Had a test ride yesterday 👍🏼, smitten , perfection for me . At 51 and one heart attack life’s too short , my poster bike in the garage . Yes small tank range , yes the rear is an acquired taste but for how I ride these days it’s spot on , love it .
TheMissendenFlyer its a grower isn’t it , I like it now , after years of rgv’s , gixxers , Italian v twins it was between a GS vs V-Strom , heart ruled the head when I seen this , thoroughly agree as long as a bike makes you smile that’s enough for me 👍🏼, keep the vlogs coming btw always appreciate the uploads
The styling is what really drew me to this bike in the first place. Everything from the sound and looks reminds me of what you would have seen in a 80's/90's scifi movie and I absolutely love it.
Looks great to me. It grows on you the more you look at it. Most sportbikes look so similar now. I like this half retro, half future look. It would definatley be an eye catcher when parked i think.
I've owned one for a couple of months now and absolutely love it. Tank range is only 40km less than my old K1200RS and not much different from the original either.
Back in the dark eighties when the original Katana came out, I was 10 years old. I spend all my allowances towards model kits. When Tamiya released the 1:12 model of the Katana I had to have it! It was the most beautiful thing I'd even seen. I went to the local model shop, had them order it for me, waited an eternity (2-3 weeks?) and whenthe box finally arrived, I spent a glorious 10 (or so) days painstakingly building, sanding, and painting it. When I finally got the decals on, I couldn'd take my eyes off of that thing for days. I think the Katana model may have been the only model I had that didn't end up being blown to bit by firecrackers... The new Katana? I like it, but not nearly as much as the old one. I have been pondering trying to find the original in good condition and maybe try to fully restore it, but I'm not even considering the new one. It's not that cool or different.
@@TheMissendenFlyer Sure thing, Sir! I watch more or less all your content anyway, so it's nice to get a really interesting test ride here and there as a bonus. :)
Thanks for reviewing it Mr F...it's good that you don't just choose bikes you fancy to test. And you were very fair in your assessment. I've liked the looks of it from the start (yes I'm the guy that isn't into the 60s or 70s retro styled bikes. Which is odd because I love 60s and 70s supercars, But this 80s retro appeals to me) but as mentioned below, it's overpriced for what you're getting - by £2-3k IMO, and a 12l tank...very limiting.
I loved the original katana back in the day. As a spotty teenager, pressing my face up against the dealers window, with my head full of dreams! Still looks futuristic and fantastic to my eyes. Do you remember Blood Runners, the cartoon? The Katana does. Great vid as always.
@@TheMissendenFlyer if I could, I certainly would. Sadly I cant justify another pony in the stable at the moment. Gotta go, need to buy a lottery ticket........
I do like the way that once you hit 70mph the speedo gets blurred, followed by a mention of "hitting the legal speeds", and the engine whine continues to rise ;-) The bike does appear to be just an hommage to the Katana of old (point of note, it was between the Katana 1100 and GPz 1100 back in the 80's as to which grabbed the "Worlds fastest bike" titles, with each vying for the green eyed envy of young riders). The tank size also appears about 50% smaller than the original, which is a bit pants considering just how quickly it can neck fuel if ridden hard. To summerise, one gets the impression that like many things these days, it's just another remake (the marketing dept having another/lazy slow day). Nice review though.
Andy Bruckner I had the original and it was a great bike and considered the first factory sport bike. This new version has really been watered down with high bars and marginal windscreen.
I had an '81 Katana back in the '90s and loved the bike. It did feel heavy and vibrated like all bikes did back then. I eventually traded it for an '86 GSXR 750 that I liked even more.
It pays homage to the old school 80's Katana...look at both and you'll understand what a good job Suzuki did. And making this one ridable with more comfort.
When the original Katana came out it was the meanest looking bike on the streets. All previous bikes had had rounded front ends with square rear ends. The Katana looked like it was doing 100 MPH whilst standing still. It went like duck poop on glass. I wanted on so bad it hurt, but I bought a house instead and now I am just too old for lying on the tank. I will say that this Katana looks the goods and with it's pedigree it should be a great machine.
Can remember when the originals first hit the showrooms in 1981, we had never seen anything like them, thanks for another good review, biggest downside for me on this new bike is the tank capacity.
12L fuel capacity is just ridiculous for a 1000cc bike. You have to really love the styling to buy one of these over the base GSX 1000. Nice review as ever. Cheers
I love everything about this bike (started riding in the 70's so it looks great to me). HOWEVER.... a 12 litre tank? Are they serious? I hate getting fuel on the bike it's a right faff, and I should imagine it would be an almost daily event on this. Makes me feel a bit better about the 14l tank on my MT-07. Great review as usual, cheers!
You MT-07 is going to go a hell of a lot further on it's 14l than that 4 cylinder engine let alone that smaller tank. Seems more like a ride down the cafe kind of bike to me.
I ride one a black one it looked lovely ,it was fast smooth and I couldn't keep the front end down ,I won't buy one because I'm 52 and would almost certainly lose me licence ,well done Suzuki
Your usual informative review. It's not quite as nice looking as the original mainly because the original had the gsx 1100 motor in it, a motor that just looked awesome very wide and very silver alloy. You should check out some of the katanas that big cc racing created over the years, some with beautiful spondon frames and turbos. Not quite the original but a nice nod. Cool vid as usual.
