We don’t know about you guys and gals, but we were
getting a little exasperated after being teased on and on the new 2019 Suzuki
Katana.
Well, the Intermot show now on and Suzuki has made
good on their promises to unveil the bike. The new bike certainly blends
some of the most iconic aspects of the Katana with a fresh outlook. For
example, the fuel tank’s lines blend in with the seat’s, as well as the knee
cutout panels below the tank, the cut beneath the tank, the slope angle and
colour of the mini windshield, two-toned seat, the silver paint emblazoned with
bold red “SUZUKI” lettering and of course, the Katana logo.
On the mechanical side, the engine is based on the
GSX-S1000F naked sportbike’s. That engine itself, on the other hand, was based
on the 2005 GSX-R1000. Why choose an engine derived from “older” specs? Because
the 2005 engine was long-stroked and had lots more low-down and midrange grunt. Still, the new Katana’s 999cc
inline-Four engine produces 147 bhp.
As for electronics, it shares the same suite with
the GSX-S1000F’s, meaning it has ride-by-wire throttle, power modes, 3-level
traction control, ABS, slipper clutch and so forth.
The lighting system has gone all modern, too,
utilizing LEDs all around. The instrument cluster has been taken over by a
large single TFT LCD screen. Now for some reality check. Will Suzuki Assemblers Malaysia bring the
Katana to our shores? And how much will it cost? Let’s hope they do!
