1981 GSX1100 Katana Based Project

[Shin-Ken 1074]

The weight reduction continues, it is only a few grams this time but every gram removed helps. The catch can breather never looked right so this weekend I swapped it for a lighter breather.

breather 1 by Max Mutarn, on Flickr


Breather 3 by Max Mutarn, on Flickr

 

[Shin-Ken 1074]

The replacement breather, 31 grams lighter and a tidy look.

Breather 4 by Max Mutarn, on Flickr

Breather 2 by Max Mutarn, on Flickr


Running Tally : 197.902 kg.

 

[peteGSX]

I wondered how this was all going Glen! Just joined back up on here again. Looks like the shed pics on the previous page were at Derek's place? Looking good, be good to see it back out again soon too! I assume all the oil consumption issues are now solved?

 

[Shin-Ken 1074]

Hi Pete, glad to see you back on GSR mate. Yeah, we bolted the Kat back together at Derek's place a few weeks ago. Once the ring break in is done the Kat will be back on the North Side for some fun. The oil leak it had seems to have been cured, amazing how the oil stays inside the engine after new seals and gaskets are installed, very thankful for that result.

Cheers.

 

[peteGSX]

Nice one Glen, looking forward to seeing it back in action! Yes, it is amazing what new seals and gaskets can do, did the same with the 450's valve cover gasket the other week during the service and it's amazingly dry now.

 

[Shin-Ken 1074]

Have put a few more km on the Kat for the second 300 km break-in run. The tyre pressure is still being tweeked and for now the radials are running with 30 PSI front and 36 PSI rear. Handling and suspension is doing well at those pressures however, on the next ride I'll drop them to 29 PSI front and 34 PSI rear. The Kat is now 24% (62 kg or 136 lbs) lighter than when it left the factory so the tyre pressure needs to be tuned to match the much lower curb weight.

 

[Shin-Ken 1074]

Had the time for a ride today and test the 29 PSI front and 34 PSI rear tyre pressure. A dry day with mild temps riding at legal speeds saw the tyre pressure rise from 29 to 31 PSI for the front and 35 to 39 PSI for the rear. Checked the tyre pressure as soon as I got home so it was interesting to see the rise in pressure on a mild day after only riding for 50km on the open road.

The ride was OK however, there is still a bit of harshness when hitting bumps and ripples in the road so for the next ride I'll drop the pressure to 27 PSI front and 32 PSI rear and will also check the rise in pressure after the ride.

 

[steve murdoch]

Max, the 136lb weight loss is incredible. Well done!

 

[Shin-Ken 1074]

Max, the 136lb weight loss is incredible. Well done!

Hi Steve, thank you. All of those tiny changes to shave a few grams here and a few grams there in the end combine to make for a pretty big weight reduction. The power to weight ratio is where it all comes together, an 1197 cc engine with a few hotrod parts and weighing 10 kg less than a
1985 GSXR 750 which had a curb weight of 208 kg makes the Kat a fun ride that's for sure.

Running Tally: 197.902 kg.

 

[Shin-Ken 1074]

Tested the tyre pressure on a ride today with 27 PSI front and 32 PSI rear (cold tyres), on a 60 km ride on the open road. Handling and comfort are O.K. going over the same bumps and ripples as the previous ride with a similar increase in pressure once the tyres were at operating temperature.

The front went from 27 PSI to 30 PSI and the rear pressure from 32 PSI to 36 PSI. Once at operating temperature these pressures make for a pretty firm ride on a very light weight scooter, a bit too firm so still some tweeking to do to get the balance right for grip, handling, comfort and tyre wear.

Next ride will be with cold tyre pressure at 26 PSI front and 31 PSI rear.

Running Tally: 197.902 kg.