A thing of beauty. I loved them back in the 80's, I was a pass around pillion. Now I'm having a mid life crisis thinking I should be working towards one of these gorgeous things, needs some miles on a tamer bike though first. Great review. Only live once. A friend of mine is a photo-biker and it looks like a lot of fun.
My first road bike was a 96 Katana. I do like that it seems more of a standard/ujm than the pseudo sport bike with clip ons that they turned into. Thanks for the ride along :)
had the original in blue, it was my 1st big bike after the 350LC and loved the thing, I need a test ride for sure but it may get my R9T into a jealous rage.
'Once you start winding her up you certainly notice that blurring of the instrument cluster!' I actually liked the original Katana but the riding position was a bit extreme, too exaggerated a crouch. So this was looking very promising right up to the point you said it has a twelve litre tank! Ok perhaps in Blighty but too small to be practical in Oz I'm afraid.
My heart was set on Kawasaki z900RS as my favorite neo-retro. Then this Katana appeared ..... I was just a young kid in the 70's, so the early Z1's mean nothing to me motorcycle wise....But the Katana was dream bike from a time when I was just getting into motorcycles, this new one stirs those feelings in me. Plus I like what I've been seeing and hearing about the Katana in reviews....I feel like its more bike for the money than the z900RS. The bike is becoming my new favorite retro....
I have exactly zero interest in this motorcycle, but I wouldn’t miss your review for the world. With that said I think that bike looks beautiful and tough. BTW you are one hard working dude with your channel, constantly putting out content. Thanks as always TMF, happy trails 👍🏼
A 17 plate GSX S1000 is my current bike after returning to biking after a break, and initially I couldn’t justify laying £16,500 plus out on a GS which was my previous bike, albeit with the new Shiftcam 1250, I’m now tempted! All new Suzuki bikes come with a 3 year warranty, and with their low finance rates I think they are very competitive price wise, the engines are fantastic and surprisingly frugal for a litre bike, mine returns on average 54 mpg and my usual spirited Sunday ride has plenty of “ fast “ road sections, if you equate the economy of my current model to the Katana , a range of 135-140 miles per tank is not too shabby. The only downside after two years of ownership is the rear shock which as you mentioned is somewhat firm/ harsh, but could be rectified with a aftermarket shock. All in all I’m happy with my bike, and after a recent trip down to Germany to ride the B500, it performed without any problems, and it still puts a grin on my face every time I climb onboard which basically sums everything up, great review , keep up the good work! Just a footnote the TFT screen is adjustable for brightness on my bike so I would imagine it would be on the Katana although it’s LCD
I own a 2016 GSXS1000F, this engine is just fantastic. I purchased it leftover for around $9k after fees. The Katana has just about the same "guts", so I bet the price of these leftover will drop just the same. The GSXS has a bigger fuel tank capacity I think, but the seat size and LCD screen is nicer on the Katana in my opinion.
A greeting from South Korea. Thanks again for a great review. Always enjoying your videos. In fact, I have 2018 GSX-S1000 which has the same engine as Katana. It also has a bit of vibration in 3rd gear specially in between 1,500-3,000 rpm which is little annoying. But you only there very short moment, so no big issue. Both GSX and Katana are great bikes although I like GSX design more.
Agree about the quickshifter, I wouldn’t even consider a bike without one nowadays. I put a Translogic quickshifter on my Z900RS, but it’s upshifts only.
I launched the original Katana at SGB in 1981. We loved it and took three on a Beaujolais run. Me Conor Brennan and Matt Oxley hooned off to Macon for some overnight fun.
This bike is pretty cool in my opinion. I like how they brought back the retro style. At first I really disliked how it looks, but now It's growing on me.
LOL you made me spit my tea out. 5’8” and 32” leg. I’m 5’8” and 31” leg. When I was at work when I ordered my work wear I was told, you cannot be 31” as I’m 29” and 6’ Yours can’t be 31!!! Good review makes it look good and made you feel good 👍🏻
I was about ten when the original Suzuki katana came out, I had a poster of the bike on my wall, back then it was as beautiful and mechanically as revolutionary as the Ducati 1299 is today ...there was nothing like it on the market.
Well I did own the original 1100, this is definitely not as good looking. I think the bars are all wrong, possibly drag bars might look better or clip ons if they clear the rather clumsy faring... Ah you can’t bring back the past 😂
The biggest thing I've found is it's the old Widowmaker without being as deadly. The amazing fantastic bike that Suzuki intended to build in the first place....although the head light is horrifying!
I remember the original katana and I think this is a good homage to it. Funny how when you ride "At the legal limit" the camera goes blurry around the bike's screen but remains clear everywhere else. I think you must have a faulty camera 😉
I was a toddler when the original was released, and then it became the first bike I restored. Love these bikes and can't wait to get a run in the new one. As with the original, it doesn't look like anything else around, unique in a world of quite generic looking road bikes.
I don't think the throttle is the issue, more a case of engine running lean on Euro 4 emission controls. I remember the original Katana with sporty clip-on, bar raisers - have to dump those sit up and beg bars. Fuel tank is very small (12 litres) limiting range. Original Katana was very much a no compromise sports bike.
