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What the First Reviews Say About the 2020 Suzuki Katana

The Consensus Is Pretty Positive

Suzuki has revived the Katana name and added it to a new bike that pays homage to the old one in the styling department. It’s a unique blend of modern styling and design with somewhat retro aesthetics. Honda is doing the same thing with its Neo Cafe Racer line, and now Suzuki is tapping into its heritage. Smart move Suzuki.

The bike gets a 999cc 2005-2008-generation GSX-R1000 engine. That engine makes 150 hp and nearly 80 lb-ft of torque. Is that the most out there? No, but it’s better than many of the other neo-retro bikes and should make it a true contender in the performance department.

2020 Suzuki Katana

Recently, Suzuki had a bunch of moto-journalists out to review the bike in Japan. We thought it’d be smart to showcase some of those opinions together so you can see what some of the top publications are saying. Without further ado, here’s a quick look:

Motorcyclist

“The 2020 Katana is a testament to tradition and Suzuki’s never-ending goal of assembling the perfectly balanced streetbike. Despite its lacking some of the more modern and high-end componentry of its rivals, there’s no denying the polished overall riding experience and careful attention to detail.” – Adam Waheed 

Motorcycle.com

“At the end of the day, the new Katana is largely about style, and if it knocks your socks off, you won’t mind its abrupt throttle or a little bit of vibration. You might grow to think of its blemishes as endearing. Art is supposed to hurt a little.” – John Burns

MC News (Australia)

“To be honest the bike doesn’t really need more grunt, but I really wish that Suzuki had made this bike just that little more special by stretching it towards that 1074cc of the original GSX1100SZ.” – Trevor Hedge

Ultimate Motorcycling

“Suzuki nailed it; the Katana unites an already respected performance-breed engine with ergonomics that are tame enough for everyday commuting, yet ready for serious sport riding or sport touring.” – Ron Lieback

It would seem that pretty much everyone had the same idea. Suzuki managed to blend the ethos of the old bike into a new model with good but not amazing performance. It’s a sporty but not too hardcore of a bike, and it sounds like Suzuki could have a winner on its hands if the price isn’t too high.

 

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Gear Reviews Motorcycle News Other Motorcycle Blogs radar reflectors safety tech Suzuki Web Bike World

Suzuki Is Working on “Anti-Accident” Radar Reflectors

Car Tech Making Its Way to Bikes

Many cars on sale today feature all kinds of radar technology designed to help prevent accidents. It seems now that Suzuki is planning on adding similar technology to its motorcycles. According to the Italian publication Motociclismo, the company is currently working on adding radar reflectors to its motorcycles. The publication cited some patents that Suzuki recently filed.

Suzuki’s system is different than some of the other radar technology out there. Instead of sending out a radar signal, the reflectors would simply make the motorcycle electronically visible to vehicles who have radar systems actively working. The car would be able to sense the motorcycle even if the driver of that vehicle doesn’t notice them.

It’s an ingenious solution and one that’s a lot lower-tech than some of the other stuff out there right now. Suzuki essentially uses other vehicles’ systems to make the motorcycle safer to ride. As Motociclismo points out, the reflectors would be placed at multiple areas around the motorcycle. Also, because the reflectors require no power to do their job, they don’t require much in terms of installation. They should be pretty cheap to manufacture and add to the bikes. 

With that in mind, I could see these being easy to add to older motorcycles, too. Suzuki might have solved a serious issue for all riders as the automotive market becomes more and more complex. These reflectors could even keep you safe when self-driving cars are all over the road.

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Is a Retro Suzuki Cafe Racer Coming?

Patent Suggests Maybe

Suzuki recently filed a patent application for a new cafe racer bike that would be a nice addition to its lineup. The bike, if built, would likely fit in with some of the other retro-styled motorcycles, including the VanVan 200 and the TU250X. Although, it appears that this bike would have higher displacement than either of those bikes.

This new cafe racer would be a welcomed addition to the Suzuki Cycles lineup. The two bikes mentioned above are excellent but a little on the small side. The SV650X is a fine motorcycle, but we’re ready for something different. This cafe racer could be it. 

Suzuki Cafe Racer Patent
Image from Free Patents Online

As RideApart points out, the patent applications are no indication that this will be built, so its a bit of a guessing game as to what exactly Suzuki will use here. There’s a unique trellis frame, though Suzuki is no stranger to the design. There’s a long gas tank with cut-outs for your knees that give the bike a very cafe racer style, and then there’s the shorty seat that’s popular for that style bike right now. 

