Update the Kat

[NOS]

<div></div><div></div><div>As I'm growing older I've come to appreciate the less radical upright sitting position's of bikes such as the FJR1300 and ST1300's, but cant say I like there prices.</div><div> </div><div>This leaves little to choose from in the sport touring market, but there is one which many may not have thought of.</div><div> </div><div>The Katana 750</div><div> </div><div>This bike would make a excellent sport tourer on a budget and with little updating on Suzuki's part.</div><div>Revise the front fairing to a single headlight to look more like the Gixxers.</div><div>Market some luggage for it.</div><div>Change the paint scheme and get rid of the chrome looking breast plate. The Dark Ages have long past and theres no need to look like your going into a jousting match.</div><div> </div><div>The Kat 750 can scoot along pretty well, Corner as well as many of us would need and put on a days worth of riding without stressing your neck or back.</div><div> </div><div>http://www.suzukicycles.com/images/ProductImages/colorVariations/500/GSX750FK6_SilverRed_841619.jpg</div><p>Message Edited by NOS on <span class="date_text">03-17-2007</span><span class="time_text">01:06 AM</span></p><p>Message Edited by NOS on <span class="date_text">03-17-2007</span><span class="time_text">01:07 AM</span></p>

[EdgyDrifter]

<div>In the great tradition of the <em>grand gesture</em>, and with obvious appreciation for overkill as a virtue, Mama Kaw has birthed the the Concours-14 to do great injury to the reputations of the ST1300 and FJR1300, and to bring even greater harm upon the insurance premiums of its own riders. Ah, she'll be a cruel one...</div><div> </div><div>http://www.kawasaki.com/ImagesMain/Products/Action/f9547bd9-a7c4-4016-ac37-b22da16065a2.scale.jpg</div><div> </div>

[ZRX4ME]

<div>Hello!! The last Katana I rode was a 600, hopefully the 750 isnt near as buzzy--all the weight on my hands + the vibration was painful in the wrists. The Kat600 felt like it weight 700 lbs in the twisties too.</div><div> But I could see a SV650-based tourer with shaft drive, larger fairing, and integrated bags...</div><div> </div>

[BillyR]

<br><blockquote><hr>EdgyDrifter wrote:<br><div>In the great tradition of the <em>grand gesture</em>, and with obvious appreciation for overkill as a virtue, Mama Kaw has birthed the the Concours-14 to do great injury to the reputations of the ST1300 and FJR1300, and to bring even greater harm upon the insurance premiums of its own riders. Ah, she'll be a cruel one...</div><div> </div><div>http://www.kawasaki.com/ImagesMain/Products/Action/f9547bd9-a7c4-4016-ac37-b22da16065a2.scale.jpg</div><div> </div><br><hr></blockquote><br>Billy stay away from the Green...stay away...:cool:

[busa_pimp]

The 750 is a little smoother than the 600 but I don't think the old air-cooled mill is worth the investment to meet newer and more stringent emission regulations. A revised sport-touring Kat with a gsxr750 powerplant, now that's what i'm talking about!

[rickdriver]

<br><blockquote><hr>busa_pimp wrote:<br>The 750 is a little smoother than the 600 but I don't think the old air-cooled mill is worth the investment to meet newer and more stringent emission regulations. A revised sport-touring Kat with a gsxr750 powerplant, now that's what i'm talking about!<br><hr></blockquote><br><br><br>Ya put a more updated gixxer motor in both &amp; update the frame &amp; plastic &amp; you got a couple of great sport tourers!

[andoulli]

<div>More than a few people have put Givi bags on a 750 Kat and gone sport touring. Another favorite is the ZR7s because of it's gas mileage/tank range. For the most part the middleweight sport tourer is a category most companies ignore, so much so there really is no middle weight sport touring market niche.</div><div> </div><div>Tim</div>

[Devlin_Tripp]

<div>When I was about 13 years old I fell in love with the 92-93 Katana (before I really knew anything about sport bikes). To this day it remains one of my favorites, that along with the ZRX1200. I've always been more interested in sport touring vs pure sport riding. Unfortunately I've never been able to find a good used 750 Kat or ZRX.</div>

[NOS]

<div>With todays liter sized sport-tourers going for upwards of $13000 I would suspect if a company brought out a decent looking 750 for nearly half the price they may have a hit.</div>

[andoulli]

<div></div><div></div><div>I suppose before we see any middleweight sport touring motorcycles, we will see more models like Suzuki's popular &quot;Wee-Strom&quot;. I am thinking If Kawasaki would include a luggage option for the newly redesigned KLR we might be looking at a new trend in that segment.</div><div> </div><div>Tim</div><p> </p><p>Message Edited by andoulli on <span class="date_text">03-20-2007</span><span class="time_text">06:53 AM</span></p>

[SV_Rider]

<div>There is the Honda VFR</div><div> </div><div><a target="_blank" href="http://powersports.honda.com/motorcycles/sport/model.asp?ModelName=Interceptor&amp;ModelYear=2007&amp;Mod elId=VFR8007">http://powersports.honda.com/motorcycles/sport/model.asp?ModelName=Interceptor&amp;ModelYear=2007&amp;Mod elId=VFR8007</a></div><div> </div><div>or the Triumph Sprint ST</div><div> </div><div><a target="_blank" href="http://triumph.co.uk/usa/4517.aspx">http://triumph.co.uk/usa/4517.aspx</a></div>

[NOS]

<div>The Interceptor is a fine bike, and for nearly $11,000 it darn well should be.</div><div> </div><div>It would be nice to see a bike that could truly be called a sport tourer for less than $7500</div><div> </div><div>Is there anything on the market besides the $7000 Kat that can fit this niche?</div><div> </div>

[grizz0844]

<div>Suzuki might be doing something with the Katanas. They are certainly not in the 2007 line up. They could be reworking it for a sport tourer, or it could just be dead. </div><div>The sport tourer is a market segment Suzuki does not seem to be in all the way. Although as someone pointed out the V-Strom or even the Sv's could do the job. With some mods.</div>

[j_thaddeus]

No, please dear god DONT make them look like the gixxer.<br><br>They already ruined my beloved GS500.<br><br>The way to make bikes look cool is NOT to make every other bike look exactly like a (slightly lamer) version of one bike that is cool.<br><br>IM(not so)HO a great thing to do with the can-o-tuna would be to make it Suzuki's FZ line.<br><br>Keep its own unique look.<br><br>give it the detuned gixxer motor, set up for midrange torque and ridability.<br><br>give it adequate suspension and brakes.<br><br>then again, I'm still bitter they angularized the SV.<br><br>-- James