suzuki Katana has aroused much excitement since it was unveiled at the 2018 Intermot show. And now, there’s a video of ex-MotoGP rider Nobuatsu Aoki taking it for spin.
In the video, Aoki is seen flogging the Katana through corners, blasting past fallen leaves to a beautiful autumn background.
Aoki then talks about the bike, engine, chassis, electronics. It is a Katana after all, so the “promotional talk” is forgiven.
“I couldn’t believe how much fun the bike is,” said Aoki in the video. “A proper engine in a proper chassis, and the riding position is fantastic. I was surprised how easy to ride it is.”
“The road surface is wet today and strewn with fallen leaves (one scene where he speeds through a huge drift of leaves on the road made me a little anxious), yet the traction control and ABS support the bike for easy riding with complete confidence.”
It’s a nice video to watch, since it’s the first full footage of the bike being ridden, as compared to the teasers. We get to listen to how it sounds like too. Wish the video was longer.
You can continue on to watch this video on the development of the bike, too.
On another note, Suzuki Assemblers Malaysia has confirmed that they will bring the bike to our shores. When and how much are other matters.
We don’t know about you guys and gals, but we were getting a little exasperated after being teased on and on the new 2019 Suzuki Katana.
We found ourselves yelling, “Oh c’mon! Show us the bike already!” at the screen everytime a new teaser video came on and ending with the Intermot message. We could hardly wait.
Well, the Intermot show now on and Suzuki has made good on their promises to unveil the bike.
The new bike certainly blends some of the most iconic aspects of the Katana with a fresh outlook. For example, the fuel tank’s lines blend in with the seat’s, as well as the knee cutout panels below the tank, the cut beneath the tank, the slope angle and colour of the mini windshield, two-toned seat, the silver paint emblazoned with bold red “SUZUKI” lettering and of course, the Katana logo.
On the mechanical side, the engine is based on the GSX-S1000F naked sportbike’s. That engine itself, on the other hand, was based on the 2005 GSX-R1000. Why choose an engine derived from “older” specs? Because the 2005 engine was long-stroked and had lots more low-down and midrange grunt.
Still, the new Katana’s 999cc inline-Four engine produces 147bhp.
As for electronics, it shares the same suite with the GSX-S1000F’s, meaning it has ride-by-wire throttle, power modes, 3-level traction control, ABS, slipper clutch and so forth.
The lighting system has gone all modern, too, utilizing LEDs all around. The instrument cluster has been taken over by a large single TFT LCD screen.
Now for some reality check. Will Suzuki Assemblers Malaysia bring the Katana to our shores? And how much will it cost? Let’s hope they do!
The sword has been unsheathed: The Suzuki Katana finally appears in the final teaser video.
It is apparent from the video that Suzuki is going back to the original 1980 GSX1100 Katana’s design. That’s certainly wonderful news as the later Katanas were so ugly they earned the “Kan-O’-Tuna” pejorative.
Besides, if Kawasaki can go modern retro with their Z900RS, surely Suzuki can too since it was the classic Katana which revolutionized motorcycle design, anyway.
The original GSX1100 was the work of BMW’s ex-Design Chief, Hans Muth. He gave not only the BMW R90S and BMW R100S the distinction of being the first faired production bikes.
It was said that he approached BMW with a concept called “79 Target Design” but was turned down as being too funky. So, Muth brought the design to Suzuki instead and it became one of history’s most iconic motorcycle.
The 1980 Katana’s design changed the convention of motorcycle styling. Apart from the angular bodywork, the “tank/body interface” where the downward sloping line of the rear part of the fuel tank join the forward portion of the seat.
So, heritage is all good and dandy, but where do we go from here?
The new bike’s design still retains some of sharp panels but a little more rounded to feel more contemporary. The silver-coloured bodywork is then mated to a blacked-out frame, engine and swingarm. The seat looks to be a stepped one-piece design, although the more observant among us would probably question the lack of a dual-tone seat.
The exhaust has also gone single-sided instead of exiting on both sides.
The handlebar appears to be high and wide. The rider’s knees seem to be pushed wide apart at the fuel tank. These points may allude to a seating position that’s halfway between a all-out sporty crouch and a totem pole-like upright.
Well, there’s just four days to got to the Intermot show when this went to print. We are just as curious as you about the technical specs of the bike.
The good folks from Suzuki have apparently registered the Katana name at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). This is actually the second time they’ve done so where the first application was filed back in 2015 alongside the Gamma name. (more…)
Here in Part 4 of the Ten Most Unusual Motorcycles, we look at a Suzuki which has gone on to a cult status.: The GSX1100 and GSX750 Katana.
Please click here for Part 1 (Suzuki RE5), here for Part 2 (Honda CBX1000), and here for Part 3 (Yamaha GTS1000).
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).
Please click here for Part 1 (Suzuki RE5), here for Part 2 (Honda CBX1000), and here for Part 3 (Yamaha GTS1000).
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