As someone who remembers the old Katana I Love the look of the front of the new bike. Not keen on the number plate mounting arm, would much prefer it mounted under the seat filling in the big gap between seat and wheel. From your "ride" description and the video sound it sounds very much like the 1200 Bandit. I have an 01 mk2 as a winter bike and there seems to be lots of similarities. Another good informative video sir, many thanks for posting. Tim
If there is a motorcycle that feels like you're riding on a well behaved charging rhino it's the Vmax 1700....loved the old katana and had one....now i ride the Vmax1700...it's the one....if you're not riding the Vmax1700 motorcycling is passing you by.......it's fantastic... Pure rhino!!! Too good !!!
I think Suzuki have vastly over-rated the nostalgic appeal of the original and we will see these heavily discounted as they hang around in showrooms gathering dust . Suzuki needs to look into their design department , they seem to consistently miss the boat in terms of looks with even the brilliant little SV 650 being too conservative to sell as well as it should considering how good a bike it is for the money .
@@ProfTrout and that’s exactly what is happening. I’m able to snag one for $5,000 less than original MSRP! Mind you it is a 2020, but hey it’s still new!
Great review thanks. A real trip down memory lane as I was born and grew up in Chesham , go easy on the white van man , some of us earn a living driving them 😉
Nice fair review given you weren't too keen. Personally I really like this bike. Black one looks fantastic but I'd get some lower Renthals & probably ditch that massive rear number plate girder thing too. Price is a tricky one for me. It's quite expensive imo & it puts it in the territory of other bikes I like & I'm not sure I'd choose this one over them. Although it definitely warrants a test ride. Can't wait! PS: loved your "quickly up to legal speeds" line as the speedo appeared to malfunction lol. ; )
It looks like Suzuki designed the front in such a way that a creative person could ditch those turn signal stems and convert those integrated sections that are low and on the sides of the headlight.I dig the looks because it pays homage to the original.Great review as usual, sir.My apologies, I can't figure out why I can't to extra spaces and paragraph breaks in the YT comment sections.
For that price a quick shifter, TFT and a 4 gallon fuel tank should be standard. Suzuki introduced that engine back in 2005 (ish?) so it’s not like this is a newly designed engine which would justify the premium price tag. It’s an old engine with new body work and almost feels like Suzuki took a cautious approach and said let’s try to not invest much in a retro bike and charge a premium and see if it sells. If it sells well they may invest more in the bike in the future, if it doesn’t then it’s a write off that didn’t cost all that much. I think Suzuki should have done more to make this bike special and unique like the original was for its time. Great review as always!
oh man, that engine sounds lovely! I worked at a Suzuki/Honda shop when the original came out. I really liked it. Went back to college so there went any money.......
Beauty is mostly on the inside and that's the most important. I always ride in higher gears with a minimum of about 2000 rpm. For fast overtakes, I put it one or two gears lower. You use a lot less fuel that way. I do take the engine up to 8000 rpm at the end of a longer trip. A screen is missing and If that is not an option, this is not the bike for me. If it is, and the ride quality is good and the handling and build quality are good, this bike could be an option in the future. But now I hear you say that the tank only holds 12 liter, it's a big NO. 18 liters is the minimum for me because I like touring.
Hi TMF, immediately not seen the Katana in the flesh, there are some beautiful retro's but this definitely isn't one of them, your two recent acquisitions much much nicer, love the Speed twin. Thanks Andy.
Cheers TMF, memories of seeing the originals way back. I think I was riding either a Honda 750 super sports, or the 900 Bol dor when these came out. Interesting beast but not for me. 👍🏍😀🇦🇺
Seems like a controversial bike, but I love it. Not a fan of nakeds in general, but damn its boxy in that 90s car type of way. Less boxy than the 80s, but not the boring aero blobs of the 00s. Beautiful.
You're right wet weight is more relevant but the only issue I have is it shouldn't include petrol. This bike's wet weight is lower than it should be just because it has a tiny tank which is actually a disadvantage.
Love watching your reviews and enjoyed the deer ID with no associated grabbing a handful! I guess we deal with this every time we go out but it still looks ominous when we're relying on a car driver to stay put as we come up. Nice bike tho :)
I used to have a Katana back in the early '90s. Big, simple, brutish and uniquely stylish. The clip-on style bars and general weightiness were dead cool and very butch - I loved taking girls on the back of it. This new version is pure badge-engineering - the standard bars are both aesthetically and ergonomically diametrically opposed to the original ethos of the original name - and they're prepared to squeeze a fair few pennies out of the name too although I guess it's their name so they can charge what they like for it! The new bike has little to say which hasn't already been said in motorcycling terms by other manufacturers and by Suzuki themselves. It's a water-cooled UJM with gobs of power. Some people will pay for the name and the unimaginative styling exercise. I think Suzuki are being a bit cheeky. Strange because their other throwback styling exercise - the latest big V-Strom - was much more faithful, honest and keenly priced; quite a large philosophical contrast in marketing terms and from within the same company; fascinating.
Appreciate your review which really helped with my concerns about low speed manners and keeping under 30 (I do a lot of urban roads). I don't push particularly hard and never ride in the wet either. Currently on a 2015 CB1000R should I have any concerns about the bike running wide in corners (last 3 bikes 1200 Vmax, GSX1400 then MT-01 all of which I found could need a lot of care and positive input in corners as they wanted to go straight on) compared to my CB1000R which in that respect has been a revelation? TIA!
