• Required reading for all forum users!!!

    Welcome!
    Register to access the full functionality of the GSResources forum. Until you register and activate your account you will not have full forum access, nor will you be able to post or reply to messages.

    A note to new registrants...
    All new forum registrations must be activated via email before you have full access to the forum.

    A Special Note about Email accounts!
    DO NOT SIGN UP USING hotmail, outlook, gmx, sbcglobal, att, bellsouth or email.com. They delete our forum signup emails.

    A note to old forum members...
    I receive numerous requests from people who can no longer log in because their accounts were deleted. As mentioned in the forum FAQ, user accounts are deleted if you haven't logged in for the past 6 months. If you can't log in, then create a new forum account. If you don't get an error message, then check your email account for an activation message. If you get a message stating that the email address is already in use, then your account still exists so follow the instructions in the forum FAQ for resetting your password.

    Have you forgotten your password or have a new email address? Then read the forum FAQ for details on how to reset it.

    Any email requests for "can't log in anymore" problems or "lost my password" problems will be deleted. Read the forum FAQ and follow the instructions there - that's what we have one for...

  • Returning Visitors

    If you are a returning visitor who never received your confirmation email, then odds are your email provider is blockinig emails from our server. The only thing that can be done to get around this is you will have to try creating another forum account using an email address from another domain.

    If you are a returning visitor to the forum and can't log in using your old forum name and password but used to be able to then chances are your account is deleted. Purges of the databases are done regularly. You will have to create a new forum account and you should be all set.

85 GS550L Bobber

  • Thread starter Thread starter CPT America
  • Start date Start date
CPT, I just noticed the new rider pegs. VERY slick! You got any close up pics of how ya mounted them??
 
AF_Bill said:
CPT, I just noticed the new rider pegs. VERY slick! You got any close up pics of how ya mounted them??
Click to expand...
Thanks! Not yet, but I'll get some soon. I actually originally just shimmed both sides of the peg with washers but the mounting tabs aren't as long as the stock ones so the pegs were rotating a little past the point where they should lock. I ended up using a cutoff wheel and chopping the mounting tabs off the stock pegs, then sectioning out the underside to allow them to slide over the Avon pegs mounting tab. I used a light coat of gorilla glue to set them in place then pinned them together. once I get them all cleaned up and get some satin black paint thrown on them I'll snap pics of the pegs up close and mounted.

On another note, I started painting the rear wheel last night, and painted the brake light housing as well. Oh........and my West Eagle seat came in so I got the hairpin springs mounted to it and fabbed a custom front mount, then set new mounting points on the cross brace to accept the seat. Other than that I mounted an LED "2nd brakelight" on the underside of the fender, and installed the Drag Specialties mini speedo. All I have left to do is finish the wheel, and hook up the electrics for the speedo light and extra brake light. Pics are coming....here's teh seat and springs for now....
WestEagleSeat.jpg
 
Last edited:
AF_Bill said:
Nice! BTW, what ya doin with the old seat and springs?
Click to expand...
Thanks! I don't have any plans for the seat and springs yet. I'll also have the tank for sale in a couple more weeks once I get the 3.1 gallon replacement. You looking for some bobber parts?
 
Okay so the rear wheel is painted, West Eagle seat and new hairpin springs installed and the mini speedo is on...:-k
IMG_0580.jpg

IMG_0581.jpg

IMG_0582.jpg

IMG_0577.jpg

Unfortunately I haven't been able to solve the front brake issue since the caliper I picked up won't line up on the forks properly, so I'm about to grab a rotor, entire front brake assembly w/master cylinder, and a fork/triple setup for an 81 GS550L off the bay. I'll be into everything including the wheel for under $200 and the nice thing is no bearing conversion needed since the bearings are the same for the 81 and 85!:pray:
 
That bike is looking sick man.. really digging it. I am however curious about how well you sit on it. looks like the legs would be a little cramped. got any pics of you on it or someone prettier.. wink wink...
 
Redneck said:
That bike is looking sick man.. really digging it. I am however curious about how well you sit on it. looks like the legs would be a little cramped. got any pics of you on it or someone prettier.. wink wink...
Click to expand...

Hahaha, no pics of me or anyone prettier sitting on it, but I'll see what I can do over the weekend so you can get an idea. It honestly isn't too bad, but then again I'm 5'8". I will say there's virtually no pressure/pain in your knees as the seat supports pretty much all your weight. I'm in love with the West Eagle seat, it's a drastic improvement over the one that was on there, and that rear lip does wonders for keeping me from sliding into the fender on takeoffs!!:D
 
Looking badass CPT! Got the part# and link for that speedo? What is the ratio for our bikes?
 
