DT175MX

Tell me about it, I've got far too many searches set up...

Out of interest - which one Katana is considered to be the "must-have"
one if I bought one? The original 1100, or the flip-up headlight 750?

Yes, I know about the 1000 but I don't think the budget would stretch
that far.

 

The 1100, no question. And the 1000 is worth no more than the 1100. It's
no faster - it was just built so it could compete in the production
races of the day, which had a 1000cc limit (as I'm sure you know).

 

Indeed I do - I was under the impression that the 1000 was so much
rarer than the 1100 that one had to pay a premium...

Oh well, I guess the hard part will be finding a nice original one as
most seem to have been streetfightered. And why on earth Rod Gibson
thought that turning the rather nice Mechanics Katana into yet another
street special is really beyond me.

 

Not really, no. It's rarer but no more desirable, IYSWIM.

 

Ah, that somehow makes sense. BTW, what's spares availability like for
these things? I know it's not that close to the availability of
ShiteOldHonda spares but is it decent enough to actually make these
usable bikes?

 

In a word, no. The engine's not a problem - bits are available and
there's a huge aftermarket industry for the old GSX lumps.

However, the problem with the Katanas is... well, everything else,
really. The clocks were unique to that model. So (obviously) the
bodywork. The little fairings are incredibly expensive.

Seats, the original black chrome exhausts (bright chrome on later
models), you name it. It makes sense to buy a cosmetically good one with
a ratty engine, rather than vice versa.

Suggest you look on completed auctions on Ebay to see exactly how much
good spares sell for. Oh - set the filter to reject anything with
"scooter" in the title or description.

There's very little been sold because there's very little out there.

Funnily enough, I really fance the watercooled 400cc version that they
sold recently in Japan - same style, just smaller and maybe more usable.

 

Timo Geusch says...

Just about everything is still available from Spares Direct on Harrow
Road, London.

 

Mind, the flip-up light is cool.

 

Yup. Figured that.

Yeah, I was trying exactly that - someone, somewhere must have a nice
one they'll stick on fleabay eventually. I'll probably buy a ratty seat
and an aftermarket exhaust so I can squirrel away the originals...

Already done.

Hmm. I was thinking along the lines of a backup bike if the house
purchase comes off - big enough to use to get into London on a nice day
kind of thing, but classic nevertheless.

Hohum, time to reactivate the search for Gl1000 Glodwings then...

 

Useful, ta.

 

Agreed, that's why I would consider the 750.

But the original 1100 has something rather pure to it that kind of got
lost in the later models...

 

Austin Shackles says...

Only came on the 750 version of approx 1985 IIRC

 

Very cool.

ISTR that's what Cammo has. Shite old bike in the extreme, but very cool
with it.

 

Not really, no. It's rarer but no more desirable, IYSWIM.[/QUOTE]

On a similar tack: the CBX1000Z is the one to get, not the Pro-Link,
am I right?

Red or silver?
--
| ___ Salad Dodger
|/ \
_/_____\_ GL1500SEV/CBR1100XXX/KH500A8/TS250C
|_\_____/_| ..75805../..18781.../..3196./.19406
(>|_|_|<) TPPFATUICG#7 DIAABTCOD#9 YTC#4 PM#5
|__|_|__| BOTAFOT #70 BOTAFOF #09 two#11 WG*
\ |^| / IbW#0 & KotIbW# BotTOS#6 GP#4
\|^|/ ANORAK#17 IbB#4
'^' RBR Landmarks: 24 Pts: 400 Miles: 1589

 

Salad Dodger says...

On a similar tack: the CBX1000Z is the one to get, not the Pro-Link,
am I right?

Red or silver?[/QUOTE]

Silver

 

The 1000 is the nicer bike, IMHO. That or the 1200, but not the 1100.

 

On a similar tack: the CBX1000Z is the one to get, not the Pro-Link,
am I right?
Indeed

Red or silver?[/QUOTE]

Silver. Sets off the engine better.

 

Unfaired 1000 for me, I don't like the later ones.

 

I always rather liked the original 'wing. However, 1200s with all the body
kit seem to be the most numerous.

 

The Older Gentleman came up with the following;:

LOL, it was a 1000 katana engine we had (ex Mick Grant engine) in our
sidecar outfir ..

http://groups.msn.com/LosiPaulsPictures/shoebox.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=28

Marvellous bikes, and one of my dreams to owna 'real' one, eventually.