ok folks, ive got to voice my opinions now. these are honest words, opinions based on facts and experience. take it how you will, and flame me if you must, be here goes:
ive got a 2005 Katana 600, as you might know. i bought it with 300 miles on it. when i went bike shopping, i was originally going to get a gs500f... because i wanted a small bike to learn on. i didnt think i was going to be riding very hard, so i didnt want a SS bike. I ended up with the Kat. im glad i didnt get a gs.
about 2 weeks into riding the katana... i started finding myself runnin it hard. i had broken it in with 1000 miles within 1 week... and within a month i had it maxed out top speed and started draggin my toes of my boots around turns. it was great.
at this point, i started hearing about how it was a crappy sport bike. but i was having a lot of fun on it so i defended it all day.
then i had my first lil spill.. about 60mph. i blamed it on the tires and speed. but then, one day, i was following a friend who was haulin butt around a turn on a SS bike... i slowed way down, and still low sided. this is when i started to realize... wow, this is a crappy sport bike.
what makes it a crappy sport bike? real top speed of about 135mph... i drag peg feelers makin turns in my neighborhood because it has no lean ability... the front wheel wont come off the ground with throttle (which isnt always a bad thing), and its horribly under powered and horribly heavy.
ok, so i defend it..... its a sport-touring bike!
or is it?
what makes it sport touring? the couch like seat and the center stand? every other 600cc or 750cc sport touring bike on the market today will out handle and out accelerate and top out higher than the Katana. so i guess its a crappy sport-tourer too.
i would have to call the Katana a "standard" with a couple sport options... like the handle bars, oversized fairings, and the SLIGHTLY "agressive" sitting position.
now... im not only complaining.... here is why i like the katana and will keep it:
it is nice to be riding something that not everyone has. its also nice to push it hard (and hopefully keep it rubber side down) and have people wonder how you do it on a kan o tuna. i do like the style (though mine lacks style now)..... but most importantly:
its reliable, easy to work on, cheap parts (mostly due to the fact theyve been around for almost 20 years in their current form), very comfortable, and perfect for riding 2 up.
so whats my overall summary? its a nice bike to tool around on, very comfortable and reliable. but if you wanna keep up with the guys on the real sport bikes, probably aint gonna happen. i wish i had not have bought a new katana. a used one maybe. i plan on keeping mine, and probably purchasing another nice used Katana in the future, to park next to the gsxr that i will own at that point.
now be nice folks
ive got a 2005 Katana 600, as you might know. i bought it with 300 miles on it. when i went bike shopping, i was originally going to get a gs500f... because i wanted a small bike to learn on. i didnt think i was going to be riding very hard, so i didnt want a SS bike. I ended up with the Kat. im glad i didnt get a gs.
about 2 weeks into riding the katana... i started finding myself runnin it hard. i had broken it in with 1000 miles within 1 week... and within a month i had it maxed out top speed and started draggin my toes of my boots around turns. it was great.
at this point, i started hearing about how it was a crappy sport bike. but i was having a lot of fun on it so i defended it all day.
then i had my first lil spill.. about 60mph. i blamed it on the tires and speed. but then, one day, i was following a friend who was haulin butt around a turn on a SS bike... i slowed way down, and still low sided. this is when i started to realize... wow, this is a crappy sport bike.
what makes it a crappy sport bike? real top speed of about 135mph... i drag peg feelers makin turns in my neighborhood because it has no lean ability... the front wheel wont come off the ground with throttle (which isnt always a bad thing), and its horribly under powered and horribly heavy.
ok, so i defend it..... its a sport-touring bike!
or is it?
what makes it sport touring? the couch like seat and the center stand? every other 600cc or 750cc sport touring bike on the market today will out handle and out accelerate and top out higher than the Katana. so i guess its a crappy sport-tourer too.
i would have to call the Katana a "standard" with a couple sport options... like the handle bars, oversized fairings, and the SLIGHTLY "agressive" sitting position.
now... im not only complaining.... here is why i like the katana and will keep it:
it is nice to be riding something that not everyone has. its also nice to push it hard (and hopefully keep it rubber side down) and have people wonder how you do it on a kan o tuna. i do like the style (though mine lacks style now)..... but most importantly:
its reliable, easy to work on, cheap parts (mostly due to the fact theyve been around for almost 20 years in their current form), very comfortable, and perfect for riding 2 up.
so whats my overall summary? its a nice bike to tool around on, very comfortable and reliable. but if you wanna keep up with the guys on the real sport bikes, probably aint gonna happen. i wish i had not have bought a new katana. a used one maybe. i plan on keeping mine, and probably purchasing another nice used Katana in the future, to park next to the gsxr that i will own at that point.
now be nice folks
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