katana1100

[phaze5]

hey guys,


long story short,

kids, graduation one left= emptynest

leaving me with more time for the wife,

she wants to ride now and i want a better bike at the same time,

she likes goldwings, i came across a couple for 3000 with 40 thou on them, dont know how they ride as i never rode one, AM I READY LOL

i can keep my n/h for what its worth?

then a guy had a venture he wanted 1800 with 50 thou on the odo looked like it sat outside and then he offered it to me for 1500 w/o me asking, scared me away

then i questioned again was i ready for that bike,

then i came across a 93 katana 1100 that i was gonna custom build into a goldwing type bike rear endwise, i want the old lady to feel comfortable and secure,

is it possible to put something like that on the back? i think i can pull it off if it is,


is there any bad things to know about the bike itself?

[Motornoggin]

John Denver had one.

[JamesG]

is there any bad things to know about the bike itself?

Its a Katana.

Get the Goldwing. ANY Goldwing before you buy a Katana.  I won't go into all the reasons why it sucks, just take my word for it.

Hell, if you've gotta have something Suzuki, get a Bandit 1200 before a Kan o tuna.  

[ChrisInTexas]

Its a Katana.

Get the Goldwing. ANY Goldwing before you buy a Katana.  I won't go into all the reasons why it sucks, just take my word for it.

Hell, if you've gotta have something Suzuki, get a Bandit 1200 before a Kan o tuna.  

I own a 2005 GSX750F (Katana) and love it. Tons of power, predictable power-band, very comfortable compared to other sport bikes like GSXR's & CBR's, great gas mileage, low insurance rates, plenty of parts (new & used). I just installed a new Zero Gravity Sport Touring windscreen & new o-ring chain on mine last weekend. I perform the recommended maintenence and it starts every time and runs without fail.

The same Katana engine has been used in other very successful Suzuki bikes (including the Bandit) in varying bore & stroke combinations. So I don't think there are any engine problems, they are very reliable. And, they were priced great, very affordable.

In my opinion, Suzuki is really missing the boat by dropping the Katana (GSXxxxF) line of bikes, it was their perfect candidate for the sport touring market. Update the GSX1100F with a larger motor, put a taller windscreen and some hard cases on it and you have an awesome touring bike.

Having said all of this though, my next bike will be a Bandit...because the Katana is no more. (I'll just wait until Suzuki gets there stuff together and brings the Bandit 1250GT to the USA).

http://www.superbike.co.uk/imageBank/s/suzuki_uk_bandit_1250gt.jpg

[JamesG]

You don't know if the bashers have ever owned or ridden them.  Maybe we know something you don't?   And you made the mistake of buying one, so that doesn't exactly make you un-biased either now does it?

The engine is great. But try to adjust your valves or drop the motor and you'll realize what a POS it is.  Its Suzuki trying to milk a 20 year old design on the gullible who couldn't see past the periodically revised bodywork to the antique they were buying.

But don't worry, Suzuki's grand Katana tradition continues with the GSF. Wrap a Bandit in "sportbike" plastic and you can keep on selling em!

[ChrisInTexas]

You don't know if the bashers have ever owned or ridden them.  Maybe we know something you don't?   And you made the mistake of buying one, so that doesn't exactly make you un-biased either now does it?

The engine is great. But try to adjust your valves or drop the motor and you'll realize what a POS it is.  Its Suzuki trying to milk a 20 year old design on the gullible who couldn't see past the periodically revised bodywork to the antique they were buying.

But don't worry, Suzuki's grand Katana tradition continues with the GSF. Wrap a Bandit in "sportbike" plastic and you can keep on selling em!

Here is a photo of my POS

[chornbe]

then a guy had a venture he wanted 1800 with 50 thou on the odo looked like it sat outside and then he offered it to me for 1500 w/o me asking, scared me away

They are prone to breaking 2nd gear and they're among that class of bike that has "worst suspension ever" in terms of reliability and such. Leaky forks are the norm. Sloppy handling. Not really a great bike; unless you're an Venture enthusiast, walk away and don't look back. Sounds like he's unloading a piece of crap.