In the second drawing, the rear suspension and engine appear in a close-up. The bike gets a single shock in the rear around a hydraulic snubber. That suspension is way up close to the engine packaged tightly with the base subframe. The swingarm has a triangular shape to it. 

Overall, there appears to be a lot new here. Whether or not it will come together in the fashion it’s currently shown has yet to be determined, but it’s exciting nonetheless. I’m ready for Suzuki to join the modern cafe racer craze. 

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Suzuki Files Patent for Unique Engine Placement

Just Flip It Around

In a recent patent filing, Suzuki decided it would take the standard motorcycle engine placement and flip it on end. The company filed a patent for a bike with an engine that’s essentially flipped around with the cylinder heads of what appears to be a single-cylinder engine positioned almost horizontally and placed right up by the front fork. 

According to Cycle World, the design can be used on single or inline motorcycle engines. The cylinders fit between the main frame rails and essentially run parallel with them. That puts the transmission low and the crankcase nearer to the rear of the motorcycle. 

Suzuki played around with the orientation and placement of the engine so it could shorten the wheelbase and add a longer swingarm. Cycle World notes this should reduce the change in the bike’s geometry when the suspension flexes.

The change also shifts the bike’s center of gravity closer to the center of the bike. It’s the same principle behind the Nembo 32 motorcycle we reported on late last month. However, Suzuki’s placement of the engine differs from the Nembo 32. With that said, the principles behind flipping the engine around are quite similar.

When you reposition the engine like this, other components of the bike must be moved as well. The airbox, fuel tank, and battery will all need to find new homes. Judging by the patent application drawings, they wouldn’t have to move too much, though. Suzuki should be able to shift them around with little issue. 

There’s no word yet if or when Suzuki will use this on a production bike. I would assume this design is still a ways off, but it’s worth it to keep an eye out for future Suzuki’s with oddly placed engines.

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Could Suzuki Bring a DR Big Based on the V-Strom 1000 to Market?

Rumors Suggest It Is So

Suzuki looks like it could soon be battling in the upper-middle-class adventure segment of the market. The bikemaker could revive the DR Big name with a bike based on the V-Strom 1000. According to DriveMag Riders, word on the street is that the model will come with 100 hp and be more off-road oriented than the V-Strom.

DriveMag Riders cites information from a Spanish publication called Trailriders. In that article, the DR Big is suggested as an alternative to Honda’s Africa Twin, BMW’s GS 850, or Triumph’s Tiger 800. It honestly doesn’t sound like too bad of an idea. Suzuki has a formidable base in the V-Strom 1000. With some minor updates and changes, the model could be turned into a monster of an adventure bike, or the next DR Big.

Suzuki’s current V-Strom 1000 comes with a 1,037cc liquid-cooled V-twin engine. Many customers and critics like the V-Strom 1000. Many regard it as more of a street machine than an off-roader. For many adventure riders, it offers enough capability. However, most hardcore off-road riders will shop around for a different bike. Suzuki took steps to make the bike more capable, but it’s still no monster off-road.

Suzuki V-Strom 1000
Image from Suzuki

The DR Big would be Suzuki’s chance to let the V-Strom 1000 reach its true off-road potential. According to the rumors, the bike will come with spoked wheels, a 20-liter (about 5.3 gallons) fuel tank, higher ground clearance, and ABS you can switch off for off-road use. The bike rumored will use the V-Strom’s frame, but hopefully, it will be made of a lightweight material like aluminum. This will help keep it easily maneuverable off-road.

If the rumors are true, Suzuki could have a winner on its hands. The adventure segment of the motorcycle industry is pretty hot right now, and it makes sense for the company to offer something to compete with the other powerful, off-road-focused adventure bikes out there. A new DR Big could be a big deal for the company. 

 

 

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Gear Reviews Motorcycle News Other Motorcycle Blogs Recursion concept Suzuki turbocharging Web Bike World

Is a Suzuki Twin-Turbo Motorcycle on the Way?

A Forced Induction Force to be Reckoned With

Back in the good old days of 2013, Suzuki showed off a new concept bike called the Recursion which featured a turbocharged system. Today that possibility sounds more plausible for a production bike. According to Cycle World, Suzuki recently filed new patent applications that show a motorcycle with a special turbocharged engine.

The patent application was for the frame, but what makes this frame special is the application of the turbocharged XE7 engine. Cycle World noted that Suzuki is actually using the pipework of the frame to funnel air to the turbo system.

