Here's a selection of photos sent in to me from Katana-philes (and the occasional GS1000S fan, too) from all around the world. There are even some examples of rare GSX1100-powered exotica!
Simply click on the thumbnails if you'd like to view the full-size picture. Enjoy!
Got a Katana you'd like to share with us all? Or maybe a GS1000S, or some other Big Zook? Feel free to a JPG image, and before too long I should have it added to the page.
Greg's Katana
The big Kat in its element, taking a breather by the side of the open road. These bikes were made for blasting!
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Dave's Katana
Neat as a pin, some great mods. Fournales shocks, fork brace, Brembo discs & calipers, Lockhart oil cooler. Neat grabrail, too.
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Ernie's GS1000S
What a great old bus these things are. Like me, Ernie regrets ever selling it.
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Andrew's Katana
Very original, and freshly imported into Australia from Japan. Seen here just after being unloaded off the boat.
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Peter's Katana
Now here is one tasty bit of kit: that black satin finish looks absolutely smashing. Reminds you of the Yoshimura Katana, eh?
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Axle's Katana
A fresh restoration, with GSX-R running gear, all very neatly done. You can just see the power in this thing, can't you?
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Max's Katanas
Q: What's better than a Katana? A: Three Katanas.
Says Max, "I love me Kats!" And Fournales shock absorbers too, by the look of it!
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Laurence's Katana
Check out the great paintjob that Laurence has performed here. Polished alloy everywhere, very schmick indeed.
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Martin's GS1000S
A lovely specimen, eh? And look at that seat, what a work of art.
Now there's a bit of a story behind this particular GS1000S. As you may have already read on my GS1000S page, I got it into my head to buy a GS1000S after seeing one in the late 1980s, on display in the front window of a Sydney motorcycle wrecker. The poor machine had been dredged from the floor of Sydney Harbour, and was encrusted with coral and other harbour crud. Let's allow Martin to take up the story...
Hello there,
I came across your website... and read that you
were inspired to buy a GS1000S after seeing one in the window of a Sydney
motorcycle wrecker. If that wrecker was Trevor Love Motorcycles, then
chances are the GS1000S that I own is the very same bike. They restored it
around 1993, and used it as a showpiece for the business.
Thought you might be (mildly) interested to know the bike lives, if it is
the same one.
Well, I thought, I'm more than "mildly interested"! Only problem is, the bike I saw in the wrecker's window was red/white, not blue/white. Martin emailed back with this:
The plot thickens because although my GS is blue, it was originally red. I'm
from Brisbane, but when I bought it I was given a rundown on the bike's
Sydney origins... it even appeared in an edition of "Streetbike" magazine
(the date of which, 1993, gave me the indication that that was the date of
restoration, but who knows?), which was given to me with the bike. It's
unmistakeable from the one in the mag largely because of its... chrome plated swingarm.
I only bought it last August, and in that time I've had to buy a new sump
plate, fit a new head gasket, solve the same electrical problems you had
with your GS, and I've just discovered a crack in the crankcase which I'm
fixing at the moment. I'll be happy to send you a photo when it's in a
suitably photogenic condition. It looks pretty good though actually...
original mufflers and all.
Small world, eh?
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Arnout's Katana & EFE
Arnout carried out a fair bit of work on this Katana: engine mods, cosmetics, chassis, the lot. You can visit Arnout's site here and find out what he's been doing with his other machines as well. And find out how to do the home engineering thing better yourself.
So, forget Don Quixote! THIS is the ideal steed for tilting at windmills...
But sadly Arnout came home one day last year, and some thieving scum had nicked his Katana. This would have left most of us broken-hearted for months -- but not Arnout. He immediately bought a tatty old 1150EFE, and set to work doing the usual trademark Arnout modifications: Thunderace swingarm, USD front forks and up-to-date stopping gear, not to mention all the careful cosmetic work along the way. The end result? Judge for yourself (but it is very tasty 
):
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Kev's Katana & GSX
Another schmick Katana and, while we're at it, a neat old GSX as well.
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Jake's GS1000S
Says Jake,
... when it comes to perfection, you just cant beat the older technology. If I were offered a brand new GSX1300R Hayabusa for a clean swap, I would bluntly decline.
Couldn't have put it better myself.
