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how to make the power difference

  • Thread starter Thread starter nisom512
  • Start date Start date
it is a totaly different engine than what you have. if you will notice it is listed as a GS"X" 550 not as a GS550. the X designates a 4 valve per cylinder engine design vs. your 2 vavles per cylinder. it is probably running a shorter stroke and loarger piston as will which tends to increase HP numbers. Not to say you couldn't get 64HP out of yours but there is no direct comparison between you GS and the GSX.
 
Loads of differences in the motor. Plus it's 572cc - I've never understood why the Suzuki marketing men weren't 'honest' about the engine capacity or they could even have boasted a bit and called it a 600.
 
76FJ55 said:
it is a totaly different engine than what you have. if you will notice it is listed as a GS"X" 550 not as a GS550. the X designates a 4 valve per cylinder engine design vs. your 2 vavles per cylinder. it is probably running a shorter stroke and loarger piston as will which tends to increase HP numbers. Not to say you couldn't get 64HP out of yours but there is no direct comparison between you GS and the GSX.
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How worth it would it be to do a top end swap to a 16v on my bike?
 
It won't fit ( at least without some very serious engineering). Your cheapest bet is to either get a bigger bike or to put on a top end from a 650 - there's an article on here somewhere where it's been done.

There used to be a 610 big bore kit available for the 550 as well but I haven't seen one of those for years.
 
How worth it would it be to do a top end swap to a 16v on my bike?
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It would be worth allot, but unfortunately they are completely different engines and you are not able to swap the heads.
You could swap the whole engine into your chassis though.

I have done allot of head work and run 29mm smoothbores on my 79 550E.
I also own an 83 GS550ES. My 79 is hands down faster than the 83. But the 83 is basically stock, well used to be till I swapped an 1100 engine into it.
 
hampshirehog said:
It won't fit ( at least without some very serious engineering). Your cheapest bet is to either get a bigger bike or to put on a top end from a 650 - there's an article on here somewhere where it's been done.

There used to be a 610 big bore kit available for the 550 as well but I haven't seen one of those for years.
Click to expand...

wow a big bore kit ay that would be sweet. but oh well I guess ill just stay stock. I have read a bout the 650 swap a lot but it just doesnt seem worth it to do all that work for suck a little gain.
 
Old Colt said:
It would be worth allot, but unfortunately they are completely different engines and you are not able to swap the heads.
You could swap the whole engine into your chassis though.

I have done allot of head work and run 29mm smoothbores on my 79 550E.
I also own an 83 GS550ES. My 79 is hands down faster than the 83. But the 83 is basically stock, well used to be till I swapped an 1100 engine into it.
Click to expand...

I would do that how the crap did you get an 1100 in a 550 fram. is there a write up you have done on it?
 
Your simplest would be some good port work and a 650 cylinder set.
But if you are handy with fabrication, the newer engines are quite compact. They will fit in the frame but there are many details to make it all work.
Other than the hight of the 1100 it might fit where the 8V engine is easier than in the later 16V frame.
 
Old Colt said:
Your simplest would be some good port work and a 650 cylinder set.
But if you are handy with fabrication, the newer engines are quite compact. They will fit in the frame but there are many details to make it all work.
Other than the hight of the 1100 it might fit where the 8V engine is easier than in the later 16V frame.
Click to expand...

what do you mean by a 650 cylinder set?
 
A GS650 of the same year as your bike. It is kindof the big brother to the 8V 550.
The head and cylinders will for the most part just bolt on to your engine. There are some casting variations that need to be cleaned up to drop the cylinders in on some cases but not all.
 
Old Colt said:
A GS650 of the same year as your bike. It is kindof the big brother to the 8V 550.
The head and cylinders will for the most part just bolt on to your engine. There are some casting variations that need to be cleaned up to drop the cylinders in on some cases but not all.
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Actually, the 650 was an oddball. It had a plain bearing crank, hi pressure oil system and an 8v head, where as all of the other 8v headed bikes were roller bearing and low pressure system.

Grinding of the cases in order to get the 650 jugs to sit on the 550 block is required, but not alot. There IS a complete write up on this i do believe on the site. Search for 550/650 swap or something like that. There is no chance in hell from my guesstimation youre going to shoehorn an 1100 motor into a pre TSCC 550 frame. Simply isnt tall enough. IMO, if you want more power, it may simply be time to sell the 550 (in the spring) and step up to a larger machine. I would suggest an 8 or 16v 1100 bike. The 8v 1100 is a shaftie, 98BHP at the crank, and fairly quick but a bit heavy, but runs and rides like a champ. Handles suprisingly nimbly in the corners too. It IMO, is MUCH more forgiving of someone getting used to all that power than the 16v 1100. That will put you on your ass if you're not ready for it. Either way, both amazingly solid motors, will run forever if properly cared for. Some may say thats a large jump, but if you arent retarded, you can manage, after some break in period. You'll be hard pressed to outgrow the power output either, so no need to step up again.
 
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GS550 to 673cc swap is somewhat medium in difficulty, and also is very worthwhile.

The horsepower and torque gained are really useful.
 
There is plenty of room for an GSXR1100 into an early 550 frame, it is the clearance to the fuel tank that is lacking.

In the three 550 cases I have put 650 cylinders into, one truly needed grinding, one I could tap the cylinders down into. I sure would not run it that way. And the third which is a new set of cases that I am building the 750 into the larger cylinder block set in fine.
 
TheCafeKid said:
Actually, the 650 was an oddball. It had a plain bearing crank, hi pressure oil system and an 8v head, where as all of the other 8v headed bikes were roller bearing and low pressure system.

Not all of the 650's were plain cranked, only the g and gl model shaft drives. The 650e was a chain drive with the roller bearing crank and low pressure system. You are correct that the 650 were an oddball. The 650e seems like it was a 550 mated with 650 top end. Not trying to bust your chops TCK, your a great member here:).

The point of this is, if you want to go the 550 to 650 upgrade, I would look for a 650e motor that might just slip into bike without a lot of modification. Otherwise the 650 topends are the same part number and I would believe to be the same from any 650 model.

As others have stated, newer gsx motors will fit. It has been awhile since it was reported here, but someone had stuffed a gsxr750 into a 550 chassis.

I hate to burst your bubble, but go buy a bigger bike if you want more power. It won't cost anymore money than trying to modify your 550. Just my opinion...
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gee thanks for all the helpful advice I really appriciate it. I think I will look into the 650 bore mod. I know I should prob just get s bigger bike I am 6'3 and 210lbs but i like making a slow bike fast.

my favorite quot
"driving a slow car fast > driving a fast car slow"

Plus I just like the learning experience. and the work.

Thank you guys again for all your help.
 
nisom512 said:
wow a big bore kit ay that would be sweet. but oh well I guess ill just stay stock. I have read a bout the 650 swap a lot but it just doesnt seem worth it to do all that work for suck a little gain.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't call from 48hp to 72 hp "suck a little gain". We are talking about 24 extra hp here. If you overbore the 650 cylinders by 1mm you have 700cc capacity.
 
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