Photoshoot of the Week: August 19th-25th 2019 – Lara Arluni & Suzuki Katana

The Suzuki Katana is a standard motorcycle sold between 1981 and 2006 and then since 2019. It was designed in 1979–1980 by Target Design of Germany for Suzuki.
The Katana name was later applied to a range of sport touring motorcycles in North America through the 2006 model year (also offered in Europe but without the Katana moniker), and starting at the change of the millennium to a line of 49 cc/50 cc scooters in Europe. This name has been used and misused by Suzuki in the past on bikes ranging from the jaw-dropping GSX1100S that introduced the title to the AY50 scooter that bore the badge right into the 21st century. So in 2018 it’s back for Suzuki 2019 model range at the Intermot show in Cologne and appearing on a machine that’s hoping to recapture the excitement of the original.
The GS1000-based machine was wildly ahead of its time in terms of design and style, and even though it wasn’t the best bike around (Kawasaki’s Z and GPz range killed it on most fronts), it had an impact that’s stuck through the decades. Like the original then, this new version is based on a current roadster – the GSX-S1000. That’s a pretty decent base of course: a GSX-R1000 K5 motor serves as the foundation for the 150bhp powerplant, and the GSX-S chassis is more than solid enough: twin-spar beam alloy frame, GSX-R swingarm, USD forks, radial Brembo front calipers. It’s a little on the porky side – and the Katana has actually added mass (up 6kg to 215kg). But we’ve spent plenty of time on the GSX-S1000 and it’s a very capable naked beastie to build upon.
Much of the Katana story centres around the styling and design then. And it does pay homage to the old bike in a pretty decent manner. The Katana logo is on show, on the dash as well as on the graphics, and the fairing/tank cover do a great job of echoing the old style, while staying on the modern side. We like the dual tone stepped seat too. In tech terms, its hard to see what will feel much different from the GSX-S. There’s a slower-opening throttle linkage, which we’re not sure is a good thing. What’s definitely sub-optimal is the teeny 12 litre fuel tank. The GSX-S motor is good on fuel, but with such a small tank, you’ll be stopping for fuel every 90 miles: what a poor performance!
The engine is the same 999cc four-cylinder, making 147.5hp and tracing its roots back to the legendary 2005 GSX-R1000 K5. It’s not the turbocharged twin that many hoped would be used to revive the Katana name, but it’s arguably closer to the spirit of the original GSX1100S Katana that went on sale in 1981. The Katana’s aluminium frame is again borrowed from the GSX-S1000, as are the wheels, brakes and suspension. Even the exhaust system is identical, although it’s notable that Suzuki’s PR material makes no mention of the GSX-S, instead choosing to draw parallels with the GSX-R1000.
The Katana’s spec includes three mode traction control, LED lights front and rear, fully adjustable 43mm KYB inverted forks and Brembo radial brake calipers, but apart from the lights and the new LCD instrument display, it’s all the same kit that’s already fitted to the GSX-S1000.
As usual, there’s a range of extras including an optional screen, carbon bits and even red-painted brake calipers, but there’s just one colour option – silver. It’s a Katana, after all.
Will this be the bike to reverse Suzuki’s flagging fortunes? To do so it’s got tough competition to beat, including the similarly retro-flavoured Honda CB1000R and the more performance-oriented Yamaha MT-10 and BMW S1000R. Anyway, choosing Lisa Arluni as testimonial was a good choice indeed…