Suzuki Katana the Big Kat Gets Sharper Paws
SUZUKI KATANA The big Kat gets sharper paws
ROUNDUP
PUTTING THE KATANA 1100 through its paces on the mountain road, one thing was immediately apparent: Thanks to suspension changes for 1989, Suzuki’s biggest sport-tourer is now more at home in the corners.
That couldn’t be said for last year’s bike, which had suspension
rates far too soft for aggressive riding and was hampered by wallowing in fast corners. With an increase in spring rates and with more damping in both the fork and shock, that’s no longer a problem, allowing the Katana to be ridden with verve, right up to the point where the footpegs and undercarriage begin to smack against the pavement. For fine tuning, the shock still has four settings for rebound damping, but now there’s a remote reservoir with 20 different settings for compression damping.
With those changes and the suspension properly adjusted, riding the 551-pound Suzuki is deceptive: While certainly not as nimble as the lighter-weight GSX-R, the Katana rewards its rider with a smooth, neutral-steering ride. The exceptions are during parking-lot maneuvers or in tight canyons, where the bike’s weight is noticeable and it feels heavy to steer. Vibration plagued the Katana 1100 during last year’s Open Class comparison (“Superbike Shootout,” CW, September, 1988), but for 1989, Suzuki has made the big ends of the connecting rods heavier for increased reliability, and that change seems to have smoothed out the engine just a tad. Some things that remain unchanged are the sleek-looking but ineffective fairing, the motorized up-down windshield that provides no real rider benefit, and the cramped seat-to-footpeg relationship, all of which make the bike less than ideal for long-distance work. But the Katana does have some endearing features. It has a strong, torquey engine that’s as content to loaf along as it is to power towards the bike’s top speed of 155 miles an hour. It has a wide, plush seat that may be the best-ever put on a sporting motorcycle, and, as already mentioned, its firmed-up suspension now fully complements the bike’s sport-touring nature. With the changes made this year, Suzuki has shown it is serious about improving its biggest sport-tourer. Last year’s bike was good, this year’s is very good, and with a few more improvements, the Katana 1100 could be a truly wonderful motorcycle. —Doug Toland