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Don's GS1000S
So what has Don done to get such a tasty result? In his own words:
"... paintjob [is] original execpt for the fairing as its had a little ding with the previous owner. ... The engine has 1085 Wiseco kit, ported head, 1mm o/s stainless valves (Kawasaki),stage 1 Yoshi cams, polished/ welded/ balanced crank, welded 2nd gear, under-cut gears, larger springs and rivets in clutch. ... It runs Kayaba race shocks (notice they're "upside down"), Mackintosh swing arm, 4.25x18/ 2.50x18 rims, a GSX 550 ESD front guard that bolts straight on with only little cuts to clear the brake line brakets. ... 29mm smoothbore carbies, Tingate exhaust and K&N air filter ... The cams are dialed in at 106 degrees for grunt and it makes 105 hp but has a large dip in the midrange, but you don't worry about it as it has the grunt to pull thru it."
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Adam's GS1000S
Specs and work done as follows:
- Wiseco 1170 kit
- Katana 1100 carbs
- UniFilter
- new brakes front and rear
- new rear tyre
- new fairing and instrument cluster
- new starter motor and starter clutch
- new rear shocks
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Craig's GS1000G
Ah yes, the mighty shaftie, the original mile-eater. Looks to be original except for the Vetter fairing, paint, seat cover & exhausts. Craig says he's got some carbie cleaning to do, as well as fixing intake and exhaust leaks.
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Quintin's GS1000G
They don't come much more original than this beautie. Original pristine paint as well! Glorious.
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Andreps' Katana
Andrep's Katana might be less than standard (and who am I to point the finger!), but doesn't that yellow striping set off the classic lines of the bodywork nicely? Then again, it might just be me who has a thing for black & yellow paintschemes...
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The most bog-stock Katana of them all?
Spotted at a popular motor museum (Whiteman Park) north of Perth here in Western Australia, by my GSX1150EF-riding mate, Paul. Short of a Katana that is actually still in the original crate, they just can't come more original and schmick than this, can they?
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Echucabike's GS1000S...
Here we have the '79 (SN, blue & white) and '80 (ST, red & white) models side by side.
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Russell's GS1000 and GS1100...
The first bike is a '78 GS1000 which Russell imported from the States in 1988 -- "not original but I like her like that". Yep, not bad at all. The second machine is a very recent purchase; as you can see, it's come with quite a few modifications already: Kawasaki front end, monoshock rear. Less desirable is the previous owners' attempt to produce an 'Eddie Lawson' seat, and there's also a heee-yooge aircraft filler cap on the tank, the size of a small dinner plate. Russell has got another tank and seat on the way...
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Jezza's '85 GSX750 'pop up'...
... so-called because these tasty little beasties come with an electric pop-up headlight. Now I'm happy to stand corrected, but I don't think there's another production model in the world that sports a pop-up headlight, is there? Anyway, if you want to read up a bit more about these interesting models, check out the write-up on the Katana Central website here.
Says Jezza: "Here's my '85 GSX750 pop up (Australian issue). Just about ready for painting. Forks have been rebuilt. Wheels, brakes, engine, frame, forks, bars, master cylinders all repainted. Genuine decals & pinstripes have been carefully reproduced. New clutch slave cylinder, new brakes. Carbies balanced. R1 muffler. Dash calibrated with blue LEDs fitted. Original Japanese tail lights fitted (not used in Australia). New tyres, new genuine glove compartment covers & mirrors. Engine is stock.
"These bikes are getting harder to find in an unmolested state, so I decided to hold back on the cosmetic upgrades as in my business [Youngs Motorcycle Dismantlers] I will find another to enhance. I'll send more pics when shes painted."
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Uffe's Katana...
Well when this photo dropped into my Inbox I was speechless. So we'll let Uffe speak:
I had restored my Kat during the winter and also a bit of the season, recently on road again, after a crash last year. It was an original -82 except the engine that I have given a boost...
- Wiseco 1168
- WebCam 168
- Machined/ported head
- 28.5mm inlet valves
- HD camchain
- APE tensonier
- Welded crank
- Barnet clutch springs
- Dyna 2000 ignition inc. coils and wires
- Mikuni RS38 carbs
- V&H CO 4-1 (rare)
- front and rear end from a -95 GSXR750
- Instrument from Koso
- 10-row oil cooler by Trendab Motorsport
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Graeme's GSX1100 Racer...
