1990 Suzuki GSX 1100S Katana

Make Model	Suzuki GSX 1100S Katana
Model	1985 - 89
Engine	Four stroke, transverse four cylinder, DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder.
Capacity	1074 cc / 65.5 cu in
Bore x Stroke	72 x 66 mm
Cooling System	Air cooled
Compression Ratio	9.5:1
Air Cleaner	Dual element (Paper and polyurethane)
Lubrication	`Wet sump`
Oil Capacity	`3.2 L / 3.4 US qt / 2.8 Imp qt`
Induction	4 x Mikuni `BS34SS`
Ignition	Transistorized
Ignition Timing	15º BTDC below 1500 rpm / 32º BTDC above 2350 rpm
Spark Plug	NGK D8EA (in E-01,24,25,30,34), NGK DR8ES-L (the others) - gap 0.6-0.7 mm (0.024-0.028 in)
Battery	12V 50.4 kC (14 Ah)/10HR - type YB14L-A2
Generator	Three-phase A.C. generator
Starting	Electric
Max Power	83.9 kW / 111 hp / @ 9500 rpm
Max Torque	97.1 Nm / 9.9 kgf-m / 70.9 lb-ft @ 6500 rpm
Clutch	Wet multi-plate
Transmission	5 Speed
Final Drive	Chain, Daido D.I.D 630YL, 96 links
Primary Reduction	1.775:1 (87/49)
Final Reduction	2.800:1 (42/15)
Gear Ratio	1st 2.500 (35/15) / 2nd 1.777 (32/18) / 3rd 1.380 (29/21) / 4th 1.125 (27/24) / 5th 0.961 (25/26)
Frame	Steel, double cradle frame
Front Suspension	Telescopic, oil damped, spring 4-way adjustable with anti-dive
Front Wheel Travel	150 mm / 5.91 in
Rear Suspension	Dual shock oil damped, damper 4-way, spring 5-way adjustable
Rear Wheel Travel	109 mm / 4.29 in
Front Brakes	2 x 275 mm Discs, 2 piston calipers
Rear Brakes	Single 275 mm disc, 1 piston caliper
Front Tyre	3.50 - V19
Rear Tyre	4.50 - V17
Rake	29°
Trail	118 mm / 4.65 in
Dimensions	Length: 2260 mm / 89.0 in Width: 715 mm / 28.1 in Height: 1195 mm / 47.0 in
Wheelbase	1520 mm / 59.8 in
Seat Height	775 mm / 30.5 in
Ground Clearance	175 mm / 6.9 in
Turning Radius	3.5 m / 11.5 ft
Dry Weight	232 kg / 511 lbs
Wet Weight	243 kg / 535 lbs
Fuel Capacity	22 L / 5.8 US gal / 4.8 Imp gal
Fuel Reserve	5 L / 1.3 US gal / 1.1 Imp gal
Consumption Average	6.4 L/100 km / 15.6 km/l / 36.6 US mpg / 44 Imp mpg
Standing ¼ Mile	11.9 sec / 191 km/h / 119 mph
Top Speed	220 km/h / 136.4 mph
Road Test	Motosprint Cycle World

The Suzuki Motor Company was born in 1920. To celebrate its 70th birthday, what better than offering the Japanese public the bike they could never have: the original Katana? The "70th Anniversary" is practically the 1981 produced in 1000 units. These will all be sold on the launch day!

Though the brakes receive asbestos-free pads, the brake lever becomes adjustable and the seat receives a band on its new 'blue-jean like" material. A "Seventieth Anniversary" sticker is displayed on the tank and the foot rest are cast aluminium. And that's it for the differences with a GSX1100SZ! Except perhaps the code
name: GSX1100SL.

This highly successful formula – Which took Suzuki by surprise – or did it ? – demonstrates the potential of a second edition that will be launched in September 1990. The GSX1100SSL will receive the duotone scheme of the 1984SE version.

