BIKE (UK)

Suzuki Katana: it’s back and in dealers for 2019.

Well, kinda. Suzuki restyles the GSX S1000 as a homage to the 1981 style icon

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WHEN THE GSX1100S Katana arrived in 1981, jaws dropped. Here was one of the fastest production bikes ever built, wrapped in styling so radical that dealers feared it would never sell. It was massive news. The 2019 Katana is not like that. Instead, it’s an homage to the 1981 bike built around a GSX-S1000 engine and chassis – both largely unchanged –in the same mould as Kawasaki’s latest Z900RS. So you get a 999cc fourcylind­er motor originally from the 2005 GSX-R1000, and a neutral handling chassis with quality suspension. Styling aside, the only changes from the GSX-S1000 are some tweaks to the engine mapping which apparently smooth out the jerky on/off throttle response, a reduction in fuel capacity from 17 litres to 12, an increase in weight from 207kg to 215kg, a new LED

light, and the TFT clocks from the GSX-R1000R. Power stays at 148bhp and the vast heap of torque still peaks at 80 lb.ft. Given the Katana’s wholesome power, we can’t see the weight increase being an issue. The tank size could be annoying though – with the GSX-S1000’S fuel economy averaging 45mpg, the new Katana’s range will be around 115 miles, or 80 before the fuel light comes on. Pricing has yet to be announced, but we estimate around £11,000, £1000 more than the standard GSX-S1000.

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