1992 Suzuki GSX1100FJ Katana Project

Well, at the shop there is always something in the wings that will one day turn into something and this is just one of those things.

This is a 1992/3 GSX1100F Suzuki Katana, in their time these big machines were knowns as the Big Boy Sport Tourer, this is a Torquey Motor.

Make Model Suzuki GSX 1100F Katana
Braking 60 km/h – 0 14.4 m / 47.2 ft
Braking 100 km/h – 0 41.8 m / 137.1 ft
Standing ¼ Mile 10.7 sec / 205.0 km/h / 127.4 mph
Top Speed 251.3 km/h / 156.2 mph

Year: 1991 – 92
Engine: Four stroke, transverse four cylinder, DOHC, 4 valve per cylinder.
Capacity: 1127 cc / 68.7 cu-in
Bore x Stroke: 78 x 59 mm
Cooling System: Air/oil cooled
Compression Ratio: 10.0:1
Induction: 4 x 34mm Mikuni CV carburetors
Ignition: Electronic ignition
Starting: Electric
Max Power: 99.1 kW / 136 hp @ 10000 rpm
Max Power Rear Tyre: 97.5 kWc / 130.7 hp @ 10000 rpm
Max Torque: 112 Nm / 11.4 kgf-m / 82.6 lb-ft @ 7000 rpm
Transmission: 5 Speed
Final Drive: Chain
Front Suspension: Telescopic, oil damped, spring preload fully adjustable
Rear Suspension: Full Floater rising-rate monoshock, 5-way preload and 4 way damping adjustable
Front Brakes: 2 x 275 mm Discs ,2 piston calipers
Rear Brakes: Single 275 mm disc, 2 piston caliper
Front Tyre: 120/80 V16
Rear Tyre: 150/80 V16

Dimensions: Length 2205 mm / 86.8 in Width 765 mm / 30.1 in.

Height Screen up: 1290 mm / 50.8 in. Height Screen down: 1200 mm / 47.2 in.
Wheelbase: 1535 mm / 60.4 in
Seat Height: 795 mm / 31.3 in
Ground Clearance: 130 mm / 5.1 in
Dry Weight: 244 kg / 537.9 lbs
Wet Weight: 256 kg / 564.3 lbs

Fuel Capacity: 21 Litres / 5.3 US gal / 4.6 Imp gal
Consumption Average: 6.8 L/100 km / 14.6 km/l / 34.3 US mpg /41.2 Imp mpg
Braking 60 km/h – 0: 14.4 m / 47.2 ft
Braking 100 km/h – 0: 41.8 m / 137.1 ft
Standing 1/4 Mile: 10.7 sec / 205.0 km/h / 127.4 mph
Top Speed: 251.3 km/h / 156.2 mph

Well, the old girl has been sat for many years, I have no Key, No Paper work and No real interest in rebuilding her to be honest, but, what I hope to do later is use the Engine, as I have wanted to fit this powerhouse Motor into a CB750 K series Chassis, may take a long time but sometimes these projects take on a new challenge and thats half the fun right?

So I shall start to strip it soon and sell the parts I do not need on Ebay etc and when I have time I shall take the motor out and pack in a box until such time as I am ready to take on the new challenge of building a Power House Cafe machine, so, stay tuned…….

 

I have to get this Chopper running first, then that will be up for sale.

Old CB750 Chop I discovered driving by a Garage near to home. “PORK CHOP”

Sometimes it does indeed pay to be nosey, I am always nosey when I see open garages, Sheds or barns etc and tis was the exact thing I am talking about.  I think it was about a year or so I first clocked the Chromed Girder front end of this CB750 Chopper, it was sat in a garage that had heaps of old parts like lawn mower bits, boxes and general house hold junk we tend to want to keep, ie plastic buckets or old tarps etc.

I did drop by and ask if it was for sale, the old boy said the same old story, the paint cost him $2000 and he had never ridden it but wanted an arm and three legs for it, so I bid him a fond farewell and left him scratching his head, as he thought I would bite and purchase the bike from him.

Life continued as full on as possible and of course Covid etc but always thought about that old Honda in that garage and was it still there, so I thought to myself, its Saturday tomorrow, I shall take a spin down there and see if the fella still has the bike.

Poor thing was just sat in this old garage, there was Dirt and rocks underneath it and it was jammed in with all sorts of house hold garbage and to add to that the front tire was as flat as a pancake. the exhaust were starting to rust and had more cobwebs than the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland.