Of course I can’t watch the entire video in a couple of minutes from you uploading. I’ll just leave the feedback in advance here: Amazing video and great explanation of the intricate details. Now back to watch the video.
Yeah thanks for the ride. I guess the tank was empty when you returned it! I kept thinking the screen had fallen off. What a strange visual first impression I got. Reminded me of Clarkson's description of the Sangyong Musso "the designers a Brit. Got drunk on the plane over there and penned the design before sobering up". I think Suzuki are not enhancing the Katana brand with this bike and that's a shame. Nice engine doesn't make up for all the foibles.
Actually using one today while my GSX S750 is being serviced. 1st impressions... Bad points: Seat feels quite high, oddly, and I'm slightly taller than TMF, vibrations through the seat and bum instantly noticeable and in all gears. Good: Rear three quarter angle view, powerful, torquey engine with great exhaust note even with stock pipe, smooth ride and crisp gear changes - for me, really not too snatchy but depends how one rides I suppose. Cheers
Saw this today funnily enough at dearden motorcycles in hampshire, and I have to say I was drawn to it. I was only a 10 y/o whipper snapper when this was on the scene but do remember it well (Born with helmet and gloves on). Like You, I didn't like the pictures I saw. But in the flesh, it has presence. Wouldn't part with that sort of money for it though.
Saw one of these in the flesh recently, and it does look better than pics. One thing that offended my eyes is the front mudguard, which is far too wide for the front wheel.
I'm re-watching this having seen one on the road for the first time yesterday...I've always preferred the looks to other retro bikes based on older bikes. I'm the same age as you Andy, so it's not an age thing. I thought it looked great as it rolled past at slow speed - it made me look up what they're available at now - £9.5k before haggling...looking like good buy at that to me. I'm looking forward to your long term test (I did remember that right did I?). Great vid BTW, thanks.
It looks great, unique in comparison to modern sport bikes which more or less all look the same these days.
Had a test ride yesterday 👍🏼, smitten , perfection for me . At 51 and one heart attack life’s too short , my poster bike in the garage .
Yes small tank range , yes the rear is an acquired taste but for how I ride these days it’s spot on , love it .
I think the rear is the best part of the bike personally - glad you like it - each to their own eh?!
TheMissendenFlyer its a grower isn’t it , I like it now , after years of rgv’s , gixxers , Italian v twins it was between a GS vs V-Strom , heart ruled the head when I seen this , thoroughly agree as long as a bike makes you smile that’s enough for me 👍🏼, keep the vlogs coming btw always appreciate the uploads
The rear is an acquired taste? I agree with the poster here, and take it a step further by saying it's the best looking part of the bike.
The styling is what really drew me to this bike in the first place. Everything from the sound and looks reminds me of what you would have seen in a 80's/90's scifi movie and I absolutely love it.
So are you going to get one then Wesley? The looks don't work for me but it is a lovely bike to ride....
It’s funny I keep coming back to look at these, hoping they fall in to bargain territory as they clearly don’t sell well !
I like the attempt at new styling, especially for Suzuki. I'm digging the cyberpunk look.
Good!
Flyer, thanks for doing a real Biker's review without shytty music spoiling the real world noise.
Excellent review as always. Keep up the great work TMF. Looking forward to the next one.
Looks great to me. It grows on you the more you look at it. Most sportbikes look so similar now. I like this half retro, half future look. It would definatley be an eye catcher when parked i think.
I've owned one for a couple of months now and absolutely love it. Tank range is only 40km less than my old K1200RS and not much different from the original either.
Back in the dark eighties when the original Katana came out, I was 10 years old. I spend all my allowances towards model kits. When Tamiya released the 1:12 model of the Katana I had to have it! It was the most beautiful thing I'd even seen. I went to the local model shop, had them order it for me, waited an eternity (2-3 weeks?) and whenthe box finally arrived, I spent a glorious 10 (or so) days painstakingly building, sanding, and painting it. When I finally got the decals on, I couldn'd take my eyes off of that thing for days.
I think the Katana model may have been the only model I had that didn't end up being blown to bit by firecrackers...
The new Katana? I like it, but not nearly as much as the old one. I have been pondering trying to find the original in good condition and maybe try to fully restore it, but I'm not even considering the new one. It's not that cool or different.
Well I agree with half your conclusion! 😉 Thanks for watching and for stopping by!
@@TheMissendenFlyer Sure thing, Sir! I watch more or less all your content anyway, so it's nice to get a really interesting test ride here and there as a bonus. :)
Thanks for reviewing it Mr F...it's good that you don't just choose bikes you fancy to test. And you were very fair in your assessment. I've liked the looks of it from the start (yes I'm the guy that isn't into the 60s or 70s retro styled bikes. Which is odd because I love 60s and 70s supercars, But this 80s retro appeals to me) but as mentioned below, it's overpriced for what you're getting - by £2-3k IMO, and a 12l tank...very limiting.
Looks aside, I think it's overpriced for what is actually a pretty old bike underneath. Thanks for the review Mr flyer!