$.02/YMMV/FWIW/IMHO/etc

[chornbe]

You don't know if the bashers have ever owned or ridden them.  Maybe we know something you don't?   And you made the mistake of buying one, so that doesn't exactly make you un-biased either now does it?

The engine is great. But try to adjust your valves or drop the motor and you'll realize what a POS it is.  Its Suzuki trying to milk a 20 year old design on the gullible who couldn't see past the periodically revised bodywork to the antique they were buying.

The good news is that no other motorcycle company has ever done that.  

[chornbe]

PS... Just get a Bandit.

There's a great example of one that needs a little bit of TLC for sale right here on ST.N.

http://www.sport-touring.net/forums/index.php/topic,54656.0.html

[JamesG]

Here is a photo of my POS

Thanks for sharing. Admitting you've got a problem is the first step of recovery.

The good news is that no other motorcycle company has ever done that.

Eh, you could say the Seca II was Yamaha trying to milk the defunct FZ line for just a few more yen.  And maybe the 599 and 919 were recycling of superseeded CBR millls.  But no one kept at it longer and more blatantly like Suzuki, except for maybe Harley.

I don't blame them at all though. Its a sound business decision, everyone sold was pure profit, since the development had long been paid for.  As long as they kept finding enough suckers to buy them to cover the production and shipping costs.

[chornbe]

*cough*concours*cough*
*cough*vulcan*cough*
*cough*shadow*cough*
*cough*nighthawk/cb*cough*
*cough*Z...*cough*
*cough*cbr*cough*
...
...
...
...
...

[JamesG]

At least those were honest living fossils.

Kawasaki didn't bother to change anything but the paint on the Connie and KLR for 20 years.   Truth in Advertizing ya know?

[ChrisInTexas]

hey guys,


long story short,

kids, graduation one left= emptynest

leaving me with more time for the wife,

she wants to ride now and i want a better bike at the same time,

she likes goldwings, i came across a couple for 3000 with 40 thou on them, dont know how they ride as i never rode one, AM I READY LOL

i can keep my n/h for what its worth?

then a guy had a venture he wanted 1800 with 50 thou on the odo looked like it sat outside and then he offered it to me for 1500 w/o me asking, scared me away

then i questioned again was i ready for that bike,

then i came across a 93 katana 1100 that i was gonna custom build into a goldwing type bike rear endwise, i want the old lady to feel comfortable and secure,

is it possible to put something like that on the back? i think i can pull it off if it is,


is there any bad things to know about the bike itself?

phaze5, have you learned anything here?

[chornbe]

At least those were honest living fossils.

Kawasaki didn't bother to change anything but the paint on the Connie and KLR for 20 years.   Truth in Advertizing ya know?

Thing is, they could never get the anchor chains to stay on, so while it's an adequate enough motorcycle for the undiscerning, it's also not exception as a boat anchor.

[phaze5]

phaze5, have you learned anything here?

after the first post lmao im partial to honda after all lol we dont get alot of bandits around locally so they are few and far between. i seen a grey goldwing that looked good. colorwise. seeing alot of miles kinda scares me though but im seeing alot of the same so it must be good right?

thanks for the replies guys

[ChrisInTexas]

after the first post lmao im partial to honda after all lol we dont get alot of bandits around locally so they are few and far between. i seen a grey goldwing that looked good. colorwise. seeing alot of miles kinda scares me though but im seeing alot of the same so it must be good right?

thanks for the replies guys

I say, buy what you want and enjoy the ride!

--Chris signing out

[Zixxerpilot]

after the first post lmao im partial to honda after all lol we dont get alot of bandits around locally so they are few and far between. i seen a grey goldwing that looked good. colorwise. seeing alot of miles kinda scares me though but im seeing alot of the same so it must be good right?

thanks for the replies guys

Honda? CBR1100xx, Corbin Gunfighter and Lady seat, Corbin Beetle Bags, and bar risers. FAR more comfortable, reliable, and refined than the Katana. You can find early carb'd ones cheap.

You can also look at the older CBR1000f, but things are harder to find for it, and they fetch nearly the same price as the XX.

Honestly, the Hayabusa would be the closest thing Zuk has. Don't get me wrong, I loved my Busas, but they command a higher price since so many people grab them to modify. The XX is a serious sleeper.

Man, this is making me miss the old Honda....