Suzuki presents the new Katana at Intermot

Suzuki is one of the matches that livened up the 2018 edition of Intermot, bringing several new features to its stan including the GSX-R1000, which benefits from important updates, the detuned 35 kW version of the naked GSX-S750 and the new RM-Z250 for the first time in Europe. But it was above all the new one that caught the attention katana.

Suzuki Katana: what's new for 2019

37 years after its birth, the Katana is experiencing a new youth thanks to a series of innovations presented at Intermot 2018. The Katana project takes inspiration from the Katana 3.0 Concept, created by Engines Engineering based on a design by the Italian Rodolfo Frascoli and exhibited at EICMA 2017 among the enthusiastic comments of the public and professionals. Such a warm welcome convinced Suzuki to believe in this model and pushed the Hamamatsu men to hurry up to quickly propose a new Katana. the 2019 version has a nice fairing that houses an LED headlight and pays a fitting tribute to its ancestor, with a shape that recalls in some ways the traditional Japanese sword that gives its name to this model.

Even the red accents and the two-tone saddle that enlivens an essential tail, in turn with LED light, are a tribute to the Katana of the Eighties. The result is a silhouette with a strong personality, which looks to the past while projecting itself towards the future, conveying an idea of ​​sportiness and dynamism, but with a lot of attention to practicality in everyday use. The Katana offers a slightly upright riding position, perfect for having a feeling of total control when driving fast and the right comfort for urban travel. The seat height of 825 mm, the slim sides and the particular shape of the tank allow you to rest your feet well on the ground. The command bridge is completed by multifunctional instrumentation, with an LCD panel that provides the pilot with all the necessary information clearly, in all weather and light conditions.

Suzuki Katana: sporty heart

The engine derives from that of the 1000 Suzuki GSX-R5 K2005, a motorcycle with exceptional performance and capable of achieving countless international victories over the years. The Hamamatsu engineers worked for a long time on this four-cylinder, finding an ideal setup for road use, thanks also to the adoption of a 4-into-2-in-1 exhaust system with a spectacular black silencer that points upward. The maximum power is 150 hp, combined with sweet responses to the accelerator and great availability of torque at low and medium speeds, for a pleasant and exciting ride at any speed.

The small dimensions of the engine have made it possible to create a rigid and very compact double-spar aluminum frame, which directly connects the steering head to the swingarm. The latter is inherited from the 1000 GSX-R2016 and directly supports the side license plate arm, which integrates the direction indicators. The 43 mm KYB upside-down fork is fully adjustable, while the monoshock allows you to intervene on the spring preload and the hydraulic rebound brake. Another valuable component are the radially mounted Brembo front brake calipers, which work together with an advanced ABS anti-lock system, supplied by Bosch.