Sport bikes are fun, unfortunately this one rides like a tricycle
Written: Jan 31 '01 (Updated Jan 31 '01)
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Pros: cheap and fun
Cons: cant go hang out with the big boys without looking like a tool
The Bottom Line: If your a beginner with little money, give it a shot. If your looking to step up from another bike, get a CBR that is a few years old.
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| thisfatguy's Full Review: 2000 Suzuki KATANA 600 |
The thing most important to people in the market for new bikes is price. Lets face it, not all of us make the big bucks. Unfortunately, as luck would have, most of my friends do. While all of my friends were going out and buying GSXR-1100's and ZX-11's, I was sitting home thinking of the kind of tail I could bring in on one of these bikes.
Of course I wanted to ride with them around Dallas but the only way I could do it was to buy a Katana, the lowest form of sport bike on the road. This, however, was o.k. with me. I'm not terribly interested in what others may think, which is a good thing when it comes to this bike.
You do get the sport bike look (pretty much), but not anywhere near the performance. I bought a '92 Katana for around $3000 4 or 5 years ago. It has since been sold.
While you dont get the feeling of the GSXR-1100 screaming off the line, it's still a fun bike to ride, especially if its your first street bike. Before this bike I had only owned dirt bikes so this was a little bit of a change, to say the least.
Lets get to the good stuff.
Price: cheap, It makes it possible for guys with NORMAL money to own a sport bike.
Speed: no rocket, but mine only had a pipe and was at least able to stay neck and neck with late 80's CBR600's. Obviously wouldn't touch one nowadays.
Handling: If its your first street bike, your fine. If you've ridden a top notch street bike before, the differences are blaring. You can't go screaming around corners like the more agile guys.
Looks: Pretty decent. They don't have the cool graphics/paint like their more expensive counterparts, but then again that's why they are more affordable.
Ridability: This ol gal isn't meant for treks across the country. In fact, we made a 3 1/2 hour trip turn into a 5 1/2 hour trip because we had to stop so many times and stretch. I didn't have any problems riding around town all night though.
Bottom Line: If your a beginner, only have a few thousand dollars, and would rather get a newer, cheaper bike than an older, better one, the Katana will do you fine. While you may have to suffer with the speed and agility, the maintanance is low and people who don't know anything about sport bikes (80% of the population) dont have a clue whether your riding a $4000 bike or a $14000 bike. They never need to know.
Recommended:
No
Amount Paid (US$): 3000
Condition: Used
Model Year: 1992
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thisfatguy
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Reviews written: 28
Trusted by: 11 members
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