Katana Owners Club U.K.

I know this is an interloper in the 'purity' of the Kat community, but this is the one I spent a little time putting back together.
It was a freebie, I think the bloke just wanted the pile of bits cleared out of his garage. Took it all apart, sandblasted, painted, assembled the jigsaw puzzle and knocked it back into shape.
So. A late model Bandit 400 fitted with the VC engine. (Variable valve timing....)
How does it compare to the Kat? Once the carbs were settled in and persuaded to stop flooding etc....... and the calipers persuaded to actually work....
It goes very well, indeed. The Kat is very lively from the off, this engine feels softer in the lower revs, but goes bananas once over 8000 rpm, when the higher lift cams click in. Now, it could be age but this one feels more vibey than the ultra smooth Kat engine, but not uncomfortably so.
It does have fatter rubber but the suspension does not feel anywhere near as good as the Kat, but that could also be down to age. So the handling is not as secure as the Kats.
It does seem to be a bit thirstier too, but not enough miles run to make a true comparison.
It will never win a beauty contest, largely ignored at meetings, here the Kat wins hands down, still a timeless icon.
But, for free and a few weeks (hard) work, its turned out alright.

Excellent job. That’s turned out really nice.

Just a quick addendum. For my sins I'm building up a ZZR600, another basket case. The Tokico calipers on this do not work, mainly because they didn't come in the multitude of boxed bits. I bought what I presumed were replacement Nissins, but the mounting spacing is different (90mm, the Kwaks are 63mm).
These came from a Triumph Sprint but all of that generation use the same calipers.
I had an inkling, offered them up to the Suzuki, same spacing.... Could be a source of infinitely better brake calipers. Still to fit, give me a chance, I'm up to my neck in rusty motorbike bits.
Cheers.

Keep us updated on that upgrade. I wouldn't mind some better brakes on Smallkat.

Off for it's MOT today. All seems well, so should be okay.

I changed the starter solenoid as the old one was prone to just clicking occasionally and doing nothing. Fitting of the new one has coincided with first time starting. Moral never change two things at once!

Spent an hour offering up the Triumph Nissins. Short story short, they fit absolutely fine. They bleed easily and give a firm lever. Cheap as chips too, £45! Only slight downside is that Triumph is embossed on the caliper face, you could easily grind that off if it really offends!
Would take a photo, but the damn carbs started flooding again so its been dumped back at my mates place 'till I can get round to it.
Cheers.

Are these the same?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/166633239706 ... R4zgl82MZA

I rebuilt my Tokico with Titanium pistons etc from Titan Classics in 2019 and can't fault them. Just after doing that I did a track day on the 400 at Cadwell, with some hard braking and they performed very well. Being Titanium I haven't had any corrosion issues or the like, and it's reduced the unsprung mass by a little! Personally I'd spend the money on this rather than a set of 2nd hand (Nissans?) that will most likely also then need a rebuild.
It's nice to ride around knowing I do have those titanium bits in there as well

I think they 400 is the same as the RGV250 VJ21 from memory, but check
https://titanclassics.com/product/titan ... m-parts-2/

UB

I've already rebuilt these calipers with genuine Suzuki parts and I'm just not that impressed by the stopping power.

However, your point is good. Why would another set of Tiumph branded 4 pot Nissins be any different from the 4 pot Nissins I already have? I only have JohnD's testimony!

Change the M/C ??

I've already changed the master cylinder for a GSF1200 one, as I have high bars fitted. I put a new piston and cup seal in when I did it. I guess it could still be a bit below par though. Perhaps I'll try another m/c.