well i really wanted a bike and i was talking to a family friend and he told me his son was wanting to get rid of his so i went and look at it and it looked sleak to me i liked how the fairings flow so i bought it. i dont know about a kat being a girls bike its way to heavy to be a girls kind of bike at least that what my girlfriend keeps saying.

I needed something bigger and better than my Honda Rebel 250. I like the look and the comfort of the Katana more than any other bike I sat on while bike shopping with my ex-wife. The cost of the bike and cost of insurance also played a part in my decision.

Back in Michigan, where I grew up, I got my first 2 wheeled vehicle when I was 9. As I got older I got progressivly larger and more powerful bikes (dirt bikes).

When I moved to NC, I did not own a bike of any type, and after 13 years, I got tired of not having one.

Where I live, there really is no place to ride a dirt bike, unless I want to trailer it somehwhere, so I started looking at street bikes. The first bike I was looking at was a gs500, as it was inexpensive, smaller, etc. I took home the Suzuki brochure, and started looking thru it.

I got very interested in the Kat 600 and the GSX-R 600, and was unsure wich to purchase. After thinking about it for a while, and sitting on both bikes, I decided to go with the Kat, as I like cruising, and it was more comfortable feeling.

Now, there are times when I wish my Kat was quicker, but Im very happy with it, and im more then willing to let some quickness go and replace it with the comfort of the Katana.


I believe I made the correct choice on my purchase (though a 750 may have been more to my liking).

the styling and price are what attracted me. it's a great bike for the money and if taken care of darn near bulletproof. I get lots of compliments on it from the non biker crowd and thus far haven't been insulted by anyone because I ride a Kat.

I was looking into getting a bike about a year ago. I took the MSF course, and began shopping around.

I loved the look of the Kat. Came here, found that many said it would be a good bike to start out on. I wanted something I could keep for a while, and something I wouldn't kill myself on as a new rider (i.e. liter bikes).

The only people who have bad-mouthed my bike are people who don't really know anything about motorcycles and who think it's all about stunting.

I'm still learning, but this bike can most definitely keep up with most of the guys I ride with. No regrets here. I'll probably get a lighter liter bike as my next one, but I plan to keep the Kat around for a while.

When I started looking for my first motorcycle, of course I didn't know anything other than "that bike looks awesome", and I initially was thinking about getting a GSX-R750 or (shudder) a Hayabusa. Luckily, I didn't make a stupid decision without doing the research and as I learned more and more I steadily picked smaller bikes until I narrowed my choices down to the SV650S or the Katana. To be honest, the one source which made me pick the Kat was this very website. I started reading it daily after I saw a link on www.powersportsnetwork.com (while looking at katana user reviews). After many months of reading and further researching, I finally went and picked out my Katana...and I did so knowing full well all of the jokes and criticisms that were aimed at the Kat. The Kat was priced well, it was comfortable, and riding a slightly heavier bike feels kind of nice (as long as I'm riding ). So far, the Kat has proven an excellent bike to learn on, and it's always pulled through for me in every situation I've put it through. Even though I plan to own that gixxer 750 and a Hayabusa eventually (read several years), I'll always keep a Kat in my garage!

I bought mine cause I wanted a good clean, used starter bike that I could grow into. My arse is/was too big for a Ninja 250, and I couldn't find any good cheap used Ninja or GS 500's. I really wanted a 98+ model, I like the styling better than the pre 98, but I couldn't find a used one in my price range. So, I eneded up with my 1996 "Teal Monster".

The plan was to spend a few months on the Kat and move on to a RC51 or a GXR 1000. However, within a few hours of riding it the Kat grew on me. I like the soft seat, the sitting postion, and I like the way Kats handle. So, instead of the RC and GXR I'm now looking for a 98+ Kat.

Katana 750: Found a great deal and I thought it was a nice-looking bike. I don't give a rat's a$$ what other people say, I buy for myself.

Bandit (very similar to the Kat, in many ways): Felt a need for a bigger, more powerful bike than the 750 cruiser I owned, as my then-GF rode with me some and the 750 lost it's sparkle two-up. Wanted to enjoy riding in the twisties more, too.

Knew I would sell one or the other within 6 months of buying the Kat, and it was the Kat that found a new home. Very close, though- VERY close.

Katana 1100: Saw a 1100 right after buying the Bandit, and thought it might be better for touring, without the huge Goldwing Geek factor. Again, great deal and an opportunity to see if I was right, and know I can sell either bike for at least what I paid for it. So, the quest continues...

I got a good deal on a used one that was sitting on the showroom floor. It really was am impulse buy for me. I knew that the Kat was a reasonable bike and I liked how it felt when I sat on it so I bought it.

Best dollar value and still love it.

As I was coming from an '82 GS550L that I bought new, I felt very comfortable with an inline four. Not a big fan of twins. Also, since I had a very good history with the Suzuki (never any problems in 20 plus years) I felt obliged to look at their latest offerings. I loved the look of the sport bikes but really wanted something a little more comfortable for longer trips. Saw the Katana and fell in love with the side by side lighting design. I then sat on one and low and behold, it was actually comfy. Looked at the price and was again happily surprised. The reasonable insurance rates for it cinched the deal. Looking forward to many good years together.

Insurance was a big factor as a returning to the sport rider. Those of you outside of Ontario may not understand this but to be polite sport bike insurance if your with anyone other than State Farm can be downright insane up here.

Other than that back in late 02 early 03 I hit the net and stated researching, the Katana offered what I wanted. Decent performance, easy to maintain, comfortable and not to much bike for someone who hadn't ridden for 12 years lol.

I myself am not saying it's a girls bike. But I have noticed some people like to make fun of Katanas. Only people who say anything to me are actually my friends.. I don't think anyone else would have the equipment to talk smack to my face anyhow. I love my bike. I'm glad this has gotten so many replies. Keep it up. Could be some good stories here.

Comfort...and looks...I was initially like many looking at the R#, ZX#, GSXR's,CBR's and thought they would fun to ride and look cool....well yes they do but after sitting on all of them for a period of 10 min...my body started cramping...back, leg, calf...I felt like Goldielocks from the Three Bears story....this bike is too crampt...this one is too far forward...this ones racking my...well you get the idea...then I saw the Katana and thought looks nice...kinda big but nice curves...so I sat on it and wow...it's comfortable...man I can sit on this for a while and it's not too heavy...I liked it...of course it was like a 2003 model and I purchased an '89 but still the same comfort level...and the rest is history...