SUZUKI KATANA 1000 (2019 - on) Review

Comfort it good, no bad back when you get off

Tons of power with smooth delivery

Only had it 4 months, found headlight rubbish at night

£190 for 1st service which was only a oil and filter

Dash needs to be more colourful, not very bright, dunlops are a great tyre choice

Ride solo, the bike is perfect for a B road blast with your mates. I am 197cm (6'5") tall and she is comfortable enough for me. Plan to upgrade the rear shock down the road. Peg height is typical naked bike, dragged them good several times on the track. Haven't done long touring yet.

Feels like running on pure mixture on lower RPM in town, just keep it 2nd gear. A lot of folks are flashing the ECU and it makes tons of difference from what I read.

Bullet proof.

Cheap to service at the dealer, hardly a better value since I got it new for a bargain price.

Aftermarket luggage is available, recommend japanese sport bike panniers Tanax MFK 273 as they look custom made for the Katana. Also recommend the MRA wind screen. Installed Annitori quickshifter on mine, newer Katanas after 2021 come with electronic throttle and factory shifter/blipper.

Comfortable bike with a good handling and high-speed stability, great Brembo brakes.

Simply outstanding, super smooth and delivers a punch and good torque. Cruising at 40mph in 6th gear no issue.

No issues so far, 3000 miles without a problem.

Low running and maintenance costs, can get easily 50+ mpg.

Has everything which is needed. Just the dash is dated. Still provides everything I need. Fuel tank, despite small delivers a 180-200 miles range.

I stop just to fill up the tank. A great ride.

It is a GSXR K5 engine, the best Suzuki ever made IMHO..........and yes I have GSXR's from 2005 to 2022 and Gen 1 and 2 Hyabusas.

Like Honda used to be. Excellent.

Zero problems in 19,000 miles.

Pirelli Diablo Rosso 4 my choice but oe tyres are genuinely excellent. Apart from R&G Paddock stand bobbins nothing else needed.

It doesn’t make any sense how stiff the suspension is out of the factory. These Japanese factory test riders must weight less than a tempura prawn, yet it’s so firm it’s like riding a bucking bronco. Other rides have said the same, so it’s really important you take the time to dial it in for your weight. It’s so worth doing.If you test ride and it’s too firm, don’t let it put you off, there is plenty of adjustability to get it right.The tank runs out around 110 mile mark and it’s perfectly comfortable for that distance. I’ll be doing 4000 miles on it round Europe in July, and the last thing I’m worried about is comfort. I never carry a pillion, but you could do very easily. There is power everywhere, in every gear, pillion seat it nice but no grab rails as standard.

It’s pure joy. Power everywhere. Any gear, a slight twist and it will pull you along beautifully, with a surprisingly throaty burble from the straight 4. Power delivery is smooth, liner and predictable as you’d expect. My ‘23 model has a quick shifter and ride by wire which fixes the reports of a jerky throttle. Never even occurred to me until I read the reviews of the 1st version after buying. The quick-shifter makes a wonderful noise too both when you’re flying up through the gears, or down. The bike gets slated for having an ‘old’ engine. To me that’s not just a good thing, it’s a great thing. It’s a famously epic unit. It’s tried and tested and it’s been honed to perfection over the years. I won’t left wondering when I’m gonna get my bike back from the dealer for 3 months a la Aprilia / KTM.

Excellent fit and finish, the ‘Matte Iron Grey’ paint is thick and so glossy it almost has a wet look. The online photos don’t do it justice at all. The black frame, red wheels all look like they will last forever, and this engine has been around a long time. It’s proven on track and road to be a reliable unit.

I get about 45mpg in the most vicious riding mode. First service was £190 and I’m told the second will be £250.

Let’s address the elephant in the room…A 12L fuel tank. Sounds bad, but why are press reviews focusing on tank size and not range? I get near 110 miles to a tank. My mates Ducati 1098SF has a bigger tank but has about the same range…not a jot about that in its reviews. By todays standard, it’s light on fancy tech, but it has the important bits. Quick-shifter / Ride by wire / 5 stage traction / three rider modes / ABS ( obviously ) I love the red dash mode that switches by itself at night. Makes it feel like a knight-rider bike.

Ride is good sometimes little harsh, Twitchy throttle common on gsxr

reliable gsx/gsxr engine

Quality and reliability is important , suzuki has good credit towards this.

2020 doesn't have the fly by wire until 21.But still works good.

Brakes are really sharp. Handy on a naked 150 mph bike.

Will pull from any gear. Nice growl when you open her up.

Never had a suzuki in 40 years of bike riding. Really impressed.

Just enough for me.

Brakes are OK but need a hard pull to stop quickly (maybe that's a good thing). Suspension is hard and unforgiving especially the rear shock. Pant filling episode on the dual carriageway when I hit a bump and was catapulted out of the seat. Don't expect it to be flickable into the bends and you will be OK. A lot more handlebar input than I expected at slow speeds.

Pulls strongly from tickover. If anyone tells you they want more rev/bhp on the road they are lying or have a deathwish. Engine is a bit noisy to the mechanically sympathetic. Gentle riding will get you 45 to 50 mpg which is lucky as the tank as as small as Scotsman's wallet :)

All seems good so far.