Dunno what they've got in the water over there in 'The Land Of The Long White Cloud', but whatever it is they keep on turning out amazing motorcycles -- be it the Britten V-twin, or Burt Munro and his record-breaking Indian. Well Graeme has been lucky enough to snare this piece of motorcycling history. Maybe not as illustrious as the aforementioned legends, but displaying the usual load of Kiwi innovation and know-how that we have come to expect.
"The bike was built in the early 80's featuring a carbon fibre chassis, and was built for Dave Hiscock to do the world Formula 1 series. The previous year, a similar-styled monocoque aluminium chassis machine was built, on which he finished third in the series. He didn't do so well on the carbon bike, as he crashed early on, and then his brother was killed racing..."
Graeme has also included a picture of the builder of the bike, Steve Roberts:
"The bike was built in the early 80's featuring a carbon fibre chassis, and was built for Dave Hiscock to do the world Formula 1 series. The previous year, a similar-styled monocoque aluminium chassis machine was built, on which he finished third in the series. He didn't do so well on the carbon bike, as he crashed early on, and then his brother was killed racing..."
Graeme has also included a picture of the builder of the bike, Steve Roberts:
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Mark's GS1000ST...
"This is my daily rider, in (as far as I know) original condition. It recently did a trip from Brisbane to Biloela (via the Burnett Hwy), Biloela to Banana (via the Dawson Hwy), and Banana back to Brisbane (via the Leichhardt Hwy) in two days -- and did not miss a beat. Definitely the best bike I have ever owned."
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Chris' Katana...
Here's my kat-1134 big bore, bandit12 front end, braced arm, straight thru pipe,dyna, blah blah blah, kats are ace!
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Ian's GS1000SN...
Ian has been steadily working away at this machine, a '79 SN:
"[I have now] rebuilt the clutch hub ... and, like you, I am really happy with the result. I've also replaced my Boyer-Bransden ignition (which died for some unknown reason) with a Dynatech Dyna S DS3-2 unit, and am also happy with the result. The only tip I have is that it would be cheaper to buy it from the States than get it from a local bike shop through the Aussie distributor ($150USD + shipping as opposed to $265AUD at the local bike shop).
"Finally I've managed to track down a new seat (the old one is a stepped type -- yuk, see photo -- with buggered foam) from cmsnl.com. The cost was huge... but having experienced the benefits of new seats on a resto I did of a '76 waterbottle, I'm looking forward to resting my backside on the new one."
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Rory's GSX1170...
Thought you might appreciate this... it's my big old 1170 gsx.
The front and back are '93 GSX-R kit with wavey disks and braided lines. The frame's had 6 inches removed off the back, as has the seat which is a recovered Guilliari item. The tank has had a modern filler cap fitted. The bike has a one-off loom with std. clocks and switchgear. All unsightly stuff like reflectors, indicators and decals have been removed. The motor is an 1170 with a flowed and ported head, 1mm oversize stainless valves, welded crank, and has external oil feeds to the head and a extra large Earls cooler. It runs a stock box, uprated clutch and breaths through some Mikuni 36mm flatslides and a Harris pipe. I'm just waiting a while before I get some more interesting cams, as am on stock ones at the moment.
I think thats everything... Oh yes, it used to run a 1500 big block which was mad.
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Phil's Katana...
It's an '83 Katana (purchased 10-1-86 as a 1000; 1170 Wiseco kitted '93). It also runs an 86 GSXR 1100 front end and rear wheel including underslung caliper. Front brake master cylinder is AP Racing, Mikuni 40mm flatslides, K&N pod filters, kevlar clutch, Yoshimura exhaust system, Lockhart oil cooler, rev limiter and custom paint (second time) being 'Metallic Panther Black' (looks more like a charcoal) which is a 1979 Audi colour.
Did quite a few ride days at Eastern Creek '92-'96. Had the engine expire twice coming out of turn 9 both times. First time jumped out of gear just as I was grabbing 2nd at redline; one seriously mashed 3rd cylinder combustion chamber, valves and piston (hence rev limiter). Next time No.1 big end let go (got to stay away from those redlines, and the track).
Had a mate help with the last rebuild, big Maori fellah, not a word of a lie, time to put the engine back in the frame, before I had a chance to do anything he picks the engine up, walks a couple of metres over to the frame, squats down and with a little help from me, after picking my jaw up off the ground, pops that little puppy in.
Well there's a handy workshop tip, folks: make sure you have a Maori mate on hand...
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Geoff's Katana...
I've had my Kat for 8 years, and not even a wife and child gonna make me get rid if it or my endless tinkering in the shed.