Castle550 said:
Looking badass CPT! Got the part# and link for that speedo? What is the ratio for our bikes?
Click to expand...

Thanks Castle. I think our bikes speedo ratio is 1:4. Unfortunately I don't have the part # for the speedo. It's a Drag Specialties mini analog speedometer. They're plentiful on eBay, you'll just need to get one from someone who knows the ratio.
 
Redneck, it is actually better to ride a rigid with you legs under versus splayed out front. Your legs take the road shock versus your back.The way his is set up is similar to mine. No back or knee problems at all. My ass just gets sore on long rides from my small seat, or my big ass. whichever
 
52mm pods:
image-4.jpg

image-5.jpg

image-6.jpg


new Metz MU 90-16 wide white wall:
image.jpg

image-1.jpg

image-7.jpg


.....and I got the front brake issue resolved and now have a working front brake. Next step is to attempt to locate the front brake light switch wiring in the factory wiring harness so I don't have to tap the rear brake to get the brake light as I'm applying the front brake. I'll be prepping/painting the lower fork legs satin black in the next couple weeks, and getting a new headlight assembly in satin black too. More pics to follow.
 
Last edited:
Too bad ya don't have a white wall front tire. But DAMN!!!!!!!!!!!!! If i were to cut my frame and hardtail it, mine would look very similar and white. Great job.
 
AF_Bill said:
Too bad ya don't have a white wall front tire. But DAMN!!!!!!!!!!!!! If i were to cut my frame and hardtail it, mine would look very similar and white. Great job.
Click to expand...
Thanks!

I'm contemplating trying to drop a new motor/tranny setup in it after this riding season. I keep leaning toward picking up a bandit 600 motor/tranny and electrics and sticking it in there. I need to get ahold of someone with a bandit so I can get some measurements and look at the mounting point in relationship to my frame and also try and see how much of a PITA it'll be to get the sprockets lined up. I was about a half second away from buying an 05 Gixxer 600 motor and "figuring out" how to make it work, but decided I didn't want to just rush out and buy a motor until I'm sure it's worth doing. Although a gixxer 600 motor would be a lot of fun and probably catch a few folks off guard stoplight to stoplight.:dancing:
 
That would be really cool man. My dad actually has a complete 550L motor and trans (complete, outta the frame) he might sell if you're interested. I believe its out of a 78.
 
About the pods, did you just clamp them to the boots?

Can I ask what brand pods?
 
mostholycerebus said:
About the pods, did you just clamp them to the boots?

Can I ask what brand pods?
Click to expand...
They're the EMGO 52mm pods. I picked up 2 muffler pipe reducers from Autozone 2.5"-2" then cut off the excess. I trimmed the inside of my factory boots to smooth it out, then used an adhesive and muffler clamp to lock the reducer in place in the boot. After that I just slipped the pods on the reducers and clamped them in place. I am having issues now with starting it because the pods flow freely, but I've found if i wrap a shop towel around one pod to crank it then it's fine. I was just reading about trying to stuff some filter foam on the inside of the pod to add some restriction to it. I'll eaither try that or I'll pick up a set of K&N filter wraps and use it on the outside of the pods. I need to look at the vent hose situation too to see if I need to remove/reroute them as well. I wish K&N made a stage 3 jet kit for my bike.
 
CPT America said:
I wish K&N made a stage 3 jet kit for my bike.
Click to expand...

They do. I have an 85 L as well. K&N makes a stage 3 kit for the 83-85 GS550e, which is the identical TSCC 574cc engine and siamesed carbs as the GS550L. The reason they don't have it listed for the L is because the airbox, jetting, and exhaust is different on the stock L. This would make a difference in the stage 1 kit. However, stage 3 replaces jets and assumes pods + free flowing exhaust, which puts us on the same page as the GS550E AFAICT.
 
Last edited:
mostholycerebus said:
They do. I have an 85 L as well. K&N makes a stage 3 kit for the 83-85 GS550e, which is the identical TSCC 574cc engine and siamesed carbs as the GS550L. The reason they don't have it listed for the L is because the airbox, jetting, and exhaust is different on the stock L. This would make a difference in the stage 1 kit. However, stage 3 replaces jets and assumes pods + free flowing exhaust, which puts us on the same page as the GS550E AFAICT.
Click to expand...

I was meaning DynoJet.:-# But I have a feeling that's what you're referring to. That rocks then! Off to source that kit. Thanks!:dancing: $125.99 on DJ's website. Looks like I know where part of my paycheck on the 15th is going.

The pods were pretty easy and cheap to do. I think all total I have less than $25 in them.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top