• The 1982 GL and the Katana are styled differently but have the same engine.motorbike engine image by Fyerne from Fotolia.com
  
  In 1982, Japanese manufacturer Suzuki released two bikes under the GS 650 label: the GS 650 G Katana, and the GS 650 GL. The 650 series was in production from 1981 to 1983, and the bikes in this series are all similar in specification. The Katana and the GL use the same engine, but have slight differences in styling and size. These all-around bikes have powerful engines and decent fuel capacity.
  
  

Styling

• The most obvious difference between the two is the styling -- the Katana has a sportier look, while the GL has a chrome-finished classic look. However, it is possible to ride in either cruiser style, with the feet farther forward, or sport style, with the feet farther back (there are pedals for both riding styles).
  
  

Engine

• At the heart of both the Katana and the GL is the same inline four-cylinder engine. The bore-to-stroke ratio of the engine is almost square (1.11) at 2.44 inches by 2.2 inches, and the purely air-cooled engine has two valves per cylinder, working alongside a five-speed gearbox. The timing system of the engine is SOHC, which differs from some other models in this series that use DOHC.
  
  

Performance

• The engine puts out 73 horsepower (53.3 kW) at 9,500 revolutions per minute, with a torque of 57.2 Nm at 8,000 rpm. This gives the bikes an impressive top speed of 122 mph (197 km/h), and allows them to go from 0 to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds (0 to 100 km/h in 5.1 seconds).
  
  

Brakes and Wheels

• The front tire dimensions are 3.25-19, and the rear tire dimensions are 4.25-17. The bike has three brake discs in total, a dual disc at the front and single disc at the rear.
  
  

Dimensions - Katana

• The GS 650 G Katana is 85.8 inches long, 29.9 inches wide and 44.1 inches high. The seat height is 30.7 inches and the wheelbase is 58.1 inches. The bike weighs in at 480 lbs. dry. The overall fuel capacity is 6.08 gallons.
  
  

Dimensions -- GL

• The GL is 85.8 inches long, 29.9 inches wide and 44.1 inches high. The seat height is 30.7 inches and the wheelbase is 57.1 inches. The bike is a little lighter than the Katana at 466 lbs. dry.