Suzuki twin-turbo motorcycle patent
Image from U.S. Patent Office

This an ingenious way of cleaning up the look of a turbocharged bike while still getting plenty of air to the turbo system. It’s also a smart way to eliminate some weight. Without this special frame, Suzuki would have to mock up something for the turbo.

By integrating it into the frame, you get a seamless look that actually helps performance. In order for this to work, the portion of the frame used to provide air to the turbocharged system must be sealed off from other areas of the frame. 

Suzuki twin-turbo motorcycle patent
Image from the U.S. Patent Office

It’s unclear if Suzuki is building this for a bike that looks like its Recursion concept. It would seem so, but then Cycle World points out that the frame design would actually work best for a naked bike where the clean design could shine. The Recursion concept had a fairing on it. The drawings from the U.S. Patent Office show a bike with a fairing, but that doesn’t mean Suzuki will build one.

The most recent patent application is just one in a string of many that have hinted at a future turbocharged machine. This makes me think Suzuki is still a ways away from revealing a bike.

 

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Is This the Exhaust System for the Next Suzuki Hayabusa?

Hopefully, It Makes Joyous Noise

We reported a while back that Suzuki has a new Hayabusa in the works. Now we may be seeing the first patent for the next model. According to RideApart, the company has filed a patent for a new 4-into-2 exhaust system. It looks like it could be used on the next Hayabusa superbike.

Crafting a new exhaust system is a delicate science. It has to sound good, but not be too loud. It also has to allow the engine to breathe enough to create good power without spewing too much unwanted junk into the environment.

According to the diagrams obtained by RideApart from the U.S. Patent Office, it looks like Suzuki has struck this balance through the use of an asymmetrical system that optimizes gasoline flow while keeping noise and pollution at a minimum. One side of the system has a larger exhaust pipe than the other.

According to RideApart, the larger exhaust pipe also has a gas valve that opens at higher revs. When the machine is at low revs all four cylinders send exhaust fumes through the smaller side of the exhaust. This type of system allows for quiet operation at low revs and lovely loud noise at high revs. 

Hopefully, as time goes on more info about the exhaust system and the next Hayabusa as a whole will surface. I’m pretty certain Suzuki will make the bike pretty awesome. It has a lot to live up to, and the company would be smart to build a serious performer to attach the Hayabusa name to. I also wonder if it will still be ugly? I hope not.

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Suzuki Is Working on a New VVT for GSX-R1000

Say Goodbye to the All-Mechanical Setup

Suzuki’s current GSX-R1000 has a variable valve timing system it got from the GSX-RR Moto GP bike. It’s an all-mechanical system and a darn good one. However, it seems Suzuki will drop that tried and true system for a new hydraulic VVT system, according to Cycle World.

The publication spotted some patent applications that suggest Suzuki is letting go of its current mechanical system in favor of a new hydraulic one. Why? Because a hydraulic VVT system could lead to performance improvements and easier drivability.

The current GSX-R1000 has a unique VVT system. It uses centrifugal force to achieve cam phasing, which is the advance or retardation of the cam to achieve maximum performance. Suzuki’s system is different than other companies who have a VVT system. Those companies use a hydraulic system on their bikes. Moto GP prohibits the use of hydraulic systems on bikes, so that’s how Suzuki ended up with the mechanical one.

Now, it seems Suzuki is working on a hydraulic system of its own, intended solely for its street bikes. The new hydraulic system controls the intake and exhaust camshafts. This will help with performance, but it will also help with emissions. The system is a lot like Suzuki’s competitors.

Patents On Position

As Cycle World rightly points out, Suzuki isn’t splitting the atom here. The company isn’t really doing anything all that exciting or new. Ducati and Kawasaki both have similar systems. However, the company still patents its work, and it looks like their focusing attention on the placement of the hydraulic control valves.

Suzuki VVT system
Image from U.S. Patent Office via Cycle World

The position of the control valves is key. Suzuki placed them to the side of the cylinder, which should facilitate better cooling. Because of this, the oil should retain a consistent viscosity. That, in turn, should make the system smooth and consistent.

This small change could have noticeable results when riding, especially if you’re riding hard. There’s been more and more news and discussion about VVT systems lately. It’s quickly becoming an important part of motorcycle technology due to the emissions and performance gains achieved through these systems. You can only expect more manufacturers to be playing with these systems as time goes on.

 

 

 

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Motorcycle News Roundup – Week of 12/30/2018

Here’s the big news in the world of motorcycles for the week of December 30, 2018.

