Check out this super-cool and super detailed 1/12th scale 1983 Suzuki GSX750S Katana from Tamiya.
Suzuki famously poached BMW’s ex-head of design Hans Muth to design the Katana which was revealed in 1980. Although the model here was released in 1983 at the Tokyo Motor Show.
This kit from Tamiya (USD$27) is the ED2 design which was a radical departure from the original 1980-released Katana. Suzuki wanted something that looked faster and that would be more stable at high speed and so had the thing repeatedly wind tunnel tested.
Suzuki had been working with ItalDesign prior to kicking off with Muth’s Target Design team and for the Katana wasn’t expecting much from the fledgling design house, despite Muth’s CV with BMW Motorrad.
Essentially, Muth was asked to create a “Southern European style express bike” on the existing GS1100 and that was that.
Unfortunately, while these things looked fast they were underdone compared to their competitors. But, who cares, this generation of Katana featured a pop-up headlight , full floater rear suspension, and a new positive damping fork at the front. They also had a huge impact on motorcycle design in the years following their release.
This 1/12th scale kit from Tamiya celebrates the futuristic lines of the 1983 Suzuki GSX750S. It measures 182mm long, 63mm wide and stands 96mm tall. The headlight even opens and closes like the real bike with synthetic rubber tyres complete with period correct tread pattern and vinyl tubing for the throttle cable and brake lines.
The kit is unpainted but that’s half the fun, right. Check it out here.
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