katana transformation - Motorcycle-Journal Forums

dekker · 08-09-2005, 11:19 PM

Basically i'm at the stage where i need more power.. I have a 1991 gsx600f katana and i cant get it to wheelie, i've done EVERYTHING, taken advice from everyone and tried it a million different ways. What its come down to is that the bikes to heavy and not powerful enough... SO, me and another powerhungry buddy got the wonderful idea of taking a gsxr750 engine and putting it into the katana, i know we'd have to change engine mounts and basically start from scratch, BUT i could get away with it no? i cant afford insurance on a super sport so why not bring the super into the touring, "fool" my insurance company into thinking i just have a kat, isnt that what it is anyway? a katana with a different engine?

what do you think, will it work.. putting a 600 or 750 gsxr into the kat?

**87gsxrnut** · 08-09-2005, 11:23 PM

Is wheelieing THAT important????? Get a 1200 Bandit or a new 750/1K GSX-R if you want to go that route.

- Nut

P.S. That bike WILL wheelie. You aren't doing it right.

black_boxxx · 08-10-2005, 02:23 PM

well if you got the money to do it and the time, put the 750, it doesnt really matter, what matters is that you do it correctly :o), but i wouldnt waste my time with that katana, specially since its so old, get a newer bike, benifits they look better, ride better, have bigger rear tires :o)

**Clint** · 08-10-2005, 05:04 PM

You might just be providing the loophole your insurance company needs to deny you coverage if you injure someone. Check the fine print first.

That's a lot of work for a wheelie. Sell it and get a bmx bike.

blackie1491 · 08-10-2005, 05:37 PM

Go to school instead.
Will have to come to B.C. Canada
Cycle Canada- August issue

wookie · 08-11-2005, 12:10 AM

I guess I fail to see the reason for doing wheelie. I don't get it.

**87gsxrnut** · 08-11-2005, 12:12 AM

Cuz you look SOOOOOOOOOOO cool and can impress ALL of the chicks. Getting that Kat to handle really well is a bigger challenge . . .

- Nut

**Clint** · 08-11-2005, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wookie

I guess I fail to see the reason for doing wheelie. I don't get it.

Oh, man, if you have to ask you wouldn't understand. It's like taking off in an airplane, which I personally love.

dekker · 08-11-2005, 02:41 PM

that school looks pretty inviting...
my problem is i have a craving for tricks, and trying new things, pushing my limits. i can afford a gsxr750 and i have a few buddies who've done a lot of mechanical work and my uncle knows everthing about bikes too, so i could figure it out and make it work.. plus, even though the 91 kat doesnt look AMAZING, i still like it, and cant afford a new bike, i got the kat for 2500$ canadian, and the gsxr 750 will be about $800 cdn for everything i need to make the transformation, so for about 3500 i can have a really cool pimped out sleeper bike, and a wheelie machine. and it'll be a lot of fun rebuilding a bike from scratch with non-stock parts, i'll learn a ton, have lots of fun bonding with my buddies, and in the end i'll have a pretty cool, fast bike.

JES883 · 08-11-2005, 02:50 PM

If wheelies are your main goal, then why not change sprockets ??? You'll be the Jelly Bean Wheelie King.

Kinda' rolls off the tongue, doesn't it ???

**87gsxrnut** · 08-11-2005, 03:04 PM

750 motor should bolt right in. Get a '90-'92 with the shim head if you are going to do it.

- Nut

dekker · 08-12-2005, 12:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JES883

If wheelies are your main goal, then why not change sprockets ??? You'll be the Jelly Bean Wheelie King.

Kinda' rolls off the tongue, doesn't it ???

sprockets eh?? tell me more...

doblerj14 · 08-12-2005, 02:34 AM

changing the sprockets will change you gearing ratio. And could give you more acceleration thus easier to do a wheelie.

JES883 · 08-12-2005, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doblerj14

changing the sprockets will change you gearing ratio. And could give you more acceleration thus easier to do a wheelie.

Yep. Basically, you sacrifice top end for acceleration (aka wheelie action) by changing sprocket(s). I don't know the specifics for your bike and how much you'd lose/gain. Your speedometer and odometer will be all messed up, but there's fixes for that, too. Lot's of people do the sprocket change themselves, but some bikes can be tricky. Overall, WAY cheaper than an engine swap (although not as glamorous).

I would wager that the majority of the stunters out there have fooled with their sprockets to get the torque to the wheel that they're after. Maybe a google search for "Katana gear change" or "Katana Sprocket" would get you better info than on this board. This thread is swiftly getting into no-no territory.

wookie · 08-12-2005, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RowdyRed94

Oh, man, if you have to ask you wouldn't understand. It's like taking off in an airplane, which I personally love.

Used to do that too, from the pilot's seat. When you yank that yoke back at 70 mph, freedom is the only word that came into my mind, followed by radioing the controller tower and all those protocols.

Still don't get wheelie or stoppie.

wookie · 08-12-2005, 10:18 AM

The thought of a 450 lb+ can-o-tuna landing on top of someone from a flip-out resulting from a wheelie-gone-wrong is not very appealing.

**Clint** · 08-12-2005, 12:36 PM

Hmm. To me, lofting the front of the Bandit feels remarkably like rolling back the ol' 152.

JES883 · 08-12-2005, 01:06 PM

If I saw a Katana pull it up out there on the road, I would smile for hours.

wookie · 08-12-2005, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RowdyRed94

Hmm. To me, lofting the front of the Bandit feels remarkably like rolling back the ol' 152.

mmm.... I can't feel it....

wookie · 08-12-2005, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wookie

mmm.... I can't feel it....

