It is enough to take one look at this 1980s Suzuki Katana 1100 to see that the bike is hours and hours of work away from its original state and all the credit goes to UK-based Steve Adams, owner and customizer of what turned out to be one of the most beautifully reinvented legends among Japanese motorcycles.

Among the modifications brought to our Brit’s Katana we would have to name the 1,170cc Wiseco piston kit, gas flowed head, EFE 1100 cams with adjustable cam sprockets, Keihin 37mm carbs, titanium bolts and custom-made exhaust system as being the most important and this is only in the engine department.

The frame was reinforced and a Suzuki Bandit 1200 swingarm was bolted on it. This Suzuki now rolls on 17-inch Dymag magnesium alloy wheels supported by a GSX-R750 K4 front fork and Ohlins rear shock units. The high performance brakes feature Yamaha R1 and Suzuki TL1000 parts such as the Brembo radial master cylinder up front, while the rear brake is thumb-operated.

How’s that for a way to make an old motorcycle new again?