Agree
In Australia is easily the most powerful naked bike under 15k, not sure how its priced OS. Bucket loads of value, just not sold on the front end.
I loved the original katana back in the day. As a spotty teenager, pressing my face up against the dealers window, with my head full of dreams! Still looks futuristic and fantastic to my eyes. Do you remember Blood Runners, the cartoon? The Katana does.
Great vid as always.
I assume you're the person Suzuki are aiming this one at Paul!
Right there with you Paul.
@@TheMissendenFlyer if I could, I certainly would. Sadly I cant justify another pony in the stable at the moment. Gotta go, need to buy a lottery ticket........
You can’t hide the fact that this bike Feeds Your Soul !!! The Force is with You !!! 😎
I do like the way that once you hit 70mph the speedo gets blurred, followed by a mention of "hitting the legal speeds", and the engine whine continues to rise ;-)
The bike does appear to be just an hommage to the Katana of old (point of note, it was between the Katana 1100 and GPz 1100 back in the 80's as to which grabbed the "Worlds fastest bike" titles, with each vying for the green eyed envy of young riders).
The tank size also appears about 50% smaller than the original, which is a bit pants considering just how quickly it can neck fuel if ridden hard.
To summerise, one gets the impression that like many things these days, it's just another remake (the marketing dept having another/lazy slow day).
Nice review though.
Andy Bruckner I had the original and it was a great bike and considered the first factory sport bike. This new version has really been watered down with high bars and marginal windscreen.
I had an '81 Katana back in the '90s and loved the bike. It did feel heavy and vibrated like all bikes did back then. I eventually traded it for an '86 GSXR 750 that I liked even more.
Love it! Well done to Suzuki for doing something different.
It pays homage to the old school 80's Katana...look at both and you'll understand what a good job Suzuki did. And making this one ridable with more comfort.
When the original Katana came out it was the meanest looking bike on the streets. All previous bikes had had rounded front ends with square rear ends. The Katana looked like it was doing 100 MPH whilst standing still. It went like duck poop on glass. I wanted on so bad it hurt, but I bought a house instead and now I am just too old for lying on the tank. I will say that this Katana looks the goods and with it's pedigree it should be a great machine.
I had the original 1000 Katana & rode to Marseille in one hit in the 80s..............................My backs never been the same since!
'The most important thing about a bike is how it makes you feel'. Absolutely spot on. Thats why you should never judge someones choice of wheels.
Indeed....
Can remember when the originals first hit the showrooms in 1981, we had never seen anything like them, thanks for another good review, biggest downside for me on this new bike is the tank capacity.
12L fuel capacity is just ridiculous for a 1000cc bike. You have to really love the styling to buy one of these over the base GSX 1000. Nice review as ever. Cheers
Banditmanuk that’s the only reason I’m not buying one. Love the looks however.
I was really waiting for this review ;-). Thanks a lot - great review.
I love everything about this bike (started riding in the 70's so it looks great to me). HOWEVER.... a 12 litre tank? Are they serious? I hate getting fuel on the bike it's a right faff, and I should imagine it would be an almost daily event on this. Makes me feel a bit better about the 14l tank on my MT-07. Great review as usual, cheers!
You MT-07 is going to go a hell of a lot further on it's 14l than that 4 cylinder engine let alone that smaller tank. Seems more like a ride down the cafe kind of bike to me.
I ride one a black one it looked lovely ,it was fast smooth and I couldn't keep the front end down ,I won't buy one because I'm 52 and would almost certainly lose me licence ,well done Suzuki
So glad you liked it Richard!
Your usual informative review. It's not quite as nice looking as the original mainly because the original had the gsx 1100 motor in it, a motor that just looked awesome very wide and very silver alloy. You should check out some of the katanas that big cc racing created over the years, some with beautiful spondon frames and turbos.
Not quite the original but a nice nod. Cool vid as usual.
A thing of beauty. I loved them back in the 80's, I was a pass around pillion. Now I'm having a mid life crisis thinking I should be working towards one of these gorgeous things, needs some miles on a tamer bike though first. Great review. Only live once. A friend of mine is a photo-biker and it looks like a lot of fun.
My first road bike was a 96 Katana. I do like that it seems more of a standard/ujm than the pseudo sport bike with clip ons that they turned into. Thanks for the ride along :)
You’re welcome...
had the original in blue, it was my 1st big bike after the 350LC and loved the thing, I need a test ride for sure but it may get my R9T into a jealous rage.
I just bought one of these as a 2020 leftover. It replaced my 2016 Z800. It is fantastic. Faster, handles better and I really like the looks.
'Once you start winding her up you certainly notice that blurring of the instrument cluster!' I actually liked the original Katana but the riding position was a bit extreme, too exaggerated a crouch. So this was looking very promising right up to the point you said it has a twelve litre tank! Ok perhaps in Blighty but too small to be practical in Oz I'm afraid.
My heart was set on Kawasaki z900RS as my favorite neo-retro. Then this Katana appeared ..... I was just a young kid in the 70's, so the early Z1's mean nothing to me motorcycle wise....But the Katana was dream bike from a time when I was just getting into motorcycles, this new one stirs those feelings in me. Plus I like what I've been seeing and hearing about the Katana in reviews....I feel like its more bike for the money than the z900RS. The bike is becoming my new favorite retro....
