Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

suspension for everyday commuting any time. I agree with Kit - I don't like the graphics. They loo k out of place on what I feel is dated- looking bodywork. But I could spend some time with a hair dryer removing the decals and be perfectly happy using the Katan a on my dail y commute to the office and occasio na l trips to the rwisties . Nate Raub a ••••• I was impressed with the Katana 600 when [ first rode the bike at the now defunct R iverside Int ern ational Raceway back in 1988. It was a good bike th en , it' s a better bike no w. It's smooth, com fortab le and has very decent mi drange power. They've upgraded the fork, th e bra kes an d given it a stiffer spri ng o n the rear than it had back in '88. And the carbure tors hav e also evolved to 33mm Mikunis from the or igi nal 3 1mm flat-slide carbs. Sure th e suspen sion ma y be a tad soft for guys over 160 pounds, but at 140pounds, I didn 't have much trouble with it. You can feel the difference in su spension if yo u jump straight from th e GSX R600 to the Katana , but the GSX R was made with the race track in mind. Rid e both for an hour or so on the freeway , and you'll know why th ey made the Katana a bit more user friendl y. The o ther gu ys don 't care for th e graphics. Hey, for $4799 this bike's a bargain. The way I look at it , we're fO~lUnate they even painted it for this pnce. Good th ings have staying power. It 's been five years since the Katana was introduced and it's still her e. I' m sorry we can 't say the same about Riverside International Raceway. Paul Ca rr uthers W nile Cycle News believes th e [oregoing lest reliable, it is th e opinion of th e reviewer only and sho uld not be relied u pon in determining the p~fOT111ance or safety of the vehicle. The reader should ma ke h is o r her own inv estigatio n. Spe cifications Suzuki GSX600F Katana Engi ne type . . .. •Air/ oil-cooled, DOHC, TSCC, 4,slTok e, in-line, [our Bore x strUke • • • ••• .•• •. . 62.6x48.7mm Disp lacemen t 599cc COmp ress ion ratio •• • • • . . . . . . . . . 11.3: I Carburetor • •. .. . . . BSTI3SS Mikuni (4) Starting system • •••• •• ••••• •• • Electri c Ign ition • • . . . . . . . Digital/transistorized Lubrication . . • . . • . . . . . . . . . 'Vet su mp Primary drive • •. • • • • • . Straight-cut gear Fin al d rive . ..... •. .••• . 50VA2 Chain Frame . • . • • ••••• .• . Double-downtube, du al -cradle steel perimeter fram e; box- section steel swingarm Rak e • • . . . . . . . .• . • • . • • • • • • • • . . 24.8° Trail .... . . • . . .......... ....• 3.9 in. Front suspension Telescopic. oildamped, 3-way adj ustable rebound damping Fork tube dia meter • • •... • ••. ••• 4l m m Fron t wheel tra vel • . ..•..•. . . .. 5. 1 in . Rear suspension • •• . Sin gle shock . 4-wa y adjustable rebound damping, 7-way adjus table pr eload R ear wheel trave l • •••... ...•.•• 5.3 in . Front bra ke . . . .• . • Dual hydraulic di scs R ear bra ke . • . .•• . . Single hydraulic disc Front tire 11O/80·VI7 Rear ti re ... . . .• . •••... •. • 140/80- V17 Cla imed dry weigh t 440 lbs. O vera ll lengt h • • . . . . . • . . . . . . . 83.1 in. O verall wid th . . . . . • . . • . • •.. . •27.6 in . O verall height .. ... • ••• . •• .. •45.1 in. Wh eelbase 56.3 in. Fuel capacity 5.3 ga l. (4.8 CA model). Ground clea rance •• •• • •. • . . .. . . 5.5 in . Seat hei ght ••• • •• • . . . . . . . . . . •30.7 in. Colors • • •.• Red w/pink; bla ck w/purple Retail price . • • • • • . • • • • . . • . • . • . $4799 HATS T-SHIRTS FANNY PACKS '. 1 $9.95 each $11 .95 each $9.95 each Pric es fnclude Shipping & Handling fA- _ L:"! VISA ' Ii1 _ 33

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