Suzuki Katana

The Suzuki Katana is a sport motorcycle designed in 1979–1980 by Target Design of Germany for Suzuki.

The Katana name was later applied to a range of sport touring motorcycles in North America through the 2006 model year (also offered in Europe but without the Katana moniker), and starting at the change of the millennium to a line of 49 cc/50 cc scooters in Europe.

Design history

The Katana's design started when Suzuki hired Hans Muth, ex-chief of styling for BMW, to update the company's image. The three-man Target Design team consisted of Muth, Jan Fellstrom and Hans-Georg Kasten. Kasten was still with Target Design as of 2003.

The design worked through several variations, with the public being allowed to see the ED1 and ED2 versions. This original design was a 650 cc (40 cu in) model called the ED-1 (European Design 1). The ED1 design featured a forward nose and a shaped, blended fuel tank with a merged fuel tank-to-seat arrangement at a time when squared off fuel tanks and flat-faced bolt-on accessory fairings were the norm. The design also incorporated favorable aerodynamics, with a special emphasis placed on high-speed stability, and was repeatedly wind-tunnel tested in Italy. The same generalized design forms had already been used early in 1979 for a one-off MV Agusta from the same design team, which never saw production.