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KATANA BUILD

  • Thread starter Thread starter Anonymous
  • Start date Start date
83 Kat

83 Kat

I'm a fan of the Kat. I've owned mine for 10 years. I bought if for 400 complete. It had been crashed on both sides no damage to the body work, but the crank was bent. I ended up trading a snowboard for an 1150 motor that also had a knocking crank. So I sent it to Falicon for a Super Crank mod $700 at that time and have slowly mildly modified the suspension (80 1100E front end with progressives and Works Performance out back + 1150 rear wheel.

I had the valves reseated and springs replaced by Scott at Heads Up in Las Vegas and he talked me into 36mm GSXR carbs one year then the next a stock bored block to 1229 with MTC pistons.

The bike handles quite well and has done about 250 laps around SIR now Pacific Raceway in Kent, Washington at Pridmore's Class track days.

Nothing more stimulating than out braking modern machinery from 130 plus with single piston calipers.

Hey where was that picture taken of all the Kats. Thanks, Carter
 
Cool pics, what's the advantage of the ignition advancer? And can you still get the red Suzuki stickers on the tank at the dealer?
 
The Katana was produced in Japan up until 2002. It was only sold in the states for 3 years. If you have a connection either in the states of Japan all parts can be purchased, including stickers. If you're looking for only the red Suzuki name badge I'd check with the local dealer. Any part from Japan will be expensive due to shipping. If you want a whole set of decals check these guys out, in Canada. They were very good to deal with on my Katana. http://www.reproductiondecals.com/default_frameset.html?content.html~main
 
Update on the build up: I'm in the mock up phase. I've had my share of 20 year old motorcycle problems. Nothing a tap and die set and my own machine shop cant fix. Oh and a BARM
 
Rock on mghalverson! Looking good :)
The kat is one of the sexiest bikes Japan ever made.
I have never owned one of my own but have rode plenty
and have rode beside even more in my years. I love them.

Were working close to the same pace, my engine isn't ready to go
back in yet but my frame is all done and only a few cosmetics are left
like the tank and I want to get a faring.

If you want to see it it is here:
http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/viewtopic.php?t=16329
and
http://home.ptd.net/~megabyte/projects.html
 
Mine's coming along, but slowly - wanted to do some painting but weather's not cooperating lately. Got the swingarm polished, frame powdercoated, new swingarm bearings, removed plastic coating from fork lowers & polished, and rebuilt the anti-dive untis. Here's a pic from a couple of weeks ago.

katsofar.jpg
 
Hey GPZKat looking good...I should be done around mid January..lets go for a ride when you're done. I'm in Anaheim
 
Giving an update. I'm just about done and hitting the road. Had to sort out a few electrical issues (called in the reserves) turns out powder coating my frame was keeping the starter switch from grounding. I went the lazy route and grounded it from the panel to the frame. Give me to the end of the week and I'll post pictures of the rest of the build as well as the first ride. Once I choose some turn signals that is.
 
Hoooo man..I just read my previous post... "Gimmie a few weeks!! I'm almost done" HA..... as of Feb I'm trying to track down an electrical problem with the help of some friends. I've never been much good at electrical issues. We've cured the signals, the starter, the tail-light. It's the wires off the stator and the hot wire off the rectifier that are last, it seems. On the bright side the bike runs well and I purchased some smoothbores for it. I've got the whole bike together and it looks sweet. I'm going to have to relocate my web page because I'm leaving AOL. You cab check out "Oldskoolsuzuki.info" for my build up. I'm under the "Aircooled" inforboard section. Same screen name \:D/
 
I know how you feel. Mine is coming along.. but this 'cold' weather is impeding progress. Last thing to do is tidy up the engine. I have an old Kerker pipe that looks to be just charcoal black paint, would like to get that black chrome look, not sure how tho. Basically all I have left is to tidy up the engine. Mine's basically stock with the aluminum bits polished up, K&N filter pods, Fox shocks, and the Kerker megaphone.

My GPz1100 got treated to a 1135 Wiseco kit and valve job, it is running very strong. I'm still shooting for April 1 to go for a ride.
 
Saw your pics on oldschoolsuzuki - that seat is really nice. I just bought a cover and think I'll be disappointed in it, maybe it will turn out to be a temporary solution. Here's my frame awaiting engine, wiring harness and bodywork

framelatest.jpg
 
gpzkat said:
Saw your pics on oldschoolsuzuki - that seat is really nice. I just bought a cover and think I'll be disappointed in it, maybe it will turn out to be a temporary solution. Here's my frame awaiting engine, wiring harness and bodywork

framelatest.jpg
Click to expand...

why didn't you polish your forks as well that would have been a sweet addition to your swingarm :twisted:
 
When you get done we'll have to meet up for some coffee. I plan to debut the finished product at one of the local bike nights in Irvine. If you want to get the Kerker looking good check into the ceramic coatings "VHT" makes some nice paint. You can get pretty close. Just make sure and be careful until you get the paint burned in. If you want to spend a little over a hundred bucks take it to a shop that uses high heat color applications...that should include sand blasting.

If you like the seat I can turn you on to the guy that did it. He's in Orange.
 
why didn't you polish your forks as well that would have been a sweet addition to your swingarm
Click to expand...

The swingarm was really bad, acid spills, etc. I had it done professionally, all I could afford. The forks, engine side covers, clipons, etc, I'm doing myself, they are not as good, admittedly. I'm learning though, need some different rouges and mops and wll get after it soon.
 
When you get done we'll have to meet up for some coffee.
Click to expand...

You got it, looking forward to it. I think that I'll try the VHT method first, rattle cans are cheap and I like the fumes... :D I ordered some emblems for each side of the engine from bikebandit, they were 10 bucks each. I got an email back saying the were not back ordered (was fearing that), just would be a few more days as they were at a different warehouse, so that will be cool to have new emblems. I've used that partsbandit fiche and my digital photos to restore from ground up - haven't bought a manual yet!
 
for good polishes try some green jewlers rouge and a wheel attached to an angle grinder. thats what I used to do for the fuel tanks on my Kenworth T-600. gave them a great mirror finish :D
 
All done on my project. check out the pictures at Oldskoolsuzuki.info
 
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