| One of the earlier race inspired scooters by Suzuki, | | | | rollers, since performance exhausts allow the Katana |
| featuring upside-down Showa forks and Carbon fibre | | | | to make more power but at a higher rpm. Going 0.5 - |
| look dash panels, the Suzuki Katana was an instant | | | | 1 gram lighter than standard generally does the trick |
| hit and quickly became popular for tuning, with plenty | | | | for Gianelli race exhausts on the Katana's, but it |
| of performance race parts from Malossi and | | | | varies between exhausts and tunes, and the Suzuki |
| numerous other manufacturers. | | | | takes 17×12mm rollers. |
| Early Suzuki Katana's had the Suzuki air cooled engine | | | | After fitting a race exhaust, the biggest benefit the |
| in them, whilst later Suzuki Katana's had Suzuki's new | | | | Scooter Katana will gain is by fitting a performance |
| liquid cooled engine, and where designated AY50R for | | | | big bore kit, adding a 40% increase in capacity and |
| the race production version. | | | | more than doubling the power. Malossi and Polini |
| One notable feature of the Suzuki Katana's are their | | | | make the best big bore kits available for tuning the |
| very low gearing, which means the engine does more | | | | Suzuki Katana, and will provide the best performance |
| revolutions per wheel revolution compared to other | | | | and reliability compared to the cheaper big bore kits |
| scooters, this provides very quick acceleration but a | | | | on the market . As you're increasing the capacity |
| lower top speed, even on tuned engines, most other | | | | with the big bore kit, a bigger jet is required to be |
| derestricted scooters can keep up on top speed, but | | | | fitted in the carb, usually around 6-8 sizes larger, |
| will struggle to match a race tuned Suzuki Katana on | | | | although doing a plug chop after a test ride to check |
| shear acceleration. | | | | the jetting is recommended to check your scooter |
| Although some people see the Suzuki Katana's low | | | | isn't running lean after it's tuning, otherwise it can be |
| gearing as a problem, it is also the scooters greatest | | | | liable to go bang. |
| strength, with blisteringly fast acceleration, most | | | | When tuning your Suzuki Katana, it is important to |
| other scooters will struggle to keep up with it in an | | | | make sure you run it on the best quality fully |
| urban environment, as even when others are tuned | | | | synthetic oil, especially with the Katana's oil pump |
| and kitted up with performance parts they'll still | | | | system, as it can be prone to clogging up the |
| struggle to match the Suzuki Katana's 0-30 times. | | | | exhausts, especially the standard ones. This is one of |
| When the liquid cooled Suzuki Katana is tuned it is | | | | the reasons why fitting an aftermarket race exhaust |
| practically untouchable against all the other 50cc | | | | to these scooters can provide such a huge |
| scooters on the market in these times, it'll only loose | | | | difference on older models. |
| out on longer roads where speeds of 50mph+ can | | | | After fitting the Gianelli race exhaust and tuned big |
| be acheived by other LC scooters. | | | | bore 70cc Malossi cylinder kit, you'll have a |
| The Suzuki Katana's are primarily restricted mostly in | | | | exceptionally fast accelerating scooter, but without |
| the exhaust, so in the very early models it requires | | | | an amazing top speed increase compared to other |
| binning and replacing with a race exhaust, whilst in the | | | | scooters, due to the Suzuki Katana's low gearing. You |
| later versions with a 2 part exhaust, you can grind | | | | can now either keep the fast acceleration, or |
| out the internal restrictor cone and refit the exhaust, | | | | sacrifice a little and fit a gear up kit to your Katana, |
| although nothing will match the performance that an | | | | allowing it to use some of this new found power |
| aftermarket race exhaust gives for the Suzuki | | | | provided by your Malossi big bore 70cc kit to give |
| Katana. On the very early models, the CDI is also | | | | you a better top end, good for another 10mph in |
| restricted and requires replacing with an aftermarket | | | | most cases. Although it looses some acceleration by |
| model, although this isn't a problem on the later | | | | fitting a gear up kit, your scooter will still be faster |
| scooters. | | | | accelerating than a standard untuned Suzuki Katana, |
| As with my usual reccommendation, Gianelli Exhausts | | | | so don't think a gear up kit will make performance |
| generally make the best performance exhausts for | | | | worse than before. |
| scooters, and since they're all e-marked, completely | | | | For even higher increases in power, bigger carbs and |
| road legal and come with a warrenty when fitted by | | | | aftermarket variators are available, but do not make |
| an authorised mechanic, so are by far the best tuning | | | | as bigger differences as the Gianelli race exhausts, |
| option for road going Suzuki Katana's, and all other | | | | the Malossi big bore 70cc kits and the gear up kits. |
| scooters that are being tuned for the road. | | | | The variator will provide a substancial benefit if it is |
| When fitting a Gianelli race exhaust to your Katana, | | | | fitted onto a Suzuki Katana that is older and has |
| it'll require a slightly higher jet (0 to 2 sizes on non | | | | done a lot of millage, as this combined with a new |
| catalysed Suzuki Katana's, I don't think they made | | | | belt will give a lot smoother acceleration and a slight |
| any with catalytic converters) and slightly lighter | | | | top speed increase. |