The Suzuki Katana is a street motorcycle sold between 1981 and 2006 and then since 2019. It was designed in 1979–1980 by Target Design of Germany for Suzuki. The Katana name was later applied to a range of in-house styled sport touring motorcycles in North America through the 2006 model year and, starting at the turn of the millennium, a line of 50 cc scooters in Europe. History Suzuki formally engaged Target design and a three-man team led by Hans Muth, ex-chief of styling for BMW, who had done much to modernise the image of the venerable Bavarian Boxer Twin, began work to update the Suzuki's image. Muth's three-man Target Design team consisted of himself, Jan Fellstrom and Hans-Georg Kasten. The design worked through several variations, with the ED1 and ED2 versions ("ED" for "European Design") revealed to the public in 1980. The Target designed machines were in general production until 1985, when all the original model Katanas were discontinued, although 'Katana-esque' styling appeared on many in-house designed Suzuki machines for some years to come. ED1 The original design was a model called the ED1. The unfaired ED1 design featured a tall, sculpted fuel tank, with both curves and straight edges that merged the tank with a concave seat flanked by angular side panels. This meant that the rider essentially sat more in the motorcycle than on it (as was the norm). The ED1 design would be modified for production as the GS550M Katana, and later the GS650G Katana. ED2 The shark-like faired ED2 was a more radical design which incorporated favorable aerodynamics, with a special emphasis placed on high-speed stability, and was repeatedly wind tunnel tested in Italy. The same generalized design forms had already been used early in 1979 for Target's MV Agusta "Prova" concept. The ED2 would form the prototype for the larger 16-valve GSX1100S, GSX1000S, and GSX750S. Design Philosophy "Muth characterizes the Suzuki Katana by what he calls its dramatic “flyline,” melding five key components into stylistic and aerodynamic unity: headlight, fuel tank, seat, and front and rear fenders. Central to the Katana's unique identity is its “V-shaped gas tank,” describing the way the tank narrows toward the rider and diverges toward the front of the bike. Muth's design was rendered in silver—like the sword. Originally, it had no windshield—that was Suzuki's requirement. On the side cover Muth added the Japanese character for the katana sword,