New member from northern lower Michigan

[Snowman550]

I have been reading on this forum since April.
I bought a 1978 GS550E that had been dropped but it came with a low milage (2,300 ) GS550C for a parts bike.
I used many parts to get the E going and rode it all summer it now has 5,000 miles. The 550C motor ran excellent so this fall I bought a 1982 GS550L that was a non runner and was going to do a motor transplant for a winter project. After doing some research I think the L motor will run OK!
I have new carb boots orings carb kits and am waiting on some valve shims from Ray at the GS valve exchange.
I presently have 11 bikes in the garage so yes I have a motorcycle weakness!

 

[steve murdoch]

Welcome to the site, Snowman.
Inquiring minds need to know, what else you got in the stable.
btw, ownership of 11 bikes is a passion not a weakness.

 

[Redman]

SM,

11 bikes. We can help you with that.
Yah, can help you justify that. Can say that is normal.

GS550E, 550C, 550L, and a Kaw KL250.
Any of the other 7 interesting?

Put some miles on the 550 this sumer, eh, Can you report on any interesting rides there from Cadillac?

With the name of SnowMan, might you have some other motorize sport machines.....?

Dave

 

[dorkburger]

Snowman, welcome. 11 bikes.... awesome. As noted we like pics, even of the non GS variety.

 

[Snowman550]

Thanks guys!
I am an early retire have had some health issues so needed to slow down.
Yes I have snowmobiles but keep them around for the grandkids.
Its a good hobby to fire up the furnace out in the garage and bring back history one bike at a time!
Probably my most interesting bikes would be the 84 650 Nighthawk that I found that had been stored in an attic of a house on Torch Lake since around the year 2000.
A true attic find dusty and needing TLC but a beauty now.
Oct 6 found me buying a brand new 2014 Honda CB1100!
I need to figure out how to post pictures!
Kevin

 

[Snowman550]

December

December


Picture after last Sundays ride

 

[Snowman550]

My Garage

My Garage

78 CB550's

 

[chuck hahn]

My old stomping grounds in the 80s. Cadillac, Irons, Manistee, and Kalkaska. Good times. Welcome aboard the crazy train.

 

[Redman]

....
Oct 6 found me buying a brand new 2014 Honda CB1100!
I need to figure out how to post pictures!
Kevin

Man, Kev, You sure get around. Torch Lake, Hudsonville, just in recent weeks.

Often hear the new CB1100 mentioned on these bike forums. I have seen them in the showroom (often 2-3 years old) and salesman say lots of folk looking but none bought it. And I notice they say "it", not "them".
You say you bought one. Good.
Maybe you got the new CB1100 from Muskegon (Babbitts). I think that is where I last saw one.

Ah, I see you have now listed bikes in sig line.
Yah, no need to describe the snowmobiles.

I see you have devised a way to store/display more bikes in your garage. Ha!
And I see you made that platform as tall as possible, specific to that bike (without mirrors).
Getting bike up there must be something. (Didnt see fork truck.)

To better post pictures (and have multiple per post), they need to first be hosted on another picture hosting site (say, Imgur or FLicker or other....not Photobucket).

Dave

 

[steve murdoch]

View attachment 53437
Picture after last Sundays ride

Never seen that paint scheme.
Was it a special edition or something?

 

[Snowman550]

Paint

Paint


The dealer ( Central Motor Sports ) in My Pleasant had it painted that way to mimic the 1982 CB1100. I saw the bike two years ago when I went for a ride to the motorcycle salvage yard down that way.
It was stock paint color then.
They had a huge rebate so I finally decided to buy one. Its a great bike smooth as a watch, but feels heavy to me I guess I got used to my GS550E
which I ride most. I only put on 200 miles before winter hit here!
I decided to take the CB 550 parts bike and put it above my bench for a display piece, and yes I get a lot of comments on it!

 

[Snowman550