Out Of The Bag

The new ‘retro’ Suzuki Katana has arrived in the UK and a damp Bertie Simmonds splashes his way through Warwickshire.

- Bertie Simmonds

I’ve been so looking forward to this, but to say I’m upset at the British weather is an understatement.

I’ve been lucky enough to be invited to this, the first UK ride of the new Katana and – in usual style – the weather really isn’t playing ball.

As the rain hammers down on the roof of the large marquee we’re sitting in at the Caffeine & Machine in Ettington, I’m the only one asking questions like: “Why is the tank a pitiful 12 litres?” “Why wasn’t the beauty of the original clocks carried over to this new Katana?” “Why is the pillion seat so short?”

Apparently, the design of the bike set the tank capacity at 12 litres and “the bike can do more than 100 miles before reserve”. I’m also reassured that the clocks (based on those from the GSX-R1000R) feature an LCD ‘Katana’ logo on start-up. More on the pillion seat later…

Let’s ride! I’m sitting on the bike and – while it looks and feels quite small in proportions – it’s instantly comfortable. The original GSX-S/F was comfy for me, but this is more so: the seat height is up to 825mm but the bars are also higher-set – and not clip-ons like the original Kat. While Suzuki claim the 12-litre tank should give you enough range before you ‘get’ uncomfortable, perhaps they’ve made the general GSX-S1000/F ergonomics even comfier and therefore shot themselves in the foot…