Chris Arthur's 650 Katana page...

Suzuki released the GS650G Katana in early 1981 and the GSX1100S Katana in late 1981, at the time these bikes were considered very radical in design. The Katana models set a styling bench mach for many of the Japanese Retro / cafe styled super bikes that followed. The GS650G was the very first Katana and its design, known as ED-1, was created by Jan Fellstrom back in 1979. Suzuki’s ED-1 prototype first appeared in early 1980 at the Kern Motor Show and was ready for production later that year.  The 650G was quite different to the other capacity Katana's as it employed shell (automotive) type crank & big-end bearings in the engine and a shaft drive swing arm. Most of the other Katana engines ran roller bearings; none of the other Katana’s were shaft drive. The picture above is actually of a late 1982 - 83 GS650GZ model with the differences over a 81 - 82 GX being Anti-dive forks, a fuel gauge and supposedly tougher bearing shells in the engine. The 650 Katana was dropped from production in 1984 but over the next decade or so Suzuki continued to gain world wide sales with other Katana models...

1981 - GS650Gx Katana (the first Katana), GSX1100S Katana (prototyped as the ED-2 from Jan Fellstrom’s 1980 design).

1982 - GS550M Katana (also from the ED-1), GSX750S Katana, GSX1000S Katana released for production racing.

1990/91 – GSX250SS Katana, GSXR400SP & GSX400 Bandit

1992/93 – GSX250SSN Katana, GSX400SSN & GSX400SP Katana’s

 

GS650GZ Katana (1981-82) Specs

Top Speed

200 Km/hr

Standing ¼ mile

13.2 sec @ 162 Km/h

BHP

approx 71 bhp

DIN

53 KW

Fuel Consumption

~ 18 km's / ltr

Dimensions & Weight- GS650G Katana

Overall Length

2180mm

Overall Width

730mm

Overall Height

1120mm

Seat Height

780mm

Wheelbase

1480mm

Ground Clearance

160mm

Dry Mass

218kg

Engine - GS650G Katana

Type

4-stroke 4 cylinder, 8-valve air cooled, DOHC

Bore

62.0 mm

Stroke

55.8 mm

Displacement

673 cm3

Compression ratio

9.4:1

Red-line

9500 rpm

Carburetor

Four Mikuni BS32SS

Air cleaner

Polyurethane foam element

Starter System

Electric

Lubrication system

Wet Sump

Transmission - GS650G Katana

Clutch

Wet multi-plate type

Transmission

5-speed constant mesh, 1-down 4-up

Primary reduction

1.956 (90/46)

Secondary reduction

0.941 (16/17)

Final reduction

3.090 (34/11)

Gear ratios, 1st

2.678 (36/14) x (25/24)

2nd

1.851 (32/18) x (25/24)

3rd

1.438 (29/21) x (25/24)

4th

1.171 (27/24) x (25/24)

5th

1.000 (Direct)

Final drive

Shaft Drive (you hardly know it's there)

Chassis - GS650G Katana

Front suspension

Telescopic, oil dampened, spring 2-way adjustable

Rear suspension

2  x oil dampened, damper 4-way/spring 5-way adjustable

Steering angle

40º

Caster

62º15”

Trail

113 mm

Turning radius

2.6 m

Front brake

Dual hydraulic discs

Rear brake

Single hydraulic disc

Front tyre size

3.25H19 4PR (life approx. 12 to 14,000 km)

Rear tyre size

4.25H17 4PR (life approx. 7 or 8000 km)

Front fork stroke

150 mm

Rear wheel travel

113 mm

Electrical - GS650G Katana

Ignition type

Electronic (non breaker)

Ignition timing

10º BTDC < 1650 rpm / 40º BTDC > 3500 rpm

Spark plug

NGK D8EA (E-01, 24, 34) NGK DR8ESL gap 0.6-0.7 mm

Battery

12V  type CB14L-A2 or YB14L-A2

Generator

Three-phase A.C. generator

Fuse

10/10/10/10/15A

Capacities - GS650G Katana

Fuel tank (inc reserve)

23.0 litres total capacity

Reserve

5.0 litres (18 litres req to fill)

Engine Oil

2.5 litres / 2.8 filter & primary drive (20W50 Australia)

Front fork oil

246 ml each fork leg (15W)

Final Bevel Gear Oil

220 ml (use Hypoid EP80W90)

Note: the GS650GX & GZ Katana engines used different cam shaft profiles to that used in the GS650GT / GL & GS650E. The Katana has a peakier power curve and is several kilowatts up in overall engine performance, the down side to this is that the Kat gets a little bogged down in the lower rev range.

Stay-up-right…

Chris VK3CAE


See my Amateur Radio & Electronics pages