The Visorvision Katana

So, here's a fact; I often get obsessed quite easily...

When I went to the Spa Bikers Classic way back in 2013, I caught a significant bout of obsession that would last around a year and a half. The end result was the Visorvision Katana. Here is it's story...

I love racing motorcycles, I love racing history, I love endurance racing, and it turns out, seeing all that brought together under the warm star filled sky of Spa many years ago flicked a switch in my head that could only be turned off by taking part, but taking part needed a bike.

The following posts detail the thinking, the building, the parts, the spending (groan) and not least, the huge amount of help and inspiration from people much cleverer than me to get it done.

The original* plan was for this to end up on the grid at Spa to race, and have not only a fabulous looking Katana at the end of the journey, but a race finish to celebrate.

*Spoiler alert/teaser - we did get to Spa... to find out what happened, read the rest of the story!

List of Katana content

Part 1. Why make a Katana to race at Spa?

There was simply an amazing Classic Motorcycle race, and a bloke that really wanted to be in it….

True that, and I’m the bloke. But before we even start talking about building a Katana, I need to get this off my chest; it wasn’t so long ago I didn’t even like them.

Part 1. Why make a Katana to race at Spa?

Having firmly decided to build a racing Katana for next year's Spa 4-hour classic endurance event, I now faced the difficult bit; Thanks to 28 years of not paying any attention to the big Suzuki, I didn’t actually have a clue what I was doing!

Part 1. Why make a Katana to race at Spa?

Part 3. Always bloody rules............

Rules. Does anyone like them? If you’re going Classic Racing, you’d better get ready to drown in them! Getting this Katana ship-shape and legal for Spa has required about as much time reading and absorbing the regulations as it has in the garage so far.

Part 5 - The Swingarm Debacle #1

Part 3. Always bloody rules............

First job: Turn the 32 year old bendy frame into something ready to attack one of the world’s most challenging racetracks.

Part 5 - The Swingarm Debacle #1

With a frame, yokes, forks and even wheels already sorted, I just needed a swingarm to make this project roll...

Part 5 - The Swingarm Debacle #1

Let’s say the 4-stroke racebike of the day had ridiculously simple electronics - 4 plugs, 2 coils, and a starter motor would have been about it.

Part 8. What an average Joe notices working with an ex-works spannerman

When the big GSX1100 engine we’re using in our Katana left the factory 32 years ago,

Part 8. What an average Joe notices working with an ex-works spannerman

Let’s be clear, I’m not a great mechanic. My engine building style if called anything at all, would be called a triumph of wishful thinking (and frugality) over talent.

Part 8. What an average Joe notices working with an ex-works spannerman

Part 9. Swingarm debacle #2 – when buying cheap isn’t…

I probably shouldn’t ever be allowed on the internet. The comedian Dave Gorman once described it perfectly “ I don’t know about you, but I find being connected to everything ever quite distracting”

Part 11. Styling the big Kat - we want a proper looker!

Part 9. Swingarm debacle #2 – when buying cheap isn’t…

It’s heavy, it’s fast, this build won’t use any original suspension components, we’ve made the frame much stiffer and to cap it all, I haven’t done anything like this before; what could possibly go wrong?

Part 11. Styling the big Kat - we want a proper looker!

Do a Google image search of Katana and you’ll end up with an array of pictures that you’ll barely believe started life as the same model.

Part 11. Styling the big Kat - we want a proper looker!

Somebody needs to make the chosen electrics work by making a wiring loom to join it all together. That man is Andy Woolrich, of Electro34.co.uk

Part 13. Changing the plan!

My plan was always to update the blog in real time as things happened on the lead up to the event. But....

Part 13. Changing the plan!

Why is it that however much planning you put into something, and however many hours you work on it, stuff is only ever ready at the last frikkin’ minute?!

Part 13. Changing the plan!

Part 15. The morning after

It's the morning of the day we leave for Spa, I was working until 3am, and this is what I saw when I opened the garage in daylight...

change me

Part 16 The moment it became...

Part 15. The morning after

content to follow shortly

Part 17 The moment it became...

content to follow shortly

The moment it became...

content to follow shortly

The Visorvision Katana

So, here's a fact; I often get obsessed quite easily...

When I went to the Spa Bikers Classic way back in 2013, I caught a significant bout of obsession that would last around a year and a half. The end result was the Visorvision Katana. Here is it's story...

List of Katana content

Part 1. Why make a Katana to race at Spa?

Part 1. Why make a Katana to race at Spa?

Part 1. Why make a Katana to race at Spa?

Part 2. Buying the wrong donor bike...

Part 1. Why make a Katana to race at Spa?

Part 1. Why make a Katana to race at Spa?

Part 3. Always bloody rules............

Part 1. Why make a Katana to race at Spa?

Part 3. Always bloody rules............

Part 4 - The Rolling Bones...

Part 5 - The Swingarm Debacle #1

Part 3. Always bloody rules............

Part 5 - The Swingarm Debacle #1

Part 5 - The Swingarm Debacle #1

Part 5 - The Swingarm Debacle #1

Part 6 - Amping up the electrics

Part 5 - The Swingarm Debacle #1

Part 5 - The Swingarm Debacle #1

Part 7. The engine…strip and specification

Part 8. What an average Joe notices working with an ex-works spannerman

Part 8. What an average Joe notices working with an ex-works spannerman

Part 8. What an average Joe notices working with an ex-works spannerman

Part 8. What an average Joe notices working with an ex-works spannerman

Part 8. What an average Joe notices working with an ex-works spannerman

Part 9. Swingarm debacle #2 – when buying cheap isn’t…

Part 8. What an average Joe notices working with an ex-works spannerman

Part 9. Swingarm debacle #2 – when buying cheap isn’t…

Part 10. Springs in the air. Wheels on the ground…

Part 11. Styling the big Kat - we want a proper looker!

Part 9. Swingarm debacle #2 – when buying cheap isn’t…

Part 11. Styling the big Kat - we want a proper looker!

Part 11. Styling the big Kat - we want a proper looker!

Part 11. Styling the big Kat - we want a proper looker!

Part 12. The wiring loom & electrical specs

Part 11. Styling the big Kat - we want a proper looker!

Part 11. Styling the big Kat - we want a proper looker!

Part 13. Changing the plan!

Part 13. Changing the plan!

Part 13. Changing the plan!

Part 14. The Final Push

Part 13. Changing the plan!

Part 13. Changing the plan!

Part 15. The morning after

Part 13. Changing the plan!

Part 15. The morning after

Part 16

The moment it became...

Part 15. The morning after

Part 17

The moment it became...

The moment it became...

The moment it became...

The moment it became...

The moment it became...

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