Team Classic Suzuki has used a Suzuki GSX-R1000 World Superbike racer with bodywork from the Suzuki Katana to create the ultimate custom Katana streetfighter. Team Classic Suzuki is sponsored by Suzuki's Vintage Parts programme, and the custom Katana streetfighter is a lockdown project, a Katana based around a 2008 Suzuki GSX-R1000 WSBK machine. At the heart of the Katana Streetfighter is a 2008 world superbike-spec 999 cc four-cylinder engine from a GSX-R1000 used by the Alstare team and now fully refreshed by Team Classic Suzuki's Nathan Colombi.
Also Read: Suzuki Katana Unveiled At Auto Expo 2020
The bike uses a 2008 Suzuki GSX-R1000 World Superbike racer with bits from old and new Katana bodywork
The inline four-cylinder engine produces around 200 bhp at the rear wheel, and is housed in an Alstare world superbike frame. The engine breathes through world superbike headers, and gets a Racefit link pipe and end can, and is cooled by a factory radiator and oil cooler, with aluminium water and oil pipes. There's a custom, over-sized swingarm and bespoke aluminium subframe from Alpha Performance Fabrications, both designed to facilitate a twin shock set-up that pays homage to the original Katana.
Also Read: Suzuki Katana Wins Best Bike Of Show At Auto Expo Excellence Awards
Custom bits like the classic rear end, with the racing seat add retro appeal
The look is a mixture of adapted racing parts and new-old Katana bodywork. At the rear is a LED taillight, which is joined to the seat that is more of a track-spec component from Italian firm Race Seats, and finished with the Katana logo. The nose cone is a new, old stock Katana unit, available from Suzuki's Vintage Parts Programme, which has been widened by one inch and modified to fit. Moulds from the nose and seat unit were used to create carbon panels that add a finishing touch. Dymag CH3 magnesium wheels maintain a classic look, and mounted them to are Brembo discs with calipers to offer superb stopping power.
The nose cone is a new, old stock Katana unit, available from Suzuki's Vintage Parts Programme
The new production Suzuki Katana was showcased at the Auto Expo 2020, but Suzuki Motorcycle India has yet to announce any plans of introducing the neo-retro sports tourer in India. As for the Team Classic Suzuki custom streetfighter, it's not clear yet whether it's just a one-off 'lockdown project' or if Suzuki is considering a production streetfighter based on the Katana.
