1986 Suzuki GSX750S Katana III

There is no more significant name in Japanese motorcycle history than the Suzuki Katana. Japanese for “sword”, the Katana was for a whole family of bikes, beginning production in the early 80s until the mid-2000s, before being re-released in 2019 and continuing to be produced today. In the late 1970s, Suzuki had become concerned about the stagnating design of the ‘Universal Japanese Motorcycles’ of the era and wanted to make its bikes stand out with a European-type design. They made sure to set the Katanas apart from the crowd, drawing on sharp angles, and blended-in bodywork, seats, side panels and tanks to create an iconic design, which made the space-age newcomer stand out. Elements of ‘Katana style’ didn’t just dribble down across Suzuki’s range in the early ’80s, it lives on to this day.

In late 1981, after introducing the first member of the Suzuki Katana family, the exciting GSX1000S, Suzuki released an almost identical 750 cc version of the Katana. 1984 was the year that the GSX750S was completely redesigned, and not just given a facelift. It was designed by Suzuki engineers in Japan but it still kept the original Hans Muth lines. It featured a new oil-cooled 16-valve engine and front and rear suspension. Most notable was the new fairing, which now had a retractable (pop-up) headlight. The frame and parts of the wheels were coloured gold and the black-painted engine had also gold paint on the cam end covers and engine sides. The only change made in 1985 was cosmetic, replacing the grey on the wheels with a vivid gold.