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Post by donkeychomp on Aug 31, 2023 22:48:57 GMT 1
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Post by Tobyjugs on Aug 31, 2023 23:00:27 GMT 1
Hi Alex i'm not an expert on Suzuki's but when i see those rear shocks they look like cheap charly chinese shocks with fake compression /rebound chambers, which makes me weary of the rest. The rims look like GS550 rims. I do think a Bandit engine is a good thing, but it doesn't look like the engine i own (I own a 650 version)
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Post by donkeychomp on Aug 31, 2023 23:20:00 GMT 1
Apparently they are Nitron shocks. I did some research! And the rims are meant to look like the 1100 Kat ones. I just love the look of the thing. Okay it won't be blindingly fast but whopping speed isn't my thing these days.
Alex
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Post by veg on Sept 1, 2023 7:18:49 GMT 1
The engine isn’t the bandit engine you are thinking of Alex, whilst it may be water cooled it’s not based on the gsf600/1200 engine.
Im with Tony re the shocks. However I’ve looked at original pics and they could be real? Have they been rebuilt or are they freshly painted but original and therefore 30 yrs plus old? You would need to get better pics and if it has been rebuilt I’d make sure there are receipts for it all.
That’s the second 400 kat for sale recently in that area. Have you looked on oldskoolsuzuki yet? There are always/used to be kats for sale.
I did wonder if you have enough space to fit a gsf600 motor in but again not sure of the size.
The other alternative is buying an early 750 katana. Not the later pop up headlight one but I owned years ago a South African import 750 looked exactly like a 1000/1100 but had a 750 motor.
Having said all that it look’s pretty good but could you cope with 400lb 50hp 100 mph bike?
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Post by LC_BOTT on Sept 1, 2023 7:49:03 GMT 1
Why can't you find a slabbie, seems there's a few around, or are you after a project.
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Post by dusty350 on Sept 1, 2023 8:02:23 GMT 1
Definitely not a Bandit engine. It's just a small cc Gsx motor, built for the restricted Japanese market. My initial concern would be distance - how likely are you to go Fife to see the bike ? Have you sat on one ? How would it be for your back, and knees ? Not trying to "dampen your squib", but just being realistic. How easy are parts to get for these ? I'm guessing they are grey imports (dont remember 400 Katanas being sold here officially ?) Clip on style bars dont suit a lot of us nowadays, and unless the bike dimensions are very different to the bigger Katanas, it's a bit of a stretch to the bars. I sat on an original years back and didn't find it comfy - not surprising as it was a sports bike back in the day. We are all different though, so it may suit. Still think you need to sit on one to know for sure  Have you considered a Bandit ? I know there are tons of them out there, but that's a good thing. Relatively cheap, unburstable motor, parts - genuine and aftermarket are readily available, sensible riding position etc etc. Most bike shops will know them inside out too. A mate of mine had a 1200 Mk 1, and absolutely loved it. You can get a nice one for way less than that 400 Kat  |
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Post by rigga on Sept 1, 2023 8:02:50 GMT 1
Buy that, and you'll always be asked
"Why didn't you get a proper one "
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Post by midlifecrisisrd on Sept 1, 2023 9:01:54 GMT 1
Just had a Google around, shocks and wheels are original by the looks of them
At 3k you could buy a "not bad" gsxr750
Steve
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Post by Robbieben on Sept 1, 2023 10:17:33 GMT 1
The 400 Kat isn't a bad bike, low powered as originally only for Japan, never oficially sold here in the UK though there are a few imports about. I've seen 3. They were sold in small numbers in Europe, mainly France from my knowledge of them. About its maximum value in my opinion, not likely to gain any more value as it's just not a desirable bike. For my money I'd look for a GSX1400 or an XJR1200/XJR1300 that wants a bit of TLC, they can be picked up around 3k and will not lose value and are far more desirable these days.
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Post by 4l04ever on Sept 1, 2023 11:31:25 GMT 1
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Post by donkeychomp on Sept 1, 2023 21:15:40 GMT 1
Food for thought and all your views are most appreciated. The Kat is for sale at £3k or offers. And he can get it delivered. Yes it's not a 'real' one but rough 1100s are about £10k and good 'uns...double that. No, I've never sat on one either. A rough slabbie is about £3k. That blue one needs a lot of work and has been on eBay for ages. I don't want a Bandit or any other UJM and a 1200!! Way too big for me. The reason I'm looking for a diesel are many but it'll be reliable, I don't want another project at the mo, and if I do buy one it needs to be the right bike for me. And that limits it to a Kat, a Slabbie or a Z1. Only the slabbie is in my very modest budget. And it has to be a 750 for, oddly enough, emotional reasons. The 750 means more to me than an 1100. And yes I have sat on one!
I think it might be worth giving the seller of the Kat a bell and see what's what and how much he'll actually take for it. Might be cheaper than any of us think. Yes I think it's an import too but the speedo is in MPH. Questions need answering I think!
Alex
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Post by chrisg on Sept 2, 2023 14:03:08 GMT 1
I would ask him if he has a clip of him starting it up?
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Post by panzermatt on Sept 2, 2023 18:57:05 GMT 1
i would love one of those.
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Post by donkeychomp on Sept 3, 2023 21:10:30 GMT 1
Well that didn't go according to plan. I went to phone him at 9. It was sold at 8.55. Nuts.
Alex
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