Suzuki GSX 750F

Quick Ride: Suzuki Katana 750

“Proven and refined” best describes Suzuki's venerable Katana 750. A member of the GSX sportbike family since the late 1980s, the Katana offers street riders a practical, broad-ranged sporting platform at a very appealing $6999 price.

Powered by the 16-valve, air/oil-cooled inline-Four that propelled early GSX-R sportbikes to racetrack glory, the Katana has been tuned for greater emphasis on low-end and midrange torque. Crisp throttle response, smooth clutch engagement and a slick-shifting six-speed gearbox make tapping into the engine's linear delivery a snap. A mild level of engine vibration builds with revs and feels coarse under deceleration-a characteristic inherent to early Gixxers. While gunning the Kat in lower gears makes 'er purr through the frame and grips, there's a generous sweet spot coinciding with fast freeway cruising between 70 and 85 mph, making life in the fast lane very good.

The general-purpose sportbike role is bolstered by a host of amenities that the everyday rider will find useful. The windscreen is tall enough to provide ample protection, while the spacious one-piece saddle and passenger grab handle offer accommodation for two. There's also generous underseat storage—well, by today's standards—plus a helmet lock and a helmet-hanging tab under the seat. The instrument panel includes a fuel gauge and an LCD clock, while best of all—brace yourself—there is even a centerstand, along with all the tools necessary to adjust the drive chain.

Casual corner-carvers will find sufficient lean available to give the long-wearing Dunlop Sportmax Touring radials a good workout. The Kat takes to the twisties surprisingly well, offering competent steering, stability and braking prowess; just don't expect to win a game of cat 'n' mouse with today's track-bred machines. The 41mm conventional fork offers adjustable rebound damping, while the remote-reservoir shock has the same, plus adjusters for compression damping and spring preload. The standard range of settings provides a good degree of long-range comfort.

Settling into the Kat's deeply padded cradle nets a 31-inch seat height for firm footing when maneuvering the 497-pound machine out of parking stalls. The riding posture is fairly upright thanks to the relationship between the saddle and the high-rise, clip-on-style bars. Taller riders may, however, find the distance down to the footpegs a bit cramped.

As for this 5-foot-10 seasoned GSX-R racer, I've grown to appreciate the virtues of a more relaxed sport-riding experience. Just as the latest technology often wins on the track, the Katana's long record of street versatility makes it a good candidate for the budget-conscious sportbike buyer. While it doesn't have the claws of a GSX-R750, it's certainly not a dog, just your friendly domesticated Kat.

Source: Cycle World