Suzuki Katana 3.0

Suzuki Katana 3.0

I'm certain that you'll agree with me that BMW motorcycles are unique in its technology, futuristic in their appearance, are an absolute joy to ride and handles very well, even though they are expensive to maintain. But then again, what isn't expensive today? In my opinion, the trade of is really worth the money. However, as I've mentioned in a previous blog, it took me a long time to acquire a BMW. My reason for wanting a BMW is because I rode a Suzuki Katana GS650G for very many years and I was very impressed by its technology, overall appearance and ride-ability.  

 The balance of the Katana was superb, the handling was easy, the shaftie unlike a chain had no backlash, the front and rear disk breaks were unlike any other motorcycle I've had the pleasure to ride. It's four into one black-chromes exhaust had a very different pitch yet quite, but it was fast. Faster than the GSX 750 Katana that was later released. Beside, the Suzuki Katana GS650G was oil-cooled and had a large capacity. Its sculpted fuel tank with its curves and straight edges that merged with its lower stepped two toned seat was just to die for. However most of these niceties are in fact BMW features built into this '80s, futuristic looking mean machine. 
The all NEW 2019 Suzuki Katana 3.0 - A fitting tribute to the Kantan series of the late 80's.
German bike magazine Motorrad commissioned three ex-BMW designers, namely  Hans-Georg Kasten, Hans Muth and Jan Fellstrom —founders of  Target Design Studio— to come-up with a new motorcycle design for the future. This design was in fact the Suzuki Katana range. The first in the family of iron horse out of the Suzuki stable was the GS650G. Then Suzuki release the GSX 750 and there after the GSX 1000, which at the time was flaunted as the fastest bike in the world. Subsequently the Japanese Katana blade and the Suzuki Katana emblem has been use in several Suzuki motorcycles in various parts of the world until 2006. Meanwhile Suzuki released their flagship GSX1300 R Hayabusa also flaunted as the fasted bike in the world, not considering the Dodge Tomahawk concept bike.
   
Without a doubt, the Suzuki Katana is the most significant name in Japanese motorcycle history. It was an entire family of bikes very specific to an era ranging from the late 1980's to the late 2006. Never before nor since, had there been such a striking motorcycle as the Katana, not even from Suzuki themselves. However, the Katana influenced  the design of most modern day motorcycles, so that they now also have blended-in seats,  black chrome exhausts, sculptured tanks flowing into side panels and a miniature racing fairing.  These are just samplings of the Katana’s legacy, but there is more to come!
Based on the very successful GSX-S1000F engine, the all NEW Suzuki Katana
is the latest contender for 2019.


Feel the Edge

It now turns our that Suzuki has recently renewed its Katana trademark rights in Europe and America for the release of its latest incarnation in 2019 - The Suzuki Katana 3.0. This all new Katana based on the Suzuki GSX-S1000F which is a fitting tribute to the ultimate sports bike of the 80's.


Unfortunately, this time round, the ex-BMW German designers are out of the picture and the Italians are in. The  Italian motorcycle magazine Motociclismo commissioned the Suzuki Katana 3.0, hence it has the appearance of the Italian designed MV Agusta. Yet the Suzuki Katana 3.0 retains its radical angular tank design, with its wedge-shaped fairing faired-into its side panels, not to mention its split level seat. 

 Other than that, the black frame, and the rear half of the Suzuki Katana 3.0 somewhat resembles the BMW R 1200 GS Adventure. Cosmetically it also seems to have a lot in common with the BMW S1000RR, like floating dual front rotors, inverted telescopic front shocks, liquid cooled engine and the exhaust system. Be that as it may, there is nothing better than riding a low rev engine, with perfect weight distribution, with a translever front suspension and a telelever rear suspension - BMW R series.
__________________________________________________________________
Suzuki Katana 3.0BMW, BMW bike, BMW R Series., BMW R series. Suzuki Katana 3.0, GS650G, GSX1100, MV Agusta, Suzuki Katana, Brake Failure75th Anniversary model Limited edition,   BMW R1100RS, boxer motor, brake fluid, Brembo branded calipers, Dot 4 fluid, My BMW, BMW Brake lines,  BMW R1100R, BMW R1100RS, BMW R850 1100 & 1150 4-valve Twins,  brake caliper, Brake Hose SAEJ1401, Brembo branded calipers,  Du Pont Teflon hoses, motorcycle repair manual, rubber brake hoses, rubber brake lines, Series R, Stainless Steel. brake lines, My BMW, 4 valve boxer,  BMW bike, BMW R series. Suzuki Katana, BMW R1100R, BMW R1100RS, BMW R850 1100 & 1150 4-valve Twins, boxer motor, brake fluid, Brake Hose SAEJ1401, Brembo branded calipers, GS650G, motorcycle repair manual,  naked bike,
_____________________________________________________________________

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Brake Failure

Image
Brake Failure If you've read my previous blog called "BMW Brake lines" , you would undoubtedly remember that I had a problem with a seized front brake calipers and a  ruptured  brake-hose. Since BMW / Motorad is closed for business on a Saturday or for that matter the entire weekend, I couldn't get the requisite break-hose in time, so that I could remedy the problem. So this morning, I telephone their spares department and requested a price for the  two brake hoses for  my BMW R1100RS . Namely the two 29cm long hoses with a banjo fitting at either of its end,  that sits between each front caliper and the fluid distribution T junction that's bolted to the root of the fork.   After a sort while, the spare parts sales person  returned to the phone , and gave me two  distinctly  different prices for the each of them. The left  hose was  R1859.00 and the right side R630.00. I was gobsmacked, my question to him was,  "Ho...
Read more

BMW Brake lines

Image
BMW R1100RS Brake lines Just a few days ago, I went to a business meeting held at a venue in upper Walmer Estate, just below De Waal Drive. Riding uphill from lower Woodstock with my BMW R1100RS was a breeze. After the meeting I left, but as I was riding, something very peculiar happened. Going downhill, I applied the front brake but it felt like the bike was held back a lot more, in relation to the amount of break pressure I applied.    When I approached the stop sign I came to a complete stop, h owever  w hen I pulled away from a standing-still position  the feeling of drag perpetuated and the bike behaved somewhat sluggish.  Seeing I was riding down a steep decline, I engaged my clutch to attain free-run. The bike progressively slowed down  and eventually came to a halt on the downhill. I then realized that either the front or the rear brakes was binding, alternatively that the front or rear axel was seizing or was at least starting to seize....
Read more