Quick Ride

QUICK RIDE

SUZUKI KATANA 750 A winning combination

ITS FLASHY BRIGHT BLUE wheels and glaring, neon-like graphics make the 1994 Suzuki Katana 750 look as if it would fit right in on the Las Vegas Strip. But this time-tested bike, with only a few styling changes for the new season, is no gamble. A proven balance of performance, comfort and value has made the Katana a wise bet in the 750 class for the past five years.

Much of this excellence can be attributed to good breeding. The Katana traces its family tree back to the old-style GSXR750 repli-racer. Its powerplant is a re-engineered version of the air-and-oil-cooled, dohc, four-valve-per-cylinder inlineFour that helped the GSX-R streak past many a finish line.

For all its hot racing her itage, this Suzuki is one cold blooded beast, requiring full choke for several minutes. and even then may complain a bit, coughing at idle.

Fully warm, however, it pulls cleanly and quickly through six gears, aided by a smooth and quiet gearbox. Throttle re sponse is consistent through the low and middle rpm, but best if the tach is kept between

9000 rpm and the 12,500-rpm redline. Some buzziness trav eled through the pegs and handgrips at those higher revs, however, and the Katana, like its GSX-R siblings, can be a little whiny as the tach needle climbs.

Steering is precise and neu tral. As for acceleration - don't let the slightly clunky styling fool you - the Katana has al ways been one speedy bike, its powerplant capable of blasting a claimed 461 pounds of dry weight to a top speed of nearly 140 mph. No trouble bringing the quick-moving Suzuki to a stop, either. The triple disc

brakes are extremely effective, a good balance of feel and stopping power. The Katana is fitted again this year with pre mium Metzeler tires.

The Suzuki's spirited engine is surrounded by a steel perime ter frame and suspended at the front by a 41mm fork with ad justable rebound damping and at the rear by a link-type single shock with adjustable spring preload and rebound damping. The suspension is compliant and does a fine job of evening out bumps on backroads and freeways alike.

The best feature of the Katana, though, is that it doesn't trade comfort for per formance. This sportbike is de signed to be at home either tackling the twisties or hauling down the highway. Its seating position is roomy, and distance to the handlebars comfortable. Unlike on many sportier steeds, a day in the wellpadded, 31.1 inch-high saddle won't leave a rider with a numb rear and crunched legs.

Not that this is much of a surprise. The Katana 750, first introduced in 1989, has always been a winning combination of sporty power and user-friendly comfort. Combine that with an attractive price (at $6499, about a thousand bucks cheap er than most of its competi tors), and you understand why Suzuki has decided not to mess with success on this versatile street machine, gambling only with its startling new graphics. -Brenda Buttner