In the early 1980’s, Suzuki needed to redefine the company’s image. So, it turned to former BMW styling executive Hans Muth. Together they created the Suzuki GSX1100S Katana. This revolutionary motorcycle emphasized compact effective designs that made it perform well on the streets and at high speeds. The bike was billed as the fastest mass-production bike of 1980, and it stuck around until 2006.
Fast forward to 2018, and a wave of retro-inspired designs are sweeping through the motorcycling world. Scramblers, café racers and naked bikes are becoming all the rage with millennials and now some are beginning to wonder if Suzuki is going to join the bandwagon.
Will Suzuki Resurrect the Katana?
In October, the INTERMOT motorcycle expo will hit Cologne, Germany once again. Every year, motorcycle manufacturers from all over the world bring their new designs to debut at the show. This year will be no different, as many expect more retro-bikes to break cover at this year’s convention. However, many are getting amped over Suzuki’s latest showstopper.
The company released a small teaser online, and though it doesn’t show a motorcycle, it clearly hints at the return of a classic. The video shows footage of a Japanese-styled forge where a sword is being crafted. Since a katana is a famous type of Japanese sword, many are drawing the conclusion that the classic GSX1100S could be returning to production. But nobody is quite sure what this blast from the past could look like.
Considering that Kawasaki and Honda have been releasing forced-induction motorcycles, Suzuki may not be far behind. The company has already introduced the Recursion turbocharged concept bike as well as a prototype forced-induction engine. Could the Katana be the production version of Suzuki’s next horsepower king? We’ll find out on October 2nd.
In the meantime, the motorcycling attorneys at Metier Law Firm want to keep the motorcyclists of Colorado informed. Keep following our blog for more updates, and remember, a motorcyclist in need always has a friend with our Law Tigers.