Suzuki has a lot of motorcycles on display at its Auto Expo 2020 stand, but it’s their Katana that has been drawing the most attention. And deservedly so, considering that the Japanese manufacturer hinted that the bike may arrive in India as a CKD this year. First unveiled in 2018, the new Katana pays homage to the original bike – considered to be one of the most iconic sportbikes ever from the Japanese brand – which made its debut in 1981.
Suzuki didn’t disappoint enthusiasts when the bike was revealed. The square LED headlight housed in the sharp front fairing looks like a modern interpretation of the original bike. The design leads quite nicely to the tank, which is again quite sharp-looking, but it has a capacity of only 12 litres. The rear design remains minimalistic and ties in quite nicely with the overall design. Even small details like the font of the Katana badge are identical to the original motorcycle.
Powering the Katana is the same 999cc motor from the GSX-S1000F. The liquid-cooled, inline-four makes 150hp at 10,000rpm and 108Nm of peak torque at 9,500rpm. A slipper-clutch, three-level traction control system and dual-channel ABS are also present on the Katana. Suspension hardware includes a fully adjustable KYB 43mm USD fork and a link-type monoshock unit adjustable for pre-load and rebound damping. Anchorage is provided by Brembo radial calipers.
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