Suzuki GSX1100S Goggo Adds Timeless Caffeinated Traits to the Katana Formula
We love it when a custom bike has its own intricate backstory to really make it more than just the sum of its parts. It can make an already-great project that much more exciting to talk about, adding a whole new layer of intrigue to pique our interest. The specimen we’ll be looking at today is an excellent case in point, hailing from a German amateur builder we’ve not covered before.
By: Silvian Secara Courtesy: AutoEvolution
His name is Enrico Warschefske and he operates as Enno Moto, tinkering with motorcycles in his spare time. What you’re seeing here is his fifth and latest project, a ravishing cafe racer based on a Suzuki GSX1100S Katana from 1982. It holds great significance for Enrico, having been bought from his late friend Goggo right before he passed away. So, this project was essentially made to honor the man’s memory.
The Katana had spent many years sitting around in his garage, and its condition was far from ideal to say the least. Nonetheless, Enrico knew there was great potential beneath all the rust and grime, as the GSX1100 was a force to be reckoned with back in the day. Its aesthetic was somewhat polarizing, for sure, but no one could argue with its remarkable performance.
Power comes from an air-cooled 1,074cc inline-four engine good for up to 111 ponies and 71 pound-feet (96 Nm) of torque. It clearly doesn’t lack brute force, and our protagonist sought to make great use of it while giving the bike a more timeless look. The outcome is an amazing sight to behold, one which would surely delight Goggo if he were still around to see it.
Without further ado, let’s go ahead and examine the customization process from start to finish. The project’s author knew he wanted to build a cafe racer right from the get-go, and it all began with a complete teardown. Every piece of stock bodywork besides the fuel tank has been discarded along with many other bits and pieces, then it was time for the real custom wizardry to take effect.
For starters, the rear subframe was shortened and looped to tighten up the bike’s proportions back there. The modded framework was then topped off with a black leather saddle upholstered by Lederkult Heimann, as well as a bspoke cafe racer tail unit made of fiberglass. An LED taillight is attached to the tail’s rearmost tip, along with some Highsider turn signals left and right.
Modern shock absorbers from YSS manage suspension duties out back, featuring full adjustability and progressive springs. A custom Suzuki-branded battery box occupies the rear end, as well, placed inside the subframe triangle and right above the swingarm. As for the license plate, it will henceforth live down low on a swingarm-mounted bracket, which can be spotted on the left-hand side.
The factory forks from Suzuki are still present at the front, but they’ve been rebuilt and shortened by around 50 mm (two inches) to get the motorcycle’s stance just right. A small custom fender is now placed between them, and then you’ve also got that premium LED headlight once again supplied by Highsider. The original star-spoked wheels have been kept, too, receiving some grippy Michelin rubber fore and aft.
Enno Moto had the brakes refurbished to ensure plentiful stopping power, while also installing high-grade master cylinders at both ends. Up in the cockpit area, one may find a small T&T speedo and clip-on handlebars equipped with bar-end mirrors. The aforementioned headlight is flanked by a pair of tiny LED blinkers attached to its corresponding brackets. All the electronics were hooked up to a fresh wiring harness.
Moving on to the powertrain sector, the four-cylinder engine was given a once-over to see just how bad things got inside. Enrico quickly decided to hand the mill over to a local specialist, so that it could be restored back to its former glory with the best possible outcome. Meanwhile, the carbs were rebuilt and fitted with a Stage 3 kit from Dynojet.
Top-shelf DNA pod filters were also thrown into the mix, together with a new four-into-one exhaust system supplied by MSR. The project was quickly approaching the finish line with all these items in place, so Enrico enrolled the help of a good friend to wrap things up with a stylish color scheme. It makes extensive use of black on items such as the frame, engine, and wheels.
On the other hand, the upper bodywork is adorned with a nice bit of red highlighting, too, and a large portion of the stock fuel tank is finished in silver. And lastly, this breathtaking GSX1100 cafe racer was nicknamed Goggo in honor of its previous owner and Enrico’s dear friend. Even though he is no longer with us, his spirit lives on thanks to this custom gem from Enno Moto!