Glad you like it - it does ride well - but for me personally I waaay prefer The Z900RS
I have exactly zero interest in this motorcycle, but I wouldn’t miss your review for the world. With that said I think that bike looks beautiful and tough. BTW you are one hard working dude with your channel, constantly putting out content. Thanks as always TMF, happy trails 👍🏼
Thanks Brad!
Yet another quality review from TMF- thanks for this review.
My pleasure!
A 17 plate GSX S1000 is my current bike after returning to biking after a break, and initially I couldn’t justify laying £16,500 plus out on a GS which was my previous bike, albeit with the new Shiftcam 1250, I’m now tempted!
All new Suzuki bikes come with a 3 year warranty, and with their low finance rates I think they are very competitive price wise, the engines are fantastic and surprisingly frugal for a litre bike, mine returns on average 54 mpg and my usual spirited Sunday ride has plenty of “ fast “ road sections, if you equate the economy of my current model to the Katana , a range of 135-140 miles per tank is not too shabby.
The only downside after two years of ownership is the rear shock which as you mentioned is somewhat firm/ harsh, but could be rectified with a aftermarket shock.
All in all I’m happy with my bike, and after a recent trip down to Germany to ride the B500, it performed without any problems, and it still puts a grin on my face every time I climb onboard which basically sums everything up, great review , keep up the good work!
Just a footnote the TFT screen is adjustable for brightness on my bike so I would imagine it would be on the Katana although it’s LCD
Dealership was selling a Katana for $4k less than MSRP and decided to buy one :)
Good deal! Enjoy....
Excellent review as always sir..keep up the good work 👍..looking forward to more videos of your beautiful new steed.
I was intrigued to see this bike up closer. Great review as usual - Thanks TMF!
Thanks for watching!
I own a 2016 GSXS1000F, this engine is just fantastic. I purchased it leftover for around $9k after fees. The Katana has just about the same "guts", so I bet the price of these leftover will drop just the same. The GSXS has a bigger fuel tank capacity I think, but the seat size and LCD screen is nicer on the Katana in my opinion.
A greeting from South Korea. Thanks again for a great review. Always enjoying your videos.
In fact, I have 2018 GSX-S1000 which has the same engine as Katana. It also has a bit of vibration in 3rd gear specially in between 1,500-3,000 rpm which is little annoying. But you only there very short moment, so no big issue. Both GSX and Katana are great bikes although I like GSX design more.
Agree about the quickshifter, I wouldn’t even consider a bike without one nowadays. I put a Translogic quickshifter on my Z900RS, but it’s upshifts only.
Why not just get an old Hondamatic? Part of the joy of motorcycling is shifting gears yourself.
I launched the original Katana at SGB in 1981. We loved it and took three on a Beaujolais run. Me Conor Brennan and Matt Oxley hooned off to Macon for some overnight fun.
This bike is pretty cool in my opinion. I like how they brought back the retro style. At first I really disliked how it looks, but now It's growing on me.
Yeah it definitely gets better the more you look at it - but that’s not saying much given the start point!
Thanks for the excellent review. Good on you as you gave her a fair chance even not liking it before the ride! Cheers, Tim
LOL you made me spit my tea out. 5’8” and 32” leg. I’m 5’8” and 31” leg. When I was at work when I ordered my work wear I was told, you cannot be 31” as I’m 29” and 6’
Yours can’t be 31!!!
Good review makes it look good and made you feel good 👍🏻
I was about ten when the original Suzuki katana came out, I had a poster of the bike on my wall, back then it was as beautiful and mechanically as revolutionary as the Ducati 1299 is today ...there was nothing like it on the market.
Looks good, I had one for 2 weeks on demo. Nice bike, but that seat crushes the wedding tackle.
Enjoyed that TMF, told you it looked better in the flesh. Allways trust uncle Chops 😁
It would be hard for it to look any worse!
@@TheMissendenFlyer SAVAGE 🤣🤣
MCN put this against the CB1000R this week & the CB1000R walked it... The GSX1000S looks better & is better IMHO!
At the drag strip it is a quit different story.
Awesome looking bike. Shows how great the original design was back then
Well I did own the original 1100, this is definitely not as good looking. I think the bars are all wrong, possibly drag bars might look better or clip ons if they clear the rather clumsy faring... Ah you can’t bring back the past 😂
I remember the first one. God that makes me feel old :-(
Still like the Kawasaki Z900RS better, opinions vary though. 😊
Definitely agree
Oh ya, the Z900rs looks the part in the flesh, a top quality bit of kit
@@steve-wu7jp It's still not a patch on the ZRX though ;)
Agreed 100%
Scott Mitchell I agree bud
Awesome Katana.
A tribute to the pioneer in modern looks and design back in 1981 then all the others followed.
They did???!
The biggest thing I've found is it's the old Widowmaker without being as deadly. The amazing fantastic bike that Suzuki intended to build in the first place....although the head light is horrifying!
I love the look of this bike - especially in black. This is how to do update a classic ikon proper!
I remember the original katana and I think this is a good homage to it. Funny how when you ride "At the legal limit" the camera goes blurry around the bike's screen but remains clear everywhere else. I think you must have a faulty camera 😉
My buddy had an original one and they were marmite bikes back then, still are I think!
yes agree :)
I was a toddler when the original was released, and then it became the first bike I restored. Love these bikes and can't wait to get a run in the new one.