The katana is the most popular among the samurai swords, warriors in the service of the feudal lords in medieval Japan. It had a long curved blade for cutting single and could be challenged with one or both hands.
In the motorcycle instead of the Suzuki GSX 1100 S Katana has been one of the most famous, but controversial in the history of the House of Hamamatsu in the late seventies and eighties of the past century.

The Suzuki GSX 1100 S Katana was unveiled at Cologne in 1980. He had an innovative design having at least ten years ahead of the competition, but its robust mechanical and technical solutions immediately harked back to the seventies of 900. If designers and technical staff had dared more giving the Katana innovative solutions, not only aesthetic, most likely it would become an important milestone in the history of motorcycling. Unfortunately, the GSX 1100 S and all members of the family were not great either understood and have had little commercial success. The Katana remained very little on the market, both in Europe and the U.S., while in Japan were produced until 2001, of course, but in very small quantities.

THE TECHNIQUE
The four-cylinder DOHC of 1074 cc in-line and air-cooled (the oil cooler was provided as an option) has been, for the Katana, borrowed from GSX 1100 E, but also enhanced the head TSCC that, together with the cylinders, is made of light alloy. The engine is powered by four Mikuni BS34SS and is equipped with electronic ignition with variable advance and an electrical system 12 V.

The exhaust is a "four in two" capacitor that passes under the oil pan attached by eight screws. The multi-disc clutch in oil bath with coil springs and is the primary drive gear, while the final chain. The change in block has a five-speed constant mesh gears and pedal-controlled site on the left side of the motorcycle. The "skeleton" of the Katana is a double cradle frame made of chrome molybdenum steel steering tube angle of 29 º 50 '.

The suspension system is formed by a telescopic hydraulic front fork 35 mm, with anti-dive and anti-dive with screw spring preload on four positions, which is accessed by removing the rubber plugs on the head of the fork; posteriorly there is a swingarm arm with two adjustable hydraulic shock absorbers of five positions of spring preload and four hydraulic extension.

The front brake is a double perforated disc 275 mm with single piston calipers that "bite" promptly, the rear brake with tank with viewing window to check the oil level, it is a disk with a hole the same size of the front , with a single piston caliper, equipped with a door for the replacement of the pads.

The wheels are 5-spoke alloy stellar: the front measurement from 1.85 to 19, the rear 2.5-17.

The instrument contains a single element: the speedometer, the speedometer, tachometer and five service lights; blocks electrical handlebars are well-made, functional and resistant to the action of time, which in the human.
On the left side panel are located two buttons that control the flashing of four arrows (off on the bikes sold in Italy) and the big choke knob. Always on the same side of the motorcycle, at the end of the side piece and at sight, there are the voltage regulator and the finned box fuses. Under the two-tone seat, detachable using the lock located on the top of the tail, there is a big air filter paper and foam, into the tail instead there is only space for the bag of keys.

HOW WAS
The Katana was a super performance at the top of the category (the top speed was 238 km / h and the declared consumption of 4.67 Litresper 100 km), nevertheless kept the center stand, useful for maintenance, but adversely affected is the weight of the wheels, which already measured 232 kg load and is light on the ground, that the inclinations that could be obtained in a curve with "folds" very driven.

The driving position forced the pilot, with the torso leaning forward and rearsets, to pass on to his front weight on the wrists. The angle of the handlebar into two pieces was a little hit and did nothing but penalize the forearms of the same, especially in city traffic. In the front and rear of the motorcycle, stood the big and ugly direction indicators and the size of the 4-cylinder, deliberately left out the essential forms much of the body, whose appearance, decidedly unusual, it was designed by the German Target Design.

Currently, this futuristic motion of the Rising Sun is a success among fans and collectors from around the world and remains an interesting piece of motorcycling history post-classic. It would be well, however, to preserve it from the dangers of the time, for it has always played a very particular role and not always positive.