Are 550s supposed to be quick little bikes?

[1_v8_merc]

If you take it to the shop, you're basically giving them the green light to go nuts and rack up Your bill! Because unless you know Exactly what's wrong with it, their going to start replacing EVERYTHING, and you're going to be stuck with a large bill.


Get some new clutch springs, that made a HUGE difference on my 650. I almost dropped the damn thing in my driveway, because I wasn't expecting such a "jolt" when I took off in 1st!

 

[1977GS550]

Added a few revs....

Like I said, it's good to know that this bike IS fast. All I have to do is twist the throttle more than I have been. Being my first bike, I thought I would hurt the bike by winding it up so high, so I'm glad I found a community of people who know so much about the bike

 

[Bandit]

WOW really nice bike!!!

 

[jimfj]

I am Jealous of that 550

It seems like you are being educated here very nicely,

I have an 1100G and now a 77 550 as well.

My 550 is has a long way to go to look like yours BTW, but it runs pretty well.

The 550 is surprisingly powerfull at half the displacement of the 1100. Basically it ain't slow at all. I am willing to bet you have more power there than you can access without some tuning. Not replacing exhaust and pods tuning, but just valves, carb synch and clean ect.

These boys and girls know what they are talking about and will help you along the way. Keep us posted.

If you just want to give up and buy a 600 Ninja or something I'll take that 550 off your hands quickly

Nice bike and good luck!!

 

[1948man]

Having owned a 550 I can say that especially from a stop and around town the 550 should be able to scoot you around with a lot more alacrity than most cars, even if it is 30+ years old. However if maintenance is deferred long enough if will absolutely KILL performance. Valves, carbs, as well as intake sealing are all critical items that are commonly to blame for sleepy performance and hard starting.

Where is the alacrity adjustment screw? Since I went to a larger rear wheel I feel I lack alacrity.

 

[Allie]

Where is the alacrity adjustment screw? Since I went to a larger rear wheel I feel I lack alacrity.

The alacrity is adjusted with valve shims, o-rings, and and carb cleaner!

 

[1948man]

Ba-da-boom

 

[jbs80106]

FYSA, if you putter around in higher gears at low speeds you are getting near the threshold for the charging system to positively be charging your battery. Been awhile, but I recall from fuzzy memory that charging system doesn't create enough voltage to charge back the battery.

I think what you're commenting on has more to do with torque than pure power. As the others have said, the power band on these bikes (mine's a 650) is >5000ish rpm. One point also to note from my experience, if you are puttering around in higher gear outside of the power band, if you need a sudden burst of power to avoid a bad sitation you will have to drop down a gear. Riding in a lower gear up in the rev band you can just twist the throttle and zip away....

 

[emjay]

Waddya think, BOM?

I couldn't resist... I think I'm in love! <3

 

[Billy Ricks]

Waddya think, BOM?

Agreed, he should put it up for BoM.

 

[earlfor]

I, out of curiosity once, asked the local shop in my area who has a good reputation what the cost would be to work on my bike.

Normally their price is $60 and hour, but they add $30 an hour for anything older than 15 years and quoted me 6 to 8 hours to take off my carbs, clean them, replace the o-rings and sync them.

what?

Eight hours @ $90 per hour to clean the carbs and synch, Uhhh let me get back to you on that one. Crooks!!

 

[Allie]

Agreed, he should put it up for BoM.

Yeah!! Dooo it, dooo it, dooooooooo it!

 

[jaywelchy]

Wow! that is a gorgeous one! After looking at the pics, then sauntering back to the garage to look at mine ... you got yourself a wonderful bike in great condition!

First bike ?.. you have so much to experience on that bike ... good things! Sounds like you felt your first high-rpm experience (somewhat at 6000). Its an addicting thing ... personally, my friends ride Harleys and big twins. The high rpm japanese motors got my love so many years ago, its a craving that keeps me riding. They ride sedate and easy .. as you know. There IS another side of the coin once you get above 5-6 and higher ... its like your bike has two completely different personalities .. they are a hoot to run hard, and in time you will certainly learn how and when you want to

Have fun with it!!

Jason

 

[Billy Ricks]

This bike might be worthy of this.

http://i329.photobucket.com/albums/l378/srsrandau/DSCF0123.jpg

 

[Allie]

I immediately thought of this bike when I read that! Being a Clymer Manual they might not be too hot on the Accel wires, but you could get around that if you still have a couple of the stock ones - just tuck the Accels under and pose the stock ones for the shoot. I think this bike would look great on the cover!

 

[Plutoid]

You are not taking advantage of the 550's strengths. Your riding style would be O.K. with a torque monster like my GS (although I seldom ride that sedately). But for your bike, I would be taking it to 5-6 k at every shift. If you need to get somewhere in a hurry, wick it up to redline at every shift. You have stock pipes so it will not make a racket, and the experience will be much better.

My '82 GS550L runs about 6.5K rpms at 65 mph. Is that normal? It just seems so noisy and strained. I have stock sprockets (15/50).

 

[cowboyup3371]

Yep that's about right. Go ahead and twist it and you'll see you're doing 80 in no time (if everything else is done right).

Seriously though, these little bikes have great power. I said this before but I was doing darn near 80 in 3rd gear while racing a Harley away from the stop light one day. Had it close to the red line before I backed off. Course that was on a straight line with no other traffic around.

 

[mike_of_bbg]

Perfectly normal. You'll find that there's not much RPM difference between 4th, 5th, and 6th gears. About 100RPM/MPH is correct in 6th. I have a 1-tooth-up front sprocket and it's not much different. Stock sprockets on the 550LZ were actually 15/49, but most of the 550s used 15/50 and good luck finding a 49 anywhere...


Wind it up!

 

[spyug]

I just recently got my first streetable 550 and while its not on the road yet, I was able to get it out for some "roadtests" around the neighbourhood. Being a 16 valve 83 model its a perky little sod and feels quite nimble compared to my 750 which is no slouch itself. I didn't get it into the powerband on the neighbour hood streets but I can definitely tell it will go like a scalded cat. I can't wait to ring it out.

Talking of the powerband, former AMA racer and now riding instructor and author Reg Pridmore in his manual advocates street riders on 4 cylinder bikes keep the bikes in the 5 to 6000 rpm range in any gear to ensure the bike is ready to respond if called upon. At first I thought this was a bit much as I normally loaf around at under 3000 but once I tried it I find it makes a lot of sense. Not only is the bike super responsive but it makes you much more attuned and attentive to the ride. It can be difficult to stay within the speed limits , however .

Lovely bike too.

Cheers,
spyug

 

[tkent02]

Perfectly normal. You'll find that there's not much RPM difference between 4th, 5th, and 6th gears. About 100RPM/MPH is correct in 6th. I have a 1-tooth-up front sprocket and it's not much different. Stock sprockets on the 550LZ were actually 15/49, but most of the 550s used 15/50 and good luck finding a 49 anywhere...


Wind it up!

With such a short stroke, the high RPMs do not hurt anything. The 550 is the most overbuilt of the bulletproof GS line of engines. Changing sprocket ratios to get lower RPM on the highway does no good, it makes the bike a real dog, you spend more time in the lower gears anyway, it reduces top speed, and lessens fuel efficiency. That little engine is made to wind out, so wind it out.