I am in Canada. I bought a katana in 1982 when they first came out in Canana and the USA. Mine was an 1100, the USA got 1000. 1983 was the last year and only year for 1100s katana in the USA. The USA had one year 1982 of 1000s katana. So, '82,'83 was it, for the original design for North America. In 1984 (Canada) we got the gs1150efe which was the mono shock gsx1100 in Europe. We (North America) did not get any of the original 750/1100 katanas in 1981 or 1984 and I have not seen any 1981 katanas anywhere else. I have seen katanas with a build date in late 1981 but of course they were the 1982 introduction models. I recently owned a 1982 katana with suzuki build paperwork, serial number 00042. Built in 1981, delivered in 1982.
I also have a couple bike magazines harolding the debut of the katana in 1982.
The USA didn't get any pop up katanas. Canada got the first in 1984 (750 limited edition). It had a three digit serial number on the fairing starting with "001" ending with "201" (no number 13) I have owned 2 of them. Only 200 made that year in Canada. 1985,86 we got many more and '86 is when they ended here.
I see that the original 1100 katana enjoyed a third year, 1984 in Europe but in North America we only got the gs1150efe. Full fairing ugly mono shocked ancor of a bike with the two belts across the tank and of course the GSXR arrived in 1986 changing racing for ever.
I also agree that "katana" should have ended in 1986 with a name change for the gsxf.
I also have a couple bike magazines harolding the debut of the katana in 1982.
The USA didn't get any pop up katanas. Canada got the first in 1984 (750 limited edition). It had a three digit serial number on the fairing starting with "001" ending with "201" (no number 13) I have owned 2 of them. Only 200 made that year in Canada. 1985,86 we got many more and '86 is when they ended here.
I see that the original 1100 katana enjoyed a third year, 1984 in Europe but in North America we only got the gs1150efe. Full fairing ugly mono shocked ancor of a bike with the two belts across the tank and of course the GSXR arrived in 1986 changing racing for ever.
I also agree that "katana" should have ended in 1986 with a name change for the gsxf.
Comment