Idea banging around in the old Melon

[badwithcomputer]

this popped up on my local kijiji today..

http://novascotia.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-motorcycles-sport-bikes-1994-Suzuki-GSX-Katana-Damaged-W0QQAdIdZ412899045

a '94 750 engine.

there really isn't anything wrong with my engine other than it getting up there in miles.

from my reading on the Kat site, this will bolt right in. my only concern is the exhaust as its the dual can style, where as my kat is a post with single sided exhaust. can I swap my header and exhaust onto this engine? If it can be done, what are the potential running issues with switching to single sided?

my 600 carbs are already "jetted" I suppose i could swap those onto the 750 engine? I do believe I read though, that carbs stay with the original engine.

Just trying to work out if it's going to be worth my time. Will i notice a decent performance gain?

[steves]

You can swap the dual exhast on, will need to use your current oil pan and come up with a mounting configuration for the left can.

[cintidude04]

Or you can use a post 750 exhaust, just swap your oil pan an pickup to the new engine.
And no, don't use 600 carbs on a 750 engine.
Yes you will definitely notice a gain using a 750 engine in place of a 600.

[badwithcomputer]

DAMN! I hate temptation! I feel $500 is a little steep to be going in blind. I think $300 would be reasonable I mean around here, Katana's don't sell in good condition and they sure as hell don't sell as parts.

I shall waffle on this for a bit.

[steves]

why not try to get your bike running right before making changes to it?

[Wild-Bill]

Take that $500 and stick it in a savings account. Repeat every time you're tempted to buy another optional upgrade. You said there's nothing wrong with your engine right now so just keep riding it and watch for a good deal on a complete 750. When you find one then use the money in that savings account to buy it and sell your 600 as a complete, running bike.

I know, it's a boring way to do things; none of the drama involved with swapping engines and trying to make a franken-bike work. You've got a running bike now, though. Yes, the pre-Kats make more power than the posts and a 750 is a significantly stronger engine than a 600. The 750 is also a more comfortable bike than the 600 and you wouldn't get that benefit from an engine swap.

For that matter, if you want more power maybe you should be talking to Mojoe about his 1100. In another thread he's talking about either selling it or parting it out. You could have a MUCH more powerful bike in (as I understand it) great condition all ready to go.

[badwithcomputer]

parts katana's don't come up very often where I am at. The nearest cycle salvage is 2 hours away and they haven't seen a katana in over 2 years. I guess I am kind of looking a little further ahead as this may be something i might want to do in the future, what's holding me back is whether or not I will have extra funds next spring after the girlfriend and I have weathered the big c of 2012. If the funds do come available, a new bike will be in the driveway, if not, well a $500 upgrade to my current bike sounds like a good budget boost/winter tinkering time. I can never leave well-enough-alone.

although on the other hand, I could tinker with my current setup for much less than $500

I think I have a problem.

[cintidude04]

I think I have a problem.

welcome to the club.

[scottynoface]

Just dont spend $500 trying to beef up a 600, that's throwing money down the well.

[cintidude04]

Just dont spend $500 trying to beef up a 600, that's throwing money down the well.

+1 been there done that.

[badwithcomputer]

I think you're right, it would be like trying to make my Jeep a sports car.

Thanks for talking me off the ledge.

[strolltroll]

Yes, the pre-Kats make more power than the posts.........

Really? I hadn't heard that before.

[scottynoface]

Really? I hadn't heard that before.

Ride them back to back, it will be very obvious.

[arsenic]

Yes, the pre-Kats make more power than the posts

There is a lot more to this quote to actually understand what Bill is saying. The pre 98 750 is a short stroke with a bigger bore. It creates more HP out of the box. The 98-06 750 is a long stroke with a smaller bore, it has less HP to begin with. The 600 is the SAME engine. One is silver, one is black. Essentially, that is the only difference. I did say essentially, there are a ton of differences, but nothing making a major difference in HP.

[92xjunker]

I'm still dumping, just not down a well. I figure that all i've put into the bike it's still cheaper than a new one, and it is done my way.