I'm told will be @ £250 which is similar to what I was being charged/robbed for a 401 Husqvarna

What more do you really need? Just get on & ride, Simples.... It doesn't need rider maps as its a bit of a pussy cat until pushed. May purchase a higher screen for long distance trips as buffeting over 70 is bad.

Great sound and pulls great from 30mph in top gear

Brakes a bit weak on initial bite, ride is fine when adjusted for you.

Smooth powerful enough.no snatch whatsoever.

Great build, no corrosion but I keep it out of bad weather.

Got mine as a ex demo with the full samurai kit nearly £3000 off, I get 55mpg easy if your not wringing it’s neck, so tank lasts around 140 miles, servicing and insurance costs are average.

Just the basics but that suit’s me.Samurai kit adds a bit more exclusivity. Small tank capacity isn’t a problem for me you want to get off anyway before it’s empty, I don’t tour any great distance this isn’t a designated touring bike.

Not too stiff and suspension works well. Very good feeling for the road, brakes are a dream!

K5 engine, nothing more to say, probably one of the best 4-cylinders ever build. If you also enjoy the touring part this engine is best as it pulls in 6 gear from 30mph like a turbine - and the sound is just great

Very good build quality for the price and after 3000 miles no issues at all.

Great value compared to other bikes and with this dream engine worth the price. Very low running cost and can run at 50mpg easily if you are not in the race mode.

Black version with Samurai pack, black LSL levers and handlebar mirrors from Rizoma it looks the part. Standard tires are absolutely fine for me.

Great acceleration and I haven't found it a problem around town to handle. I have the Samurai kit so a slightly higher screen does offer a bit of protection on motorways and at 6'3" I do notice a little buffeting. Great on twisty roads with brakes that have a really progressive feel. Suspension has needed a bit of tweaking to make me feel more comfortable with different road surfaces and it has a very comfortable seat/riding position.

Great, what else is there to say , oh and wonderful exhaust note when opened up

Just over 1500 miles so still too soon to comment but build quality looks good so far. Love the looks but I'm of that age that I remember with fondness the original

when I bought it I checked out future servicing costs and they are around average for this size of bike. Frequent stops for fuel are its downside

Still not convinced the tires are right for the bike or it could be me. The display is good but can be a little difficult to see in certain light conditions, I would like a little less on the main display and the option to scroll between information screens. The bike for me looks great and I love the concept.

Hard to adjust the stock suspension for my size, I’m 6 ft 4ins and weigh 18 stone in my kit. Suspension is too harsh / choppy for a sporty type bike, but the chassis handles and steers well.Comfort on the new seat is ok but fuel range limits your riding, rather than a numb bum.

Brilliant Engine, with short gearing, loads of torque and has a manic top end punch , just like the K5 engine is was designed from. Because it’s a naked bike you cannot maintain silly speeds for long, isn’t that an advantage? You can pull strongly from almost any gear and the engine will provide loads of torque, or dance on the gear lever and have some real fun.

Impressive Nothing broken or failed, typical Japanese. See comments ref OEM tyres. Suzuki Build quality has improved over the years, but it still appears very fragile underneath the surface.

Low service costs with no nastys after 1 year

Compared to some European competition the Katana is pretty basic for an 11k bike. I got rid of the Standard Dunlop Roadsmarts after running in, and fitted Pirelli Rossi Corsa 2 , much better warm up and feel, from these replacements. I’m going to fit a tail,tidy as the original no plate holder is the worst feature. Most of the Dashboard Figures are too small and cannot be seen clearly when you are moving or in bright sunlight. However You can see the Speed and fuel tank contents, very useful!

a very comfortable ride can ride all day without a numb bum mine has a lovely intake whistle that sounds like a turbo spinning up when driven hard.

plenty of power

no faults as yet but have had many Suzuki's and had very few problems

had to pay for first service it may have been nice if Suzuki had contributed somewhat.

dash is very hard to read when on the move I wear glasses for reading and cannot see the traction settings or the fuel level without stopping and putting on the glasses.

Brakes are awesome, ride a bit harsh on the back but I haven't played around with the settings yet. Handling is sure and confidence inspiring. This is Katana proving to be the allround choice I hoped for.

Magnificent engine. The reported snatchy throttle has not appeared for me but I don't ride like Schwantz on the road (showing my age) This feels very light and responsive on the road when moving.

This Katana is as well built as any Japenese motorcycle I have ever owned (a lot) As yet no corrosion but I use my bikes all year round so we will see later in the year. Plastics are top quality and its nicely put together.

Servicing every 6000 so costs are going to be about average.

Not a lot of the modern electronics found nowadays but I assume that's what Suzuki were intending as this is not that sort of bike. I like the LED lights and the tyres seem fine. Switchgear is very good, horn pathetic, seat very good as is the seating position.

If you're taking it easy and gentle with the throttle I'm not getting the snatchy-ness most reviews are claiming in lower gears as I find my ducati far worse in that department. Brakes are progressive with great stopping power.

K5 engine is a dream

With an air-cooled ducati monster and a triumph bonneville in the garage the katana's build just seems to be better in quality maybe due to being a newer bike or what the Japanese are renowned for.

Where I live the katana is 1.5k GBP (equivalent) cheaper than the likes of the cb1000r and 800 GBP cheaper than the z900rs cafe which was both on my list of bikes to consider. With the specs, the katana seemed a no-brainer.

Everything you need, no fly-by-wire or riding modes which I think is better for it. LCD screen although cool is difficult to read.