I’d love to ride something old… but I’m a bit scared of the maintenance costs and discontinued parts…
I get it, I get it… (*・ω・)(*-ω-)(*・ω・)(*-ω-)Yeah, yeah♪
But the Inazuma is already a 20-year-old bike now…
Katana (GSX1100S) with lots of repro parts, 2000 Final Edition
Inazuma 1200 from around 1999
Which one has the advantage?
It’s hard to say which is better, and it’s a really tricky choice.
The genuine GSX1100S is certainly a model with a long production run, and it’s a bike that always ranks in the category of legendary machines.
Owning one will definitely give you that status and sense of ownership that really shines.
And the abundance of repro parts gives you peace of mind.
Since it’s an old engine design, you’ll naturally hear some rattling and clattering, and vintage electrical gremlins will inevitably come along for the ride. You might not get along well with it unless you embrace this character as part of the charm.
The oil-cooled Katana based on the Inazuma 1200 has definitely given that bike an elegant transformation.
By adding bodywork to the Inazuma 1200, it transforms into a full-custom Katana-style machine—that’s pretty amazing.
The heart is an oil-cooled 1200 engine, so it’s pretty robust. At 80,000 or 100,000 kilometers, it’ll run without oil leaks, which is easy on the wallet. Since the engine doesn’t stick out as much as the Katana, you won’t hit lean angle limits right away.
As for parts availability… honestly, repro parts are scarce, and I don’t think we’ll see many more coming out. Suzuki electrics are tough, so I don’t expect problems anytime soon, but these bikes are older than we realize.
It’s a good idea to stock up on parts as they become available.
Both are great, so I can’t pick a winner… but how about using the oil-cooled Inazuma 1200 for everyday riding, and the genuine GSX1100S for the holidays?
I think you need the passion and commitment to make it work.
