Suzuki has unveiled the iconic Katana at the Intermot 2018 motorcycle show. The new Katana shares its underpinnings with the Suzuki GSX-S1000R and boasts of many design elements that were showcased on the Katana Concept in 2017. The 2019 Katana pays homage to the original motorcycle that made its debut in 1981, the GSX-1100S Katana.
The styling of the new Katana has been given a very retro touch, resembles that of the original. It features LED headlights with LED front position lights along with a custom design instrument panel. The rear also looks quite stunning with a taillight that has a lightning pattern, along with a satellite rear fender that extends from the swing arm giving it a clean and sharp look. The seat is two-tone and features a seat strap.
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The retro-styled body sits on the GSX-S1000’s twin-spar aluminium alloy frame. It features fully-adjustable KYB 43mm USD fork at the front and a link-type monoshock unit at the rear which is adjustable for pre-load and rebound damping.
While the original Katana was powered by a 1074cc, 4-cylinder engine mated to a 5-speed gearbox, the 2019 Katana gets a long stroke version of the 999cc, in-line four motor that powered the 2005–2008 GSX-R1000. The motor is mated to a 6-speed transmission and is tuned to make 147bhp at 10,000rpm and 108Nm of torque at 9,500rpm. It is equipped with a slipper clutch (back-torque-limiting clutch) and three-mode traction control system. Braking duties on the Katana are carried out by Fujico disc brakes coupled with Brembo brake calipers and ABS.
The Suzuki Katana will be sold in Europe starting 2019. The bike is rumoured to be introduced in India by the end of 2019.