Kat’s out of the bag!
It is little wonder that when Suzuki’s top brass saw the first designs that would be the genesis of the Katana range, they decided quickly to get the first model launched at the Cologne show at the end of 1980.
Within nine months, the GSX1100S Katana was in the showrooms and it would lead to a whole range of Katana-style derivatives that 40 years later continue in the Suzuki model range.
The reason for Suzuki’s quick decision was no doubt because the competition from Honda, Kawasaki and Yamaha was hotting up. Honda was planning a new range of V-fours, Kawasaki’s 750 Turbo was due to be launched, and Yamaha was working on new singles, twins, V-twins and a turbo-boosted four. Suzuki couldn’t wait, particularly because its range-leading GSX1100E was a bit of a wet fish: fast but flabby.
In contrast, the swoopy 1100 Katana looked dramatic, was more powerful and quicker. It featured the shark snout fairing projecting over the front wheel and supporting a rectangular headlamp and instrument binnacle. The fairing led back to the pear-shaped fuel tank, connected by a line from the ‘air-intakes’ beneath the snout.
Below the rear of the fuel tank, side-panels featuring functional items like the bezel for the choke control and flat switches (matched by dummy items on the other side) led to styled electrical units such as the voltage control unit. Above the side-panels the styling line continued with a matt-suede two-deck seat and matching rear light unit. Unlike the bulbous-looking standard GSX1100, the Katana in its all-silver finish looked fast and purposeful.
