Mu, mu, mu, mu, My Katana!
Written: Apr 11 '01 (Updated Apr 24 '01)
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Pros: Sweet looking, smooth ride, turns heads and sometimes gives them whiplash!
Cons: Heavy, tall, large turning radius.
The Bottom Line: Get it if you want the sport bike but also need to make long trips. It'll get you there in no time flat.
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| MLF_Productions's Full Review: 2000 Suzuki KATANA 600 |
Katana
Introduction
I saw this like sitting in the Suzuki dealership one day. I thought to myself "man would that be a sweet bike". A few days later I decided to buy it. My first real motorcycle, a 2001 Suzuki GSX600F, A. K. A. Katana.
Engine
As you may have deciphered from the model number, the katana I purchased is a 600. While this is only 100cc more than my previous bike it is a four-cylinder rather than a twin. It is much smoother than my GS500E, not only when idling, but also a high-speed.
Faring/Body
the faring style is unlike any other bike I know of. It is smooth and flowing all throughout, there are no sharp edges anywhere. The headlamp resembles the eyes of a the cartoon alien from Toonami.
The body features two helmet holders. One on the outside under the rear faring, and one under the seat. The one on the outside under the faring is difficult to attach a helmet to. If you have a full faced helmet you must open the face shield and stick your hand through to the D-ring. The one under the seat is easier to use but you must take off the seat in order to use it, it is simply a hook and with the seat replaced it is impossible to slide the D-ring off the hook. It is nice that it comes with two helmet locks, however nice it may be that they are hidden, it also is a drawback due to the way you have to maneuver the helmets to lock them.
Handling
The Katanas have been played by bad steering all their lives. At first I didn't think it was going to be so bad, that was until I had to take the California motorcycle driver's license test. The minimum turning radius of the bike is exactly the radius of the circle in which you must maneuver the bike in one part of the test. It is approximately 16 feet, which is just about the width of two parking spaces, give or take a little.
When I first took the test I had only been driving it for about a month, and failed miserably. I have since been done about a million doughnuts and figure eights in order to improve my handling capabilities. This is definitely not a first timers bike.
I have only had the bike since about the end of January, and have dumped it on three occasions. Once I was going 15 miles an hour through a parking lot and ran over some paint (zebra stripes for a crosswalk) and its lead for about 15 feet. That was pretty much my fault, but I had driven over the same part many many times before on my GS and had no problems.
The second time I was going 0 mph, standing still in a parking space. All of a sudden the bike and dumped itself to the right, and there was nothing I could do about it. It is a very heavy bike, very heavy (~425lbs).
The third time I again was going 0 mph, standing at the bottom of my driveway, getting ready to back the bike up. At the time it started to fall over I was not moving, but apparently it wanted to and since it was a neutral there was only one way for it to go.
Thankfully I did not crack the faring, damage the tailpipe or hurt it too bad. It only received minor scrapes from the 15mph spill to the left side of the engine case and the $25 katana sticker on the left-hand side of the bike. I still have to get some touch up paint and apply the new sticker to it.
Comfort
Cruising down the freeway is a breeze. The bike has well more than enough power for me and whoever I have on the back, usually my 125 lb. girlfriend. She hates the bike, actually all bikes, so it is usually just me.
I live in Sacramento, which is a little over 100 miles away from San Francisco and not once did my rear end hurt from sitting on the bike over the eight hour trip me and a friend of mine took one day. We were able to go from SAC to SF drive around for a couple hours and come back for under $10.
Gas mileage (MPG) and Range
Buy would guess that the bike gets roughly 40 or so mpg, which is nice in this day and age. Sure the GS would get 50 to 60, but that is because it is a twin.
With its four gallon tank I am able to do 140 to 150 miles before I need to start looking for a gas station.
Summary
All in all I would say this is a very good bike for someone who has to ride with someone on the back, needs to make long trips, and/or just once a solid performing bike. Even though the title Suzuki gives it is that of a "sport-tourer" do not be discouraged by the touring part. This bike definitely has balls and if you get on it is not afraid to show you them. I have done 130 mph on my bike and if it had a seventh gear I think it could have gone faster.
This bike is definitely not for newcomers. With the weight of the bike, the problems up with handling at low speed, and the overall size of the bike, you will definitely want to have practiced on something else.
My Bikes Specs
Cost: $6200
Year: 2001
Miles (bought/current): 0 / 3500
Color: Yellow
Engine Size: 599cc
Actual Top Speed: 128mph
MPG: ~40
Weight: ~425lbs
Maintainence Costs: Low
Seat Height: You need to wear longer than a 30" pair of pants
Insurance: $150/month for a 21yo Single White Male
Performance: Mid/High (not a GSXR, but not a Puch either!)
Ease of installing stickers: 3/5 (too curvy, most need to be cut)
User Level: Intermediate
Overall Likability: 4/5
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 6200
Condition: New
Model Year: 2001
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Epinions.com ID:
MLF_Productions
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Location: Sacramento, CA
Reviews written: 25
Trusted by: 10 members
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