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Sportbikes

1981Suzuki GSX 1000SV Katana

36 fields on record

The 1981 Suzuki GSX 1000SV Katana is a Japanese sports bike with a 998cc air-cooled inline four making 108 hp and 91 Nm. It weighs 232 kg dry and has a 5-speed gearbox and a 22-litre tank.

Capacity: 998.0 ccm
Engine: In-line four, four-stroke
Gearbox: 5-speed
Dry weight: 232.0 kg
Seat height: 775 mm
Power: 108.0 HP (80.5 kW) @ 8500 RPM

⇄ Compare with another bike ＋ Add to garage All model years

Other years 1981 1982

How it rides

Editorial estimate from the spec sheet - not lab tested

Off-road & trail5%

Cornering80%

City riding25%

Daily riding20%

Touring10%

Two-up25%

Track75%

Best for: Sport bike built for its class - everyday, practical use.
Built for: A sport bike from Suzuki, built around a 998cc engine - a real production model, but this profile is formula-generated from its class and spec sheet rather than individually reviewed.
Not ideal for: Not for serious performance or off-road use.

Scores are derived from the spec sheet using the same model across every bike, so they compare like for like.

Will it fit you?

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Your height

Inseam (optional)

Units

At 775mm, a rider of 68.9" with a 31" (estimated) inseam will reach the ground with both feet flat on the 1981 Suzuki GSX 1000SV Katana, with a cramped knee angle of around 65 degrees and a forward-leaning riding position.

Assumes about 30mm of suspension sag once seated. This is an approximation from category-typical geometry, not a measurement of this bike or of you - sit on one before you buy.

More bikes at 751-820 mm — Middle Ground →

Find bikes that fit your height →

Reliability & safety

Bike Reliability score, safety recalls and owner complaints

Bike Reliability

How the score works →

out of 100Average

The Suzuki GSX 1000SV Katana passed its annual roadworthiness test first time 84.0% of the time, the same as expected for bikes of the same age and mileage. That beats 48% of models.

Bikes first registered in 1981 have 35 tests, too few for their own score, so this covers every year.

84.0%Passed first time

7.6%Failed outright

8.4%Fixed during test

30,000Typical miles

357Tests

Pass rate by miles ridden

0-10k

88.6%

10-20k

91.3%

20-30k

80.8%

30-40k

75%

40-50k

79.6%

50k+

87.8%

All years of this model.

Against its rivals · ranks 4 of 6

#	Model (all years)	Score	Tests
1	Hesketh V1000	81 Excellent	249
2	Laverda RGA1000	80 Excellent	105
3	Ducati 900 SS	67 Good	2,720
4	Suzuki GSX 1000SV Katana	48 Average	357
5	Honda CB 900 F Bol D`or	46 Average	136
6	BMW R 100S	44 Average	312

Rivals are the most-viewed bikes on MotorcycleDB in the same category and engine size, from within three years of this model.

From British annual roadworthiness tests, 2005-2025. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (DVSA MOT test data, Great Britain). How Bike Reliability works.

Full specifications

Engine

Capacity: 998.0 ccm
Power: 108.0 HP (80.5 kW) @ 8500 RPM
Torque: 91.0 Nm (9.3 kgf-m) @ 6500 RPM
Engine type: In-line four, four-stroke
Power/weight ratio: 0.4655 HP/kg (dry)
Bore x stroke: 69.4 x 66.0 mm
Compression: 9.5:1
Cooling system: Air
Fuel system: Carburettor
Starting: Electric
Ignition: Transistorized
Lubrication system: Wet sump

Transmission

Gearbox: 5-speed
Transmission type: Manual
Final drive: Chain
Clutch: Wet multi-plate type

Performance

Top speed: 220.0 km/h (136.7 mph)

Dimensions & weight

Wheelbase: 1520 mm
Overall length: 2260 mm
Overall width: 715 mm
Overall height: 1195 mm
Seat height: 775 mm
Dry weight: 232.0 kg
Fuel capacity: 22.00 litres
Ground clearance: 175 mm

Chassis & suspension

Frame: S teel, double cradle frame
Front suspension: Telescopic, oil damped, spring 4-way adjustable with anti-dive
Rear suspension: Dual shock oil damped, damper 4-way, spring 5-way adjustable
Front wheel travel: 150 mm
Rear wheel travel: 109 mm
Trail: 118 mm