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
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GS650GZ Katana (1981-82) Specs |
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Top Speed |
200 Km/hr |
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Standing ¼ mile |
13.2 sec @ 162 Km/h |
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BHP |
approx 71 bhp |
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DIN |
53 KW |
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Fuel Consumption |
~ 18 km's / ltr |
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Dimensions & Weight- GS650G Katana |
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Overall Length |
2180mm |
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Overall Width |
730mm |
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Overall Height |
1120mm |
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Seat Height |
780mm |
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Wheelbase |
1480mm |
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Ground Clearance |
160mm |
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Dry Mass |
218kg |
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Engine - GS650G Katana |
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Type |
4-stroke 4 cylinder, 8-valve air cooled, DOHC |
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Bore |
62.0 mm |
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Stroke |
55.8 mm |
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Displacement |
673 cm3 |
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Compression ratio |
9.4:1 |
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Red-line |
9500 rpm |
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Carburetor |
Four Mikuni BS32SS |
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Air cleaner |
Polyurethane foam element |
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Starter System |
Electric |
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Lubrication system |
Wet Sump |
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Transmission - GS650G Katana |
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Clutch |
Wet multi-plate type |
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Transmission |
5-speed constant mesh, 1-down 4-up |
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Primary reduction |
1.956 (90/46) |
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Secondary reduction |
0.941 (16/17) |
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Final reduction |
3.090 (34/11) |
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Gear ratios, 1st |
2.678 (36/14) x (25/24) |
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2nd |
1.851 (32/18) x (25/24) |
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3rd |
1.438 (29/21) x (25/24) |
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4th |
1.171 (27/24) x (25/24) |
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5th |
1.000 (Direct) |
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Final drive |
Shaft Drive (you hardly know it's there) |
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Chassis - GS650G Katana |
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Front suspension |
Telescopic, oil dampened, spring 2-way adjustable |
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Rear suspension |
2 x oil dampened, damper 4-way/spring 5-way adjustable |
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Steering angle |
40º |
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Caster |
62º15” |
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Trail |
113 mm |
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Turning radius |
2.6 m |
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Front brake |
Dual hydraulic discs |
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Rear brake |
Single hydraulic disc |
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Front tyre size |
3.25H19 4PR (life approx. 12 to 14,000 km) |
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Rear tyre size |
4.25H17 4PR (life approx. 7 or 8000 km) |
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Front fork stroke |
150 mm |
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Rear wheel travel |
113 mm |
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Electrical - GS650G Katana |
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Ignition type |
Electronic (non breaker) |
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Ignition timing |
10º BTDC < 1650 rpm / 40º BTDC > 3500 rpm |
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Spark plug |
NGK D8EA (E-01, 24, 34) NGK DR8ESL gap 0.6-0.7 mm |
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12V type CB14L-A2 or YB14L-A2 |
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Generator |
Three-phase A.C. generator |
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Fuse |
10/10/10/10/15A |
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Capacities - GS650G Katana |
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Fuel tank (inc reserve) |
23.0 litres total capacity |
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Reserve |
5.0 litres (18 litres req to fill) |
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Engine Oil |
2.5 litres / 2.8 filter & primary drive (20W50 |
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Front fork oil |
246 ml each fork leg (15W) |
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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