As with the original, it doesn't look like anything else around, unique in a world of quite generic looking road bikes.
Yes you have to take your hat off to Suzuki for going off piste....
Nice bike, I prefer the Black though. Deal breaker is the small fuel tank so I'd get the GSX-S1000F instead.
I don't think the throttle is the issue, more a case of engine running lean on Euro 4 emission controls. I remember the original Katana with sporty clip-on, bar raisers - have to dump those sit up and beg bars. Fuel tank is very small (12 litres) limiting range. Original Katana was very much a no compromise sports bike.
Yes you may be right, I think Euro 4 makes it very hard for manufacturers to get the throttle right (given the number of new bikes that suffer....
TheMissendenFlyer I think it’s entirely due to throttles being digital. 🤷🏼♂️
As someone who remembers the old Katana I Love the look of the front of the new bike. Not keen on the number plate mounting arm, would much prefer it mounted under the seat filling in the big gap between seat and wheel. From your "ride" description and the video sound it sounds very much like the 1200 Bandit. I have an 01 mk2 as a winter bike and there seems to be lots of similarities. Another good informative video sir, many thanks for posting. Tim
If there is a motorcycle that feels like you're riding on a well behaved charging rhino it's the Vmax 1700....loved the old katana and had one....now i ride the Vmax1700...it's the one....if you're not riding the Vmax1700 motorcycling is passing you by.......it's fantastic...
Pure rhino!!! Too good !!!
I think Suzuki have vastly over-rated the nostalgic appeal of the original and we will see these heavily discounted
as they hang around in showrooms gathering dust .
Suzuki needs to look into their design department , they seem to consistently miss the boat in terms of looks with
even the brilliant little SV 650 being too conservative to sell as well as it should considering how good a bike it
is for the money .
...."....we will see them heavily discounted in dealers...." and that's when I'll make my move! 😎
@@ProfTrout spot on! The engine is a peach so if the look works for you go for it.. A low milage ex demo will be a good buy in December or January!
@@ProfTrout and that’s exactly what is happening. I’m able to snag one for $5,000 less than original MSRP! Mind you it is a 2020, but hey it’s still new!
@@zeronomon Sweet! I'd forgotten about these, don't see any on the roads in UK, must have a look and see if I can find a bargain too.
Great review thanks. A real trip down memory lane as I was born and grew up in Chesham , go easy on the white van man , some of us earn a living driving them 😉
I have no probs with white vans really - jealous ‘cos I don’t have one....
Nice fair review given you weren't too keen. Personally I really like this bike. Black one looks fantastic but I'd get some lower Renthals & probably ditch that massive rear number plate girder thing too. Price is a tricky one for me. It's quite expensive imo & it puts it in the territory of other bikes I like & I'm not sure I'd choose this one over them. Although it definitely warrants a test ride. Can't wait! PS: loved your "quickly up to legal speeds" line as the speedo appeared to malfunction lol. ; )
I love the looks of it. Pity about the tank capacity.
Pity about what? 12 litres at at least 20kms/litre is enough. Do the maths mate.
And its NOT meant (or advertised) as a touring bike.
Kudos for being brave and relaunching a retrobike... Dont like the Katana but I guess I am not nostalgic of that era. Great review TMF
It looks like Suzuki designed the front in such a way that a creative person could ditch those turn signal stems and convert those integrated sections that are low and on the sides of the headlight.I dig the looks because it pays homage to the original.Great review as usual, sir.My apologies, I can't figure out why I can't to extra spaces and paragraph breaks in the YT comment sections.
There are laws about how wide turn signals must be set apart.
For that price a quick shifter, TFT and a 4 gallon fuel tank should be standard. Suzuki introduced that engine back in 2005 (ish?) so it’s not like this is a newly designed engine which would justify the premium price tag. It’s an old engine with new body work and almost feels like Suzuki took a cautious approach and said let’s try to not invest much in a retro bike and charge a premium and see if it sells. If it sells well they may invest more in the bike in the future, if it doesn’t then it’s a write off that didn’t cost all that much. I think Suzuki should have done more to make this bike special and unique like the original was for its time. Great review as always!
Cheers Pete - always good to hear from you and I tend to agree!
Great review Tmf .I actually like the looks thanks Danny
oh man, that engine sounds lovely! I worked at a Suzuki/Honda shop when the original came out. I really liked it. Went back to college so there went any money.......
Beauty is mostly on the inside and that's the most important.
I always ride in higher gears with a minimum of about 2000 rpm. For fast overtakes, I put it one or two gears lower.
You use a lot less fuel that way. I do take the engine up to 8000 rpm at the end of a longer trip.
A screen is missing and If that is not an option, this is not the bike for me.
If it is, and the ride quality is good and the handling and build quality are good, this bike could be an option in the future. But now I hear you say that the tank only holds 12 liter, it's a big NO. 18 liters is the minimum for me because I like touring.
Hi TMF, immediately not seen the Katana in the flesh, there are some beautiful retro's but this definitely isn't one of them, your two recent acquisitions much much nicer, love the Speed twin. Thanks Andy.
Admittedly doh.
