1982 Suzuki Katana 1294cc: Shawn’s Beast
Test: Jeff Ware, Photos: Heather Ware, SD Pics
Riding the Shawn Giles TBR Katana around Phillip Island was something else...
I rode the #19 machine the day after Shawn took the win at the Phillip Island Classic one year and the bike still had the tyres fitted from the final race of the day and was as ridden by Shawn.
As the guys fired up the bike for me and I rolled down pit lane, I could not believe how many people (it was a public ride day) stopped in their tracks and watched me. Lots of envious eyes and lots of big grins. This is one very popular bike with a very popular race number on the front... No pressure but I really want to make sure I kept this one in one piece that's for sure!
I roll out pit lane and immediately feel the smooth power delivery of Shawn's bike and as soon as I think about turning into turn one, I'm already at the apex and my knee is already on the ground. By turn two I'm so comfortable and confident on this bike that I feel like I'm on a modern sportsbike.
Shawn's bike steers quickly, accurately, and falls on its side onto my knee with telepathic accuracy. Where you look, you go. It's a fantastic set-up.
The bike feels taller in the back than the other TBR Katanas and the forks are softer but still have fantastic support even hard on the brakes. Hard braking is more comfortable and I'm more confident on the #19 machine, there is more front-end feel right up to the apex.
Cracking the throttle, although a heavy throttle, needs to be done with some finesse as there is a heap of power and torque ready to be unleashed at any rpm but fuelling is smooth and the rear Dunlop sensational. Make no mistake though, this bike hauls arse and accelerates like nothing else!
The gearbox on the #19 bike has a smooth shift but was jumping up a gear into Siberia every other lap, a problem the team are working on. The beauty of the #19 bike was that there was no part of the track I was not really fighting the bike at all. I was along for the ride, and it was not a tiring bike to ride, not compared to the other two Katanas I’ve ridden. I'd say Gilesey is onto something here, but I would not be sharing any secrets!
Shawn Giles’s engine is based on the mighty GSX1100 and was built to a tight budget using TBR’s 40-year collection of spares and plenty of know-how from Trevor and team. Check out the specifications below, impressive!
Pic: Russel Colvin
SPECIFICATIONS
ENGINE
Trevor Birrell Racing engine. 1982 GSX1100 Katana based engine, 79 x 66mm bore x stroke, 1296cc, 10:1 compression, GSX1100/Katana crankcases, Suzuki GSX barrels bored and resleeved to accept 79mm, Wiseco forged alloy pistons, Wiseco rings, GSX1000S polished and welded crankshaft, Suzuki main bearings, big end bearings and conrods, CNC ported cylinder-head, oversize valves (+3mm EX, +4mm IN), RD valve springs, modified valve seats, Yoshimura stage III cams, GSX-R1000K6 slipper clutch, standard plates and heavy-duty springs, modified shift drum, undercut gear dogs using standard five-speed gearbox, GS750 primary drive gears, 35mm Keihin smoothbore carburettors, titanium Yoshimura exhaust system, MSD-MC4 ignition unit, D&D Industries billet engine covers and remote starter access, Lockheed oil cooler.
CHASSIS & BODYWORK
Dale Gilbert D&D Industries chassis and bodywork, handmade chrome-moly tubing with additional bracing in steering head and swingarm pivot areas, 20mm shorter than standard Katana, standard Katana steering head size and rake angle. Frame is measured on a Scheibner measuring system and straightened on a Globaljig frame aligner at Motorcycle Crash Repairs. Light Alloy Engineering swingarm, Ohlins shocks, CBR600F2 forks with Ohlins internals, GSX-R1000 3.5 x 17in front wheel, GSF650 5.0 x 17 rear wheel, Dunlop slicks, Manta rotors (f), AP Lockheed dual-piston calipers, stainless rotor, Suzuki caliper (r), GPX-Pro GPS lap timer and data loggers (testing only), D&D Industries fibreglass bodywork, D&D Industries CNC billet triple-clamps, billet rearsets, all CNC billet parts made by D&D Industries, aftermarket chrome-moly handlebars.
PERFORMANCE
185-horsepower, 140ft-lbs torque, top speed Phillip Island 275km/h.
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