I went to see him again and a deal was struck, I noticed the old sissy bar was missing though, he said he sold that last week for $70, i was gutted as it was really cool looking and I will have to make my own now but would of been nice to use the old one as a template.

I got her home and after a few advil and a cuppa from the aches and pains of loading into and out of my Van with Jennifer, I sat there and took it all in, a great old Jap Chop from back in the day, of course it had not run since 2013 and thats just the tags on the license plate, it may not of run for many years before that for all I know.

But the old girl was now in the Barn at home, title says the Motor is a 1978, I do not see any ID numbers on the frame at all, not sure who the manufacturer is but am asking around as I am sure it may be from local to the old fella.

It need a wider rear fender for sure later and I will change out the rear tail light and seat, but first off all I have to see what the condition of the Motor is and the electrical as there are wires all over the place. But that Coffin Tank has got to go, was never a fan of them when they first come out, too big and bulky, I shall fit a Peanut one but only have a smaller version but, it will do until I find something later on,  there is no rush on this to be honest and it will be a fun project.

Well, I changed out the Gas tank for something a little more smoother, I like the lines but would like maybe a longer version, but this does look way better than the coffin tank that was on there. Many people do not like the Girder front end but its hand made and period, so I think I will keep it on here, probably change the handle bars and grips though and a different front light too. So stay tuned on the website about this old Chopper, I think I will name this “PORK CHOP”……………….

CB500 HONDA Cafe Racer Fired up with Gas tank back on

It is always a nervous time when you get something ready to ride and has not run in many decades and, it was back in the UK when it did run.  So many things can be wrong with it as no history to compare too etc, but, I fitted the Fiberglass Bimota gas tank and seat, poured in 97 Octane Gas and fired her up.

The Clutch was seized up as I thought it may of, sitting for many years unused will do that, I have had many bikes and cars for that matter with the same issue, I always start in neutral or fire up with clutch in and front brake locked on, just to see if she is seized on the plates etc.

I was super stoked to sling my leg over this machine and wait for the clunk! -As I pushed the rear set into first gear, she pulled away fine and I eased the bike out onto the road and went through the gears, all seems fine, although rear brake needs adjusting quite a bit but front did make up for it seeing it is now a double disc front set up.

I turned the bike around after about half a mile and rode it about a mile up the twisting tarmac to the the junction and pulled over, just to check on things, all was good, so I gave it some beans coming back as I wanted to see if she pulled harder and also, if she took a crap- Well I could roll home on momentum etc.

All was good and I see one clutch cover drip but need to change the oil, even though its clean, I like to know its all gone through etc.

The bike was quite responsive and I am happy with the way she rides, but I’m 50 pounds heavier than I was when I used to ride these back in the UK, although that didnt matter as teenager memories of my early days of Cafe Racer riding flooded back like a burst dam.

The weather was perfect today for riding this 50 year old inline Four and I bonded to this machine right away, laying on the tank was easy as I have my own Belly Airbag now but the feeling of Euphoria was immense as I went through the gears and felt the little 500 pick up speed, as these bikes really are a force to be reckoned with.

A bit more to do on the old Girl, Like New Throttle cables as right now it has just One and the idle will creep up a little and I prefer that snappy throttle with a return cable to be honest, also I want to adjust and Oil the chain and change the oil, it has rebuilt carbs now and New plugs and good gas and a New battery so we should be good.

A happy Medium for now but I will improve a few things later, better looking headlight and signals for sure and I need some bar end mirrors to see if anyone is chasing me lol.  Taking this out for its first time running in the USA was a brilliant feeling, like anything that has never run for years, there is always trepidation but I overcome that by clunking into first and whilst the beads of nervous sweat dribbled down my forehead, all disappeared in a roar of 4 stroke exhaust and I was Barry Sheene Once more.

 

 

Firing up the CB500 with New velocity stacks.

Messing about with the CB500 this afternoon, I fitted some aftermarket Velocity stacks to the bike, with screens, so that should help the bike breath better and I also managed to find a 15mm Die and tap the threads to a course range and the New petcocks I bought, screwed right on.

No idea if they will leak but should be fine and on the weekend I shall fit the gas tank, buy some 97 octane gas and see if I can ride the old girl.  Still more to do, I need to buy some Throttle cables so I have a Push Pull set up but she should run ok for the time being.