Cheers TMF, memories of seeing the originals way back. I think I was riding either a Honda 750 super sports, or the 900 Bol dor when these came out. Interesting beast but not for me. 👍🏍😀🇦🇺
Thumbs up for the retroish styling, not my type but it's grown on me since I first saw it.
Yes me too - although it still doesn’t work for me styling wise....
Finally Suzuki updates their turn signals. Might get a set for my GSXS1000.
Another great video TMF, I have to say I do like the look of the katana especially in silver 😀
Good to hear - thanks for watching!
Seems like a controversial bike, but I love it. Not a fan of nakeds in general, but damn its boxy in that 90s car type of way. Less boxy than the 80s, but not the boring aero blobs of the 00s. Beautiful.
1981..not even born yet..lol..
The looks is certainly not my cup of tea, but the video is..
Really enjoy the video, like always..thanks
Thanks for the kind words!
Absolutely love the looks of this bike, but 12 litre tank? D'oh!
I find my 14l tank annoying enough on my XSR900.
Will probably look even better with clip ons, custom full exhaust system, and rear plate eliminator.
You're right wet weight is more relevant but the only issue I have is it shouldn't include petrol. This bike's wet weight is lower than it should be just because it has a tiny tank which is actually a disadvantage.
Good point!
Love watching your reviews and enjoyed the deer ID with no associated grabbing a handful! I guess we deal with this every time we go out but it still looks ominous when we're relying on a car driver to stay put as we come up. Nice bike tho :)
12l tank, you'll gonna be stopping at the pump every 150 to 200kms or so.
The bike does 52mpg when ridden like a hooligan, about 150 - 165miles from mine
I used to have a Katana back in the early '90s. Big, simple, brutish and uniquely stylish. The clip-on style bars and general weightiness were dead cool and very butch - I loved taking girls on the back of it. This new version is pure badge-engineering - the standard bars are both aesthetically and ergonomically diametrically opposed to the original ethos of the original name - and they're prepared to squeeze a fair few pennies out of the name too although I guess it's their name so they can charge what they like for it! The new bike has little to say which hasn't already been said in motorcycling terms by other manufacturers and by Suzuki themselves. It's a water-cooled UJM with gobs of power. Some people will pay for the name and the unimaginative styling exercise. I think Suzuki are being a bit cheeky. Strange because their other throwback styling exercise - the latest big V-Strom - was much more faithful, honest and keenly priced; quite a large philosophical contrast in marketing terms and from within the same company; fascinating.
Had one of the first back in 82. Had two others since then.
Appreciate your review which really helped with my concerns about low speed manners and keeping under 30 (I do a lot of urban roads). I don't push particularly hard and never ride in the wet either. Currently on a 2015 CB1000R should I have any concerns about the bike running wide in corners (last 3 bikes 1200 Vmax, GSX1400 then MT-01 all of which I found could need a lot of care and positive input in corners as they wanted to go straight on) compared to my CB1000R which in that respect has been a revelation? TIA!
"Always traffic on the road if you come out at this time of day" almost as ridiculous as the quote of "I forgotten my catchphrase" :-D
Glad you liked ‘em!
Of course I can’t watch the entire video in a couple of minutes from you uploading. I’ll just leave the feedback in advance here:
Amazing video and great explanation of the intricate details.
Now back to watch the video.
Nice review again TMF. I like it, it's just the tank capacity that would put me off, I hate going to petrol stations!
I love the look of it, Like something from and 80’s scifi movie
Yeah thanks for the ride. I guess the tank was empty when you returned it! I kept thinking the screen had fallen off. What a strange visual first impression I got. Reminded me of Clarkson's description of the Sangyong Musso "the designers a Brit. Got drunk on the plane over there and penned the design before sobering up". I think Suzuki are not enhancing the Katana brand with this bike and that's a shame. Nice engine doesn't make up for all the foibles.
In the States ,the old Katana was much less to insure than the Gixxer ,so it became popular.
Actually using one today while my GSX S750 is being serviced. 1st impressions... Bad points: Seat feels quite high, oddly, and I'm slightly taller than TMF, vibrations through the seat and bum instantly noticeable and in all gears. Good: Rear three quarter angle view, powerful, torquey engine with great exhaust note even with stock pipe, smooth ride and crisp gear changes - for me, really not too snatchy but depends how one rides I suppose. Cheers
Saw this today funnily enough at dearden motorcycles in hampshire, and I have to say I was drawn to it. I was only a 10 y/o whipper snapper when this was on the scene but do remember it well (Born with helmet and gloves on). Like You, I didn't like the pictures I saw. But in the flesh, it has presence. Wouldn't part with that sort of money for it though.
Saw one of these in the flesh recently, and it does look better than pics. One thing that offended my eyes is the front mudguard, which is far too wide for the front wheel.
This bike is an instant collectors item
Great review as always thankyou👍
I'm re-watching this having seen one on the road for the first time yesterday...I've always preferred the looks to other retro bikes based on older bikes. I'm the same age as you Andy, so it's not an age thing. I thought it looked great as it rolled past at slow speed - it made me look up what they're available at now - £9.5k before haggling...looking like good buy at that to me. I'm looking forward to your long term test (I did remember that right did I?). Great vid BTW, thanks.