That's the spirit!
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Fiemo's Katana...
Here it is on the first outing after the rebuild:
And here it is in the kitchen with his mate Dion's Katana:
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Glen's Katana...
1982 1100 jobby. Restored her back in 1999/2000, sold in late 2007. She was actually painted by Sean from Earwig Art, a mate of mine and the previous owner of your Kat if I am not mistaken!
Indeed you're not mistaken, Glen -- and it's an excellent custom paintjob, eh. I notice other similarities with my Katana: KR250 indicators on the front scoops, light-grey powdercoated frame, black-painted wheels, lotsa chromed bolts, even the same handlebar grips... a winning formula in my book!
And here's Glen's GSX1166 race machine...
GSX 1166 Period 5 Racebike:
- Welded crank, WEB cams, race springs, 33mm CRS.
- Stock but tidied up head and valves
- Dyna S with rev limiter total loss system.
- Modded clutch
- Braced and de-lugged frame.
- GS1000 37mm forks, flatty bars.
- z900 CI replica discs gripped by period Brembo 08 calipers, fitted to 17 inch ZXR/GSXR wheel combo with B’Stone slicks.
- GSX tank with GPZ filler.
- Ducati tail unit
- Konis
- GSXR1000 rearsets
- Old 4 into 1 zorst.
- Good fun
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Colin's GS1000...
Here's how you do it folks! Check out this wonderful restoration job -- everything looks right. This is one handsome machine, oozing sheer classic class out of every pore; feast your eyes! A few words from Colin:
I’m really happy... my wife encouraged me to restore this old girl. It truly rides like new, and I guess it should, I’ve either replaced or reconditioned every part, except that amazing bottom end.
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Smithy's GS1000 race bike...
[Here] are some pics of my GS 1000 race bike. Around 150hp at the rear wheel. Race pic from Phillip Island... I will be back at the island next January for the Island Classic. Great meeting!!
Mods are: Brace frame, modded rear end to Pops Yosh specs, 37mm Keihins, 8 plug head, 1220cc Wiseco big bore, flowed head, oversized valves, re-valved front forks, Ohlins rear shocks, Dyna 2000 ignition & coils, Modded cam chain tensioner to Pops Yosh specs, Big valves, big cams, under bucket shims etc etc etc. Goes great and handles well too. Shame about the slow racer on board!!
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Al's Katana...
Well, Craig Smith (see GS1000 race bike, above) and his mates have gone and made this excellent Katana, in memory of their recently departed friend, Alan Baker. As far as tributes go, this is hard to beat, eh?
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Marius' GSX1100 race machine...
My GSX1100 specs:
- 400 Bandit front rims(120/70/17 tyre front and 160/60/17 back no slicks allowed)
- GSXR750 2001 front callipers
- GSXR1100 back calliper
- Adjustable cam timing gears
- Regrind cams
- Gas flowed cylinder head, .5mm skimmed off head
- 1170cc big bore Wiseco kit
- Ohlin back shocks
- Modified front shocks
- Drag handle bars
- Oil cooler
- GSX 750 oil pump
- Undercut gearbox
And that is what our regs allow.
Cheers, Marius.
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Giuseppe's GS450...
OK, it might be the smallest capacity machine in the gallery here, but I couldn't turn Giuseppe down. I mean, the man is in love:
Just bought it. My first bike, but already love it. Perfect conditions, original, no changes, 14.800 km!
Onya Giuseppe -- and here's hoping you move onto something bigger in due course, 'coz you'll love it even more!
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Craig's GSX1100-powered McIntosh BR1...
Well folks, here's a delicious piece of exotica -- feast your eyes!
- 1985 BR1(Bathurst Replica 1)
- Yoshimura Stage 1 cams
- Yoshimura MJN flatslides
- hand-bent Yoshimura titanium headers onto a custom collector into a Nitro Racing (Japan) titanium muffler (not much mufflering going on though)
- Akronts on Suzuki hubs
- 320mm Sunstar Racing floating rotors
- AP calipers
I found the bike in Japan when I was living there for a few years. It had 1500k's on it from assembly, was originaly sold by Mick Hone and registered in Japan late 80's. When I found it it was pretty good but we repainted due to the fact we found a bloke in Japan who can hand paint decals. Yep! none of the decals on the bike are stickers or transfers, it is all paint including the very fine text on the fuel tank.
