Embarassingly "noob" question

[colinjca]

Hi All,
Many years ago, when I first joined the Navy (please bear with me) I was posted to the west coast for training. One of the guys I was friendly with had an 82 650 katana - the one without the fairing - and was shipped out to the east coast. He sold the bike to me and I had a fine time cruising in the evenings.
Zip ahead to about six years ago. My brother bought an 82 650GT from a police auction for a couple of hundred bucks, intending to fix it up. He even collected all the necessary manuals, but, of course, we all know about good intentions.
Fast forward to today. My brother is moving to a new apartment and has nowhere to store the bike that he never got round to fixing. I'm buying it from him.
I have nothing against the GT models, but nostalgia for that old katana pulls hard at my heart and so, at last, we come to my question.
Are the differences between the two models mostly cosmetic? Assuming I can find the parts, can I change over the tank, side panels, seat and rear fairing to recreate my long lost ride?[-o<

 

[Guest]

If you could post pictures, that would help alot of us out.

Also visit bikebandit.com to look at their schematics for both bikes and just see if the parts match up...

Good luck

 

[chris myers]

the GT should be a shaftie, where the Kat is a chain drive. the Kat was also in a higher stae of tune.
Chris

 

[colinjca]

Hi and thanks for the replies.

brveagle: Pictures you want, pictures I've got.

Katana

GT

This is where I got them.
I haven't been to bikebandit.com yet. Thanks for the suggestion.

chris myers: I could have sworn that old Katana had a shaft drive, but it's been a very long time and you could well be right. I may be having a "senior's moment" on this one.

 

[Billy Ricks]

They are both shafties and look like they share the same engine. Check the specs here. The frames are probably different though. Best thing to do is find a bike salvage yard with one so you can compare the two.
http://www.suzukicycles.org/All-Suzuki/all_suzuki_models.html

 

[colinjca]

Thanks for all the suggestions,folks.
I looked on bikebandit.com, and the frames do appear to be different but they didn't have an 82 katana or an 83 GT so I'm still left wondering. I think you hit the nail on the head there, Billy Ricks.
Not to worry, though. The bike arrives tomorrow and I can't wait.:mrgreen: