Suzuki has launched its third huge bike providing in India, within the type of its retro-styled, liter-class bike, the Katana. Priced at ₹ 13.61 lakh, it plugs the hole between the V-Strom 650XT and the Hayabusa in Suzuki’s India line-up.
Styled after its Eighties predecessor however underpinned by trendy equipment, the Katana sits in a category of its personal. The inline-four engine configuration is essentially the most sought-after structure within the context of Indian ‘huge bikes’ and the Katana makes use of a 999cc, liquid-cooled, inline-four cylinder engine derived from the legendary K5 GSXR-1000, making 152hp at 11,000rpm and 106Nm at 9,250rpm.
For this yr, the engine has been endowed with new camshafts, valve springs in addition to updates to the airbox and exhaust system, to fulfill Euro 5/BS6 emission norms. A totally adjustable entrance fork and a monoshock adjustable for preload and rebound damping, each provided by Kayaba, are on responsibility right here. Twin radially mounted Brembo calipers clamp down on 310mm discs on the entrance.
The digital rider aids comprise a bi-directional quickshifter, 5 ranges of traction management (plus the choice to modify it off solely) and three throttle maps to handle the engine’s energy supply. All of those aids are managed by way of an LCD show — extra primary than the TFT items seen on most trendy machines.
Whereas the 825mm seat peak shouldn’t be a deal-breaker, the low 140mm of floor clearance must be handled warning over pothole-infested and velocity breaker-strewn roads. A number of different small however helpful options embrace Suzuki’s low-RPM help which prevents the bike stalling at low speeds, in addition to Suzuki’s Simple Begin System which turns the engine over with only a single press of the starter button.
India will get the Katana with the selection of two paint choices, Metallic Matt Stellar Blue and Metallic Mystic Silver, each priced the identical. Its retro-inspired styling and the pretty hefty price ticket imply that the Katana sits in a distinct segment of its personal. That is additional exemplified by its somewhat hefty ₹ 13.61 lakh price ticket, which makes it a great deal dearer than the ₹ 11.86 lakh Ninja 1000SX, its closest rival.