This is one of about 50 BR1 chassis built by Ken McIntosh in New Zealand, after Rodger Freeth won Bathurst twice in the early 80's on "factory" McIntosh bikes. Most were sold in Australia through Mick Hone Motorcycles.
Cheers,
Craig.
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Paul's GSX1100E...
Paul recently landed this neat and tidy GSX1100E; it's truly amazing what you can pick up for around $2K these days, hmm? Says Paul,
I have a '99 Triumph Sprint [but] I reckon the Suzuki is way more fun...
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John's GSXR1100...
The old slabbies have always looked good, and are a capable motorcycle into the bargain. Another unbeatable classic from the gents at Hamamatsu.
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Steve's Zooks...
A brief history of my bikes...
- Suzuki Katana 750, a genuine yellow 750 Kat, 110,000 kms. It was bike #13 of the 30 made & l had the certificate for it as well. Should have kept it but it was very, very, rough!
- Suzuki 1000 cc Kat. It made the trip over to run at Bathurst & then I ended up with it. A very nice bike with only 1000 kms when l had it (plus of course the race kms). Sold it to buy a Hailwood Ducati (not a good move).
- Suzuki Katana 750, a Japanese import Kat, 13,000 kms. A beautiful bike & went like a dream, only sold it to buy a Mcintosh BR1.
- Suzuki Mcintosh BR1. Purchased from original owner with all receipts. The bike has the original Mcintosh frame number & is bike #7 out of the 40 (or so) he made. GSX 1100 powered. I have spent many hours restoring it; still own it.
- Suzuki RG 500, purchased new in 85. I have never started it & only took it from the crate in 1995 to look at. It sits in the house much to the wife's disgust. Never had fuel in it or even air in the tyres. Still own it.
- Suzuki 1988 GSX-R 1100 Anniversary, 40,000 kms. Great bike, love it, ride it every now & again.
Cheers,
Steve.
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Mark's Katana 1100
A nice original example here!
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Leif's Katana & GSX1100 Special
My Katana: Campagnolo 16"wheels, Brembo brake rotors, front forks are 1982 GSX 1100E, Öhlins shocks at the rear, Kawasaki swing arm, Vance-Hines exhaust, oil-cooler, 33mm Mikunis.
And my other bike I based on 1980-1983 Suzuki components, and did most of it myself: the frame, the swingarm, the tank, the brake rotors, the antidive, and more...
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Andrew's GS550E
Now here's one sweet little machine.
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Adrian's GS1000E
... Wiseco 1085cc kit, standard cams, APE head bolts, welded clutch basket, APE high volume oil pump gears, outrigger sprocket cover, Dyna-S ignition with clear cover, modified Harris race pipe and K&N's. The frame is braced and monoshocked with a one-off JMC swing arm, GSX-R wheels, Katana forks, slab yokes and a plain but striking paint job (just my opinion!).
All brackets yokes polishing, etc. by my own fair hands!
Cheers,
Adrian.
PS. Yes it is in my living room. I got no garage, lol
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Mario's GSX1100
Thought you might like to have a look at the GSX1100 I’ve just finished restoring/modifying. It has a braced frame, chrome-moly swingarm, Koni shocks, lengthened ZX9R forks/brakes. Handles really nice, as I’ve reduced the weight down to 194kg (no fuel). Motor is near stock with Wiseco high comp. pistons, larger EF inlet valves, some porting, 36mm Mikunis from a 1989 GSXR1100, and a welded crank.
Regards,
Mario.
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Peter's Katanas
Yep, all five of them -- feast your eyes! In Peter's own words:
I got the first Katana in 2005, when I was really lucky to find a perfect-looking 1100S, and after that I was looking for a pop-up Katana, so I placed an add on the internet if someone had one for sale... and I was lucky again and found a nice pearly-white S3.
At the moment I've got the white S3 in a million pieces for a full rebuild; in the picture the bodywork is already done. I hope to finish it in a few months.
And my collection would not be complete without a grey S4, and an original 750SZ.
The pop-up I bought for spare parts turned out to be one of the Canadian limited editions, one of the 199, but because the bike had an accident the number is gone and I can't retrieve the number, so if I ever want to restore it I will just use my lucky number.
As you can see, I've got a lot of work to do for the next couple of years!
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So, got a Katana you'd like to share with us all? Or maybe a GS1000S, or some other Big Zook? Feel free to a JPG image, and before too long I should have it posted at the bottom of the page here.
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