1952

[Tony Nitrous]

The bit that I struggle to get my head around is the fact my 1980's GSX1100,  16v, twin cam, in-line 4, is ten years closer to this, than it is to my Hayabusa.

[Batkwaka]

The 80's is possibly the greatest decade of motorcycling. It was the rise of Japanese dominance creating the styles of bikes that are common today. The beginning of the end for aftermarket frame manufacturers as the cost of improving over standard became higher and higher. Less draconian enforcement of raod rules.

[VladTepes]

Well those super flexy steel frames of the 70s-80s era did make things exciting.

[Tony Nitrous]

The 80's is possibly the greatest decade of motorcycling. It was the rise of Japanese dominance creating the styles of bikes that are common today. The beginning of the end for aftermarket frame manufacturers as the cost of improving over standard became higher and higher. Less draconian enforcement of raod rules.

For Suzuki, I'd say mid 70's to mid 80's were the most important and progressive years.

They brought in the GS in-line 4's, they went 16v GSX, then went liquid cooled GSXR, all in a ten year span. Quite different to what came before, and a lot of the stuff that followed is just a slow evolution on that 10 year range.

[Batkwaka]

Well those super flexy steel frames of the 70s-80s era did make things exciting.

I liked the quote from an early 80's magazine article on the GSX1100SZ Katana in a comparison with a Rickman Frame Katana, "Iron guts, jelly legs"!

[Eric GSX1400K3]

Doesn't "Katana" translate to "wheels of death" from Japanese? 

[Tony Nitrous]

Mine was fine. 19" front wheel made it quite stable if not very nimble.




One of my current GSX's has a few mods, wider 18" rims, fork brace, steering damper etc, but it still has a stock frame and is fine with it.

[Batkwaka]

Mine was the SZ with 19" F & 17" R. Very stable on the road and so much better on gravel, sand & forestry tracks (when you take a wrong turn to the campsite).
I put Marzocchi shocks on the rear originally but they wear quick so I swapped to Koni. Progressive Suspension springs in the front and a forkbrace tidied things up for handling. A Tingate exhaust to help it breathe added style and an oh so illegal note.
Tony, those Monza helmets were the coolest thing ever, so close to a Stormtrooper helmet for the time. A friends dog ate the inside of mine and never replaced it.

[grog]

Never owned Katana, means sword from memory. Had GSX1100 like Tony black, never really had a prob, handling or otherwise, amazing bike. Marzocchi shocks on GS1000, worst ever, no travel, stupid air over, pressure too hard to keep constant, also fitted Koni, big difference, set n forget. Pre GS750 were good . us kids enjoyed all the 2 stroke Suzis. Went from old UK singles to them, we thought miracle. Hustler started with me, then Rebel, Titan, then the triples. 380, 550 were great, crazy times. First 750 was K, 20 th ks in 3 mths. L was next, seized it first weekend, my fault. Fully ported, chambers built homemade, sure could go, sure loved petrol. Was equal to Z1 which was aim, except they passed me at fuel station. M model, A model, stockers, never as good after crazy L. End of my story, from then on 4 strokes.

[Tony Nitrous]

Never owned Katana, means sword from memory. Had GSX1100 like Tony black, never really had a prob, handling or otherwise, amazing bike.

I agree. I hear a lot more negative comments about 80's Jap bikes now than I did then.

At the time they were all kinds of awesome!   Just like dial up phones wired to the wall and VHS tapes, they were the best we'd ever seen and something special in their day. Like the H2 triple and the TL1000 their "widow maker" reputation makes good rose tinted pub talk but isn't that close to reality.   

Funny too, the Luddites comments I hear now about 200hp bikes with a heap of high tech features sound very similar to the ones back then about pointless 100+hp bikes with 16v and twin cams, "no one needs all that on the road, god help us if they ever use fuel injection and ECU's, I can't fix them like points and carbs!"



I do have a passion for the later Kats. The few changes both mechanically and cosmetically just made them a nicer better bike IMO.

Early...



Later....

The later bikes got the 6 spoke (like the next GSXR) style wheels not the snowflake ones, alloy pegs not big rubber ones, and a black motor etc. I just think it suits the futuristic at the time styling.   The later black motor bikes using the same engine as the ESD also had better internals, extra clutch plate and a few other upgrades.

[Tony Nitrous]

. Hustler started with me,.

Mine was a "Super Six". Similar T20 bike but was known for having a 6 speed box.

I remember that the front left of the fuel tank near the steering head had an external tube connecting two outlets. My first fuel gauge ! 

[Irish in Oz]

I love the sixties, seventies and eighties bikes. I have a few of them. My favourites are early 80's superbikes like GS, GSX, FJ, XJ, VF, CB, GPZ.
But love my two strokes especially the RD400C just great to ride.

[Irish in Oz]

The bit that I struggle to get my head around is the fact my 1980's GSX1100,  16v, twin cam, in-line 4, is ten years closer to this, than it is to my Hayabusa.

Do a Google search for Colleda Motorcycles a mate of mine has a couple of them.

[Tony Nitrous]

The bit that I struggle to get my head around is the fact my 1980's GSX1100,  16v, twin cam, in-line 4, is ten years closer to this, than it is to my Hayabusa.

Do a Google search for Colleda Motorcycles a mate of mine has a couple of them.

I'm familiar with them. I'm guessing they may be TA's ? "Twin Ace". Interesting bikes. A Suzuki with no Suzuki branding.

I used to turn over a lot of bikes so went through everything from FS1E's, to KH250's, SOHC CB750, 400/4, CJ250, KZ1000, GT250's, CB200, XS250, Z1100R, GSXR Slabsiders and heaps more in a short time. I know I had 50+ over a few years, a few nice ones, but a lot of shite! (like the CJ and XS). The Kat and Lawson Rep were my favourites.

Now I've found my niche.
All the ones I own, and the ones I'm chasing,  are 16v, in-line 4, chain drive Suzuki's.  From the 1980 GSX11 up to the current Busa.  Just what works for me.

[GSXKING]

I had the Katana with maroon stripe however it had wire wheels. Rumours abounded it was NZ spec 🤔🤔