Suzuki Sharpens the 2022 Katana With More Power and Tech
As exhilarating as the 2022 Hayabusa is, that’s not the only Suzuki bike getting an update this year. Decades after its angular ancestor swept through the motorcycle world, Suzuki relaunched the Katana in 2020. But while the 2020 Katana was a worthy successor to the name, it felt a bit behind some of its sportbike-derived contemporaries in terms of performance tech. However, the recently-unveiled 2022 Suzuki Katana is keen to rectify that.
The new GSX-S1000 helps the 2022 Suzuki Katana hone its engine
| 2022 Suzuki Katana | |
| Engine | 999cc liquid-cooled inline-four |
| Horsepower | 150 hp |
| Torque | 78 lb-ft |
| Transmission | Six-speed manual with slipper-assist clutch |
| Front suspension and travel | 43mm fully-adjustable KYB inverted fork; 4.7” |
| Rear suspension and travel | Preload- and rebound-adjustable KYB mono-shock; 5.1” |
| Seat height | 32.5″ |
| Curb weight | 474 lbs |
If the 2022 Suzuki Katana’s specs seem similar to the 2020 ones, it’s because they are. Underneath the updated styling and color schemes, the 2022 Katana has the same suspension, aluminum chassis, and Brembo brakes as the outgoing bike. They have identical rake, trail, and wheelbase measurements, too. And, as before, the Katana has a GSX-R1000 K5-derived inline-four engine.
However, the 2022 Suzuki Katana doesn’t have the same engine as the 2020 model, Cycle World explains. Instead, it has the updated version found in the 2022 GSX-S1000. On paper, the updated engine is slightly less torquey than the outgoing one, but it’s slightly more powerful. Admittedly, there’s some confusion over how much horsepower the 2020 Suzuki Katana made—Cycle World says 150 hp, Bennetts says 148 hp. But regardless, the 2022 model makes an even 150 hp.
Yet the slight output variance isn’t the biggest change. For one, not only is the updated model Euro5-compliant, but it makes peak power higher in the rev range. Furthermore, its torque curve is broader and peaks at lower RPMs, so it should feel and be faster at lower speeds. Also, the new engine components, exhaust, and airbox have reportedly improved fuel economy. Plus, not only does the 2022 Suzuki Katana have an updated slipper clutch, but it finally has a bi-directional electronic quickshifter.
However, the extra tech doesn’t stop there.
Technology touches the 2022 Suzuki Katana in more places than its powertrain
While the outgoing Suzuki Katana used a traditional throttle cable, the 2022 Katana has a ride-by-wire system. As a result, like the GSX-S1000, it has multiple riding modes—three, specifically, with different power levels. The updated bike also has five-way-adjustable traction control.
Because the 2022 Suzuki Katana doesn’t have an IMU, it lacks cornering-enhanced rider aides, though it does have ABS. But it does have a new LCD gauge with a model-exclusive ‘night mode’ that tints everything amber. Also, the 2022 Katana comes standard with Suzuki’s Low-RPM Assist and Easy Start features. The former blips the engine to make starts smoother, while the latter lets you start the engine without pulling the clutch lever in.
On the ‘physical tech’ side of things, Suzuki also updated the Katana’s handlebars. There are now rubber mounts between the bridge and brackets for extra comfort.
How much will the sharper Katana cost in the US?
As of this writing, Suzuki hasn’t announced pricing details for the 2022 Katana. But given the extra tech, it will likely be more expensive than the 2020 model. For comparison, the outgoing Katana starts at $13,499 before MSRP and optional accessories.
We also don’t know when the 2022 Katana will arrive in US dealers. In the UK, it’s expected to arrive in spring 2022, Bennetts says. Therefore, its US arrival will likely be sometime around then, if not after.
Still, while the updates are somewhat subtle, the 2022 Suzuki Katana should have a keener edge than its predecessor. Hopefully, prospective riders will be willing to wait to wield it.
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