SUZUKI KATANA LIMITED EDITION

The big Katanas racing in the International Challenge don’t run fairings, but could if they really wanted to. The precedent that would allow that is the fairing on John Fisher’s rare version of the Katana.

Built by Cycle Style, a leading Australian custom fairing manufacturer of the 1970s and early ’80s, it has turned John’s big Kat into a true interstate blaster. He bought it in 1983 and has clocked up 30,000 miles on it, including a week-long 4000-mile round trip from Melbourne to Cairns.

“I get a lot of reaction to it,” said John. “A typical comment is: I had one and wished I’d never sold it.”

The Australian version of the Limited Edition mainly featured wire wheels and styling touches, the New Zealand version was a ripper. It had bigger brakes, carbs and cans along with hot camshafts.

“The only thing I regret about the bike is getting obsessed about a dent in the tank and getting it repainted, so it now doesn’t look 100% original,” he said.