Unleash Your Inner Warrior with the Kagayama KATANA 1000R Type-3

Taking on the challenge of racing with a carburetor and twin shock absorbers in keeping with the TOT spirit

While currently a top rider in the All Japan Road Race, Yukio Kagayama has also been competing in the Taste of Tsukuba since 2018. The machine he raced on in the TOT, the "Kagayama Katana 1000R (No. 1)", was fitted with an air-cooled Katana steel pipe frame, a modern GSX-R1000 engine + FI, and suspension. It achieved a debut win at the TOT SATSUKI STAGE in the spring of 2018. In the KAGURADUKI STAGE in the fall of the same year, the Kagayama Katana 1000R became the No. 2 machine and won again. 

"I made the first one by trial and error. For the second one, I wanted to try out new ideas, so I changed the rear suspension to a pro-arm suspension and made the muffler center-up. For the third one, I wanted to get closer to the origins of the TOT spirit, so I took a step in a new direction," said Kagayama.

The third one that appeared on the KAGURADUKI STAGE in the fall of 2020 was a carburettor-equipped, twin-shock vehicle, different from the previous two. This was actually a first for Kagayama.

"When I started as a test rider, racers had already been using mono suspension and FI, and it had been 20 years since we had seen a carburetor. I couldn't even imagine what kind of motorcycle it would be with both."

He said that he had more difficulty setting up the 3rd machine than the 1st and 2nd machines. In particular, he worked hard to refine the twin shock, which even Kagayama had no experience with.

"It was something that didn't exist on the 2nd machine, but could be solved by making it mono suspension. But I thought it was interesting, and it was difficult. To make it a carburetor, rather than setting it up, I had to start by analyzing the error codes of the electrical system installed on the injection bike (laughs). I learned as much as I did when I was a test rider. The 3rd machine still has room to grow!"

Kagayama finished in 3rd place in the 3rd race of the TOT, ahead of the strong Hercules rider #29 Power Builder Ninja & Yamane Mitsuhiro and the supercharged #414 Ninja H2R & Mitsumoto Kojiro. Based on this, Kagayama-san is considering a comeback victory with the No. 3 model and the creation of the No. 4 model. There will probably be some element of challenge added to this, so even if you're not a KATANA fan, you can look forward to it.

Detailed Description

The standard air-cooled Katana windscreen is set on a commercially available cowl with a standard air-cooled Katana look. The number 77 on the number plate was chosen and applied for because it looks like the kanji for "katana" (sword).

The handlebars are separate and the meter is a combination of a GSX-R1000 meter and an AIM multifunction meter on the top bridge. The left and right masters are made by Brembo.

The stock FI was replaced with a downdraft version of the Mikuni TMR carburetor, the TDMR. The left link and the throttle wire rotate from the left, reminiscent of the air-cooled Katana. Of course, it wasn't a smooth conversion from the injection system, and they had to start by figuring out the error code for the electrical system.

The engine is a GSX-R1000, with custom-made engine mounts and other parts. The frame is made of steel pipes in keeping with the TOT spirit.

The rear suspension of this No. 3 model is a twin shock specification. The shock unit is made by Aragosta. You can also see the efforts put into the upper mount.

The swingarm pivot and engine mount are custom made, and an aluminum swingarm made using machining from another domestic model is used. The front and rear wheels are made of forged magnesium JB Magtans.

Main Custom Contents

Team Kagayama KATANA1000R TYPE-3
Interviewed by: Ride Win (Team Kagayama) TEL046-293-1771 8-1-15 Kamikusayanagi, Yamato-shi, Kanagawa 242-0029, Japan
URL: https://team-kagayama.com/
April 26, 2021