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.... still can't

08-09-2005, 11:19 PM	#1 (permalink)
dekker Where Am I ? Joined: Jul 2005 Bike: '91 gsx600f Location: kitchener ontario canada Posts: 30	katana transformation Basically i'm at the stage where i need more power.. I have a 1991 gsx600f katana and i cant get it to wheelie, i've done EVERYTHING, taken advice from everyone and tried it a million different ways. What its come down to is that the bikes to heavy and not powerful enough... SO, me and another powerhungry buddy got the wonderful idea of taking a gsxr750 engine and putting it into the katana, i know we'd have to change engine mounts and basically start from scratch, BUT i could get away with it no? i cant afford insurance on a super sport so why not bring the super into the touring, "fool" my insurance company into thinking i just have a kat, isnt that what it is anyway? a katana with a different engine? what do you think, will it work.. putting a 600 or 750 gsxr into the kat? __________________ '91 gsx600f katana . flat black

08-09-2005, 11:23 PM	#2 (permalink)
87gsxrnut Ho Dog Joined: Dec 2003 Bike: #360 Location: Terror Lake Posts: 4,146	Is wheelieing THAT important????? Get a 1200 Bandit or a new 750/1K GSX-R if you want to go that route. - Nut P.S. That bike WILL wheelie. You aren't doing it right. __________________ Aunt Bee's cleavage. You ain't seen it.

08-10-2005, 05:37 PM	#5 (permalink)
blackie1491 I took the All Bran Challenge Joined: Jun 2005 Bike: C50SE Location: Aldergrove, B.C., Canada Posts: 7,099	Go to school instead. Will have to come to B.C. Canada Cycle Canada- August issue Attached Thumbnails

08-11-2005, 12:12 AM	#7 (permalink)
87gsxrnut Ho Dog Joined: Dec 2003 Bike: #360 Location: Terror Lake Posts: 4,146	Cuz you look SOOOOOOOOOOO cool and can impress ALL of the chicks. Getting that Kat to handle really well is a bigger challenge . . . - Nut __________________ Aunt Bee's cleavage. You ain't seen it.

08-11-2005, 02:41 PM	#9 (permalink)
dekker Where Am I ? Joined: Jul 2005 Bike: '91 gsx600f Location: kitchener ontario canada Posts: 30	that school looks pretty inviting... my problem is i have a craving for tricks, and trying new things, pushing my limits. i can afford a gsxr750 and i have a few buddies who've done a lot of mechanical work and my uncle knows everthing about bikes too, so i could figure it out and make it work.. plus, even though the 91 kat doesnt look AMAZING, i still like it, and cant afford a new bike, i got the kat for 2500$ canadian, and the gsxr 750 will be about $800 cdn for everything i need to make the transformation, so for about 3500 i can have a really cool pimped out sleeper bike, and a wheelie machine. and it'll be a lot of fun rebuilding a bike from scratch with non-stock parts, i'll learn a ton, have lots of fun bonding with my buddies, and in the end i'll have a pretty cool, fast bike. __________________ '91 gsx600f katana . flat black

08-10-2005, 02:23 PM	#3 (permalink)
black_boxxx Seat Tester Joined: May 2005 Bike: 05 GSXR 600 Location: Minnesota Posts: 77	well if you got the money to do it and the time, put the 750, it doesnt really matter, what matters is that you do it correctly :o), but i wouldnt waste my time with that katana, specially since its so old, get a newer bike, benifits they look better, ride better, have bigger rear tires :o)

08-11-2005, 12:10 AM	#6 (permalink)
wookie U.B's LoveChild Joined: Apr 2005 Bike: '05 SV650S; '05 GSX-R600;'04 749S Location: 20 Miles East of LA Posts: 1,174	I guess I fail to see the reason for doing wheelie. I don't get it.

08-11-2005, 02:50 PM	#10 (permalink)
JES883 TurtleWax Taster Joined: Jan 2005 Bike: K5 GSX-R600 & 2003 HD 883 Location: MI Posts: 573	If wheelies are your main goal, then why not change sprockets ??? You'll be the Jelly Bean Wheelie King. Kinda' rolls off the tongue, doesn't it ??? __________________ JES883

08-11-2005, 03:04 PM	#11 (permalink)
87gsxrnut Ho Dog Joined: Dec 2003 Bike: #360 Location: Terror Lake Posts: 4,146	750 motor should bolt right in. Get a '90-'92 with the shim head if you are going to do it. - Nut __________________ Aunt Bee's cleavage. You ain't seen it.

08-12-2005, 02:34 AM	#13 (permalink)
doblerj14 Seat Tester Joined: Jul 2004 Bike: 82 gs 550m Location: northern, va Posts: 94	changing the sprockets will change you gearing ratio. And could give you more acceleration thus easier to do a wheelie.

08-12-2005, 10:18 AM	#16 (permalink)
wookie U.B's LoveChild Joined: Apr 2005 Bike: '05 SV650S; '05 GSX-R600;'04 749S Location: 20 Miles East of LA Posts: 1,174	The thought of a 450 lb+ can-o-tuna landing on top of someone from a flip-out resulting from a wheelie-gone-wrong is not very appealing.

08-12-2005, 01:06 PM	#18 (permalink)
JES883 TurtleWax Taster Joined: Jan 2005 Bike: K5 GSX-R600 & 2003 HD 883 Location: MI Posts: 573	If I saw a Katana pull it up out there on the road, I would smile for hours. __________________ JES883

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