#1 – Arcimoto Snags $4.5 Million Investment For Electric Trike Production

https://www.webbikeworld.com/arcimoto-snags-4-5-million-investment-for-electric-trike-production/

Electric trike company Arcimoto managed to get a 4.5 million dollar investment for production of its unique vehicle. This means the company will start churning these bikes out by the end of 2019.

#2 – Vespas Retain Their Value Well

https://www.webbikeworld.com/vespa-scooters-retain-over-72-percent-of-their-value-after-3-years-of-ownership/

Lets start with some good news. According to J.D. Power data Vespas retain over 72 percent of their value, after 3 years of ownership. That’s better than just about any other vehicle on the road, and that gives you another reason to buy one of these iconic scooters.

#3 – The Suzuki GSX-R750 and GSX-R600 Might Not Last Long

https://www.webbikeworld.com/the-suzuki-gsx-r750-and-gsx-r600-are-not-long-for-this-world/

In sadder news, with the new Euro 4 emissions regulations and mandatory ABS coming for many areas of the world this these long-running mid-range sportbikes may have to bite the dust. The current model will continue to sell in the U.S. due to less stringent emissions standards, but in most of the world, its days are numbered.

#4 – Indian 2019 Lineup Announced

https://www.webbikeworld.com/the-full-2019-indian-motorcycle-lineup-announced/

Indian Motorcycles officially unveiled its full lineup on its website. The lineup is divided up into FTR 1200, Midsize, Cruiser, Bagger, and Touring categories. The Scout lineup takes care of the Midsize category. Crusier is the lone Chief Dark Horse model, Bagger is made up of Chief Vintage and all the rest of the Chieftan models. The Touring category has the large Roadmaster all by itself.

#5 – Indian FTR 1200 S Gets Akrapovič Exhaust As Standard Equipment

https://www.webbikeworld.com/indian-ftr-1200-s-gets-akrapovic-exhaust-as-standard-equipment/

Speaking of Indian motorcycles, the FTR 1200 S with the Race Replica paint job now gets the Akrapovič low-mount exhaust as standard equipment. This is good news if you were going to buy the bike and the exhaust anyway as it’s 500 bucks cheaper if you buy it already with the bike.

#6 – KTM’s CEO is Serious About Buying Ducati

https://www.webbikeworld.com/ktms-ceo-is-serious-about-buying-ducati/

KTM’s CEO, Stefan Pierer, wasn’t messing around when he said he wanted to buy Ducati. Reportedly he has offered 1.5 billion dollars to VW group for the motorcycle brand. There’s no word yet on if VW will take the money.

#7 – Zero teases a new bike

https://www.webbikeworld.com/zero-motorcycles-teases-new-bike-called-sr-f/

We said it at the end of 2018. 2019 will be a big year for electric bikes. Zero Motorcycles just teased an all-new upcoming model. It will be built on a completely new platform and will fit in with other naked street bikes and called the SR/F. There aren’t many details out there, but the company did list February 25 as a date more information will show up.

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The Suzuki GSX-R750 and GSX-R600 Are Not Long for This World

Well-Known Machines Will Meet Their End

When most people think Suzuki sportbikes, they automatically think the Hayabusa, but the GSX-R750 isn’t far behind in their mind. That may change in the future. The motorcycle company will have to kill the GSX-R750 and GSX-R600 soon due to stringent emissions standards.

We recently reported the impending doom facing the Hayabusa, and how it will soldier on in the U.S. for a while longer thanks to more relaxed emissions. The Busa will return, though, you can bet your sweet high-speed buns on it. Suzuki has a new one in the works.

The same can’t be said for the GSX-R750 or the GSX-R600. The company seems to have no plans to breathe new life into either model with a redesign.

Two Deaths That Makes Business Sense

The mid-range sportbike market is slowing down fast, according to Cycle World. All motorcycle manufacturers are killing off their 600cc and 750cc sportbikes. A segment of the market that was once one of the most crowded will soon be more or less empty. 

With sales sliding for the GSX-R750 and the GSX-R600 paired with the fact that the bikes don’t meet the new emissions standards in most of the world, it’s no wonder Suzuki will say goodbye.

Suzuki GSX-R750 and GSX-R600
Image from Suzuki

With that noted, buyers in the U.S. will be able to enjoy both these mid-range sportbikes in 2019. Suzuki won’t continue building these bikes forever, but if you were one of the few buyers considering a new 750 or 600 then you have this as an option.

I always liked these two mid-range bikes. They seemed a perfect balance in a sportbike market dominated by high-powered literbikes. It’s a shame to see them go, but I hope this opens up production space for some new, sportbike offerings from Suzuki.

 

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