My 1982 Katana 1100 restoration COMPLETE!

[viperg]

Spectacular job! I have a second Katana 1000SZ I am restoring also. Very nice work.

 

[300kph]

Love the 1100G. I really enjoyed your photo album.

 

[300kph]

How ever and what ever it was done with it's a nice job!

So what about the original seat, the grey one in your "after" shots looks way cleaner than in the "before" shots so assuming it's the same seat what happened to that one? Did you clean it up or get it reupholstered?

Reason I'm asking is the upholsterer I've used for a long time now is telling me it's going to be very difficult to refinish mine, not impossible but sounds to me like he's forewarning me the result might not be up to usual spec. He says the curvature of the seat is the worst problem along with how the material weathers. We have swatches on his roof testing that part out right now.

The seat was simply cleaned with lots of warms soapy water and then dyed. Had I known how nice it would turn out I might not have bought the new seat but you can't beat new and the color is slowly growing on me. It would take quite a skilled upholstery person but there is no doubt someone out there. And I concur, that suede-like material they used was awful. It should every stain and I remember one here that used to ride with his girlfriend and her sweaty jeans turned the rear part all bluish. It looked really ugly. His girlfriend was no prize either.

 

[Wallowgreen]

Thanks for the info. Problem I have is my seat has a small tear in it so beyond just a clean up.

I'll probably go the same route as you, get a new one to use then do what we can with the old one and keep it as spare if it's not up to scratch.

 

[Mista M]

Fantastic! If I don't find anyone local to to the vin decals, I may have to use your guy.

 

[Scratcher09]

Beautiful bike. Looks like an incredible amount of work.

 

[flynbulldog]

Very nice job! I'm tackling the same project right now with a US 1000cc model. pretty much the same condition as yours - very rusty and cruddy but all there and in great running condition.
I'm also having the same issues with the seat. I bought the new OEM version from Suzuki but for some reason it doesn't fit on my bike - it's just a hair too big.
I'm going to try to reupholster it but every upholstery place I've been to has been very skeptical about getting it to come out decent. I think I'd rather the color look correct.
I'm a little more concerned with keeping the bike as close to original as possible but it's been a bit of a struggle with some of the finishes.

Anyway great job and it's good to see another Kat restoration! :eagerness:

 

[branumhawk]

Part 3 of 3:

Thanks to Brian at BD Design. He was so patient and so diligent in re-creating my VIN and supplying the other decals I needed. Sorry, Canadian purists, no French chain sticker. Just the English one.

As you can see, I really needed that new VIN.

I could not be happier with the paint. Richard at Mint Autobody in Winnipeg is a true master. Paint was Standox with the perfect factory code match. Body shops usually detest painting motorcycles. The job Mint did was as close to factory reproduction as imaginable. I've seen some vintage restos where the paint looked "unnatural" (too glossy, the clear too deep, runs, fish-eyes) Not here. The paint while better quality than factory looks very much period correct. Thanks to Mint owner Gary Querel for taking this on.

Here's just a few of the items I had sand-blasted. Thanks to Tim for all his dusty work on that huge pile of parts.

Brakes were super-gunky and the pistons were all scored. Rebuild kits from Suzuki front and rear. Along with new swing-arm and neck bearings. I'm seriously thinking about going braided stainless or kevlar. Anyone know a place that will sell me a complete measured kit for this bike? I'm looking for a bolt-on set and do not have the patience to measure each hose... Suggestions welcome. May go with a funky colored set. Maybe even orange? Nothing worng with a little splash of color is there?

I guess we should put one pre-resto shot here? In this picture the bikes does not actually looks that bad. Trust me... the bike was very rough-looking. It had been crashed on the left and the cowling was poorly repaired and re-painted. It think it was that that gave me the inspiration to re-do the whole bike.

And every "before" deserves a good "after"...

Have a ton more pics but I would bore you with the details. Will kindly reply to any questions. Thanks to Tim for use of his shop, his lift, his tools, his labor and his patience (we'll now get to work on your '83 ES) Eric, you are a genius and you always brought over the best in cigars. Russ at Quick Coatings, Gary Querel and his master painter Richard at Mint Autobody (they also aced the paint on my Z1R) Wes at Winnipeg Suzuki and Prairie Battery who found me the perfect Lithium-Ion. Tony Bucci in Toronto, Ron Darby at Z1 Enterprises, Rob (Katman) Wilton in BC and Ted Cymbaly of the Katana Owners Assoc.

Also special thanks to Pabst Blue Ribbon, Patron and Herradura Tequila without whose products this project would have been impossible. And last but not least is this forum whose kind and knowledgeable members contributed lots of wonderful advice.

Wayne

Great looking motorcycle. You guys did a wonderful job on putting it together. How did that new OEM seat fit on your bike? Thanks and have a good one.

 

[SVSooke]

I'd think twice before buying any colour SS lines other than clear or black.I got red ones from Rennsport for my 85 750 and the colour sun faded in 2 months and the coating was gone by the end of the year.The clear replacements I got for the 550 brake conversion are good after a full year.Nice bike!

 

[limeex2]

Not only yes on the brake lines but hell yes. Those are 30+ y/o. Spiegler on the brake lines. And when it comes time for pads,get some EBC HH pads or there equivalent.With the new lines and pads you wont believe the difference.

 

[Guest]

Left side pics??

 

[Rob S.]

Just now reading Cycle World's road test of the GS1100S in the February 1983 issue. According to them, the 1982 (first year) Katanas were 1,000cc (to comply with Superbike rules).
When Superbike changed it's limit to 750cc in '83, Suzuki put it's 1074cc engine in the new Katana. Also says the '83 vibrates and weighs less (3 lbs), and makes 3 more hp.

And that the suspension was vastly improved (softened) for '83. In '82 the suspension was "practically rigid at speeds less than 90 mph."