Tag Archives: Katana

Industry News, Latest News, Manufacturers, Suzuki

Team Classic Suzuki unveils Katana project build

After a year or more with very limited racing activity, Team Classic Suzuki has unveiled its lockdown project build; a Katana based around a 2008 GSX-R1000 world superbike machine.

History already exists between Team Classic Suzuki and the Katana. After building a racing version at Motorcycle Live, Team Classic Suzuki raced a Katana in the European Classic Endurance Championship, scoring a class win at Oschersleben.

This time, Team Classic Suzuki has turned its hand to a road-going Katana project.

At the heart is a 2008 world superbike-spec engine from an Alstare GSX-R1000, fully refreshed by Team Classic Suzuki’s Nathan Colombi. Putting out around 200bhp at the rear wheel, it breathes through Alstare world superbike headers, mated to a Racefit link pipe and end can. Cooling comes from a factory radiator and oil cooler, with aluminium water and oil pipes. To keep things manageable, electronics comes as a Yoshimura EM Pro kit.

The package is housed in an Alstare world superbike frame, though dimensions are the same as the road-going GSX-R1000 K8. There’s a custom, over-sized swingarm and bespoke subframe from Alpha Performance Fabrications, both designed to facilitate a twin shock setup that pays homage to the original Katana. Suspension comes courtesy of Öhlins.

Dymag CH3 wheels also maintain a classic look, and are the same wheels found in Team Classic Suzuki’s XR69 replica machines. Mounted to them are Brembo discs, with calipers and pads also from the Italian firm. The rear caliper slots discreetly in between the swingarm and wheel for a cleaner look to the rear end. New aluminium rear sets were designed in-house.

Also cleaning up the rear end is slim LED tail light fitted to a seat unit that started life as a Team Classic Suzuki racing item, before being modified to fit the factory world superbike fuel tank. The nose cone is a new, old stock Katana unit, available from Suzuki’s Vintage Parts Programme, which has been widened by one inch and modified to fit. Moulds from the nose and seat unit were used to create carbon panels that add a finishing touch. Fixtures and fittings come courtesy of Racefastener.

A new seat from Italian supplier Race Seats is finished with a Katana logo, the traditional red Suzuki logo of original Katanas still adorns the tank, while a Team Classic Suzuki logo completes the seat unit, again in the traditional red.

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Industry News, Latest News, Manufacturers, Suzuki

Suzuki offers summer test ride incentive with £500 off

Suzuki has launched a new summer incentive, rewarding anyone that takes a test ride on selected models with £500 off the RRP when they go on to purchase. The offer runs in conjunction with all current campaigns, and across most of Suzuki’s on-road range.

Running from 1 August to 9 September, the incentive applies to both the GSX-R1000 and range-topping GSX-R1000R, the GSX-S1000F, GSX-S1000, and GSX-S750, both variants of the V-Strom 650 and V-Strom 1000, plus the SV650X and the new-for-2019 KATANA. The £500 off is available to cash buyers and finance customers.

The offer runs alongside the current 0% finance offer on the GSX-R1000R, and Suzuki’s 2,3,4 campaign, which allows customers to choose from either a PCP or HP deal, and then select the length of their agreement with an APR to match. If choosing a V-Strom, customers will also benefit from £500 worth of free accessories, making Suzuki’s adventure range a truly tempting proposition.

Suzuki GB head of motorcycles, Jonathan Martin, commented, “Summer’s in full swing, but for those still in the process of selecting a new bike for the season, this offer is an added sweetener alongside our current offers that make riding a new Suzuki this summer an even more tempting and viable option.”

For more information on Suzuki’s finance offers, click here.





Shows and Events, Suzuki

Suzuki to showcase new KATANA at MK Bike Show

Suzuki is set to attend this year’s MK Bike Show, with the new KATANA taking centre-stage at stadium MK on June 23, while taster sessions on its learner-friendly GSX-S125 will be available for those looking to take their first steps into motorcycling.

The Japanese manufacturer – with its UK headquarters based in Milton Keynes and its sponsorship of the MK Dons football club – will showcase the hotly-anticipated new KATANA, which arrived in dealerships last month and pays homage to the original 1981 machine with instantly recognisable, Samurai sword-inspired styling, alongside its existing product range.

The new KATANA will be flanked by the race-winning GSX-R1000R – currently available on 0% finance – and entry-level GSX-R125, plus the GSX-S1000F, GSX-S1000, and GSX-S750, GSX-S125, and SV650 street machines. From the firm’s adventure bike range will be the V-Strom 1000XT, V-Strom 650XT, and V-Strom 250, while the Burgman 400 and Address will represent the scooter lineup.

There will also be an RM-Z450 and KingQuad highlighting Suzuki’s off-road prowess, while the brand’s illustrious heritage will be showcased thanks to Kevin Schwantz’s 1993 World Championship-winning RGV500 and an original GSX-R750F from 1985.

Many of the bikes on display will also be available to test ride on the day – providing visitors can produce a valid licence, National Insurance number, and riding kit – while experienced instructors will be on-hand for new riders enjoying taster sessions on the GSX-S125.

The MK Bike Show is free-to-enter, and takes place at stadium MK on June 23.

Suzuki can be found on stand 145 on the day. For more information on Suzuki’s product range and latest offers, click here.


 

Dealer News, Suzuki

Join the nationwide Suzuki dealership launch to celebrate the arrival of the new KATANA

Suzuki GB and its dealer network are poised to celebrate the arrival of the new KATANA in showrooms up and down the country, with a nationwide launch of this evolution of an icon on Thursday 30 May.

The events, being held in Suzuki motorcycle showrooms across the country, will afford motorcyclists the chance to get up close and personal with the new machine and purchase one of the first KATANAs to arrive in the country. There will also be exclusive special offers announced on the night for those that place orders, while dealer demonstrators will be available for test rides from 31 May.

The evolution of the legendary 1980s icon sees the 2019 KATANA take styling cues from the original, including sharp, KATANA Samurai sword-inspired lines, rectangular headlight and bold, red Suzuki lettering on the tank. However, the new model is a modern interpretation of the original 1981 KATANA and boasts modern underpinnings with a twin-spar aluminium frame, three-mode traction control system, one-push easy start and 150hp inline-four cylinder engine packed with an abundance of useable power and character.

Suzuki GB Head of Marketing, Fiona Cole, said ahead of the nationwide event, “The new KATANA has been hotly anticipated since it’s global unveil at the Intermot show in Germany last October, and then first shown in the UK during the Motorcycle Live show in November. Feedback from the first test rides from our dealers and the UK media launch in the last few weeks has been incredibly positive, and we’re looking forward to motorcyclists now having the chance to visit their local dealership and see the new KATANA for themselves, learn more about the machine and launch offers available as well as finally be able to place orders to ensure they receive one of the first saleable machines in the country. There is a history and aura around KATANA that other motorcycles can’t replicate and the buzz and excitement it has generated so far should see busy showrooms on 30 May.”

The first 200 customers to buy a new KATANA will also be gifted an exclusive and limited edition commemorative KATANA book, charting the bike and the legendary sword’s histories, the similarities in dedication to craftsmanship and design philosophies.

Interested in joining the nationwide KATANA launch? Register your interest at www.bikes.suzuki.co.uk/katana-national-launch, and click here to find your nearest Suzuki authorised dealer.

For more information on the new KATANA, click here.