Is A More Rad Version of the Suzuki Katana Coming?

The Suzuki Katana isn’t even officially out yet for the US market, and already there are rumors of an up-spec version of the classic-inspired sport bike coming from Japan.

The news centers around Suzuki wanting the Katana to compete better with the high-performance naked models already on the market, namely the Aprilia Tuono V4 1100, Ducati Streetfighter V4, KTM 1290 Super Duke R, et al.

The move then is an “R” spec machine, rumored to see its 999cc four-cylinder engine bumped out to 1,135cc. Other go-fast parts are likely to be included (read: brakes, suspension, wheels, etc), and perhaps some updates to the styling to make it more aggressive looking.

If the Yoshimura version of the Suzuki Katana, shown at the Tokyo Motorcycle Show, is any indication of what we can expect (see the photo above), then this Suzuki Katana 1135 R could be an intriguing offering…especially considering the Katana’s more budget-friendly price tag.

Count us excited by the prospect, though we doubt we will hear anything more on this rumor this year, considering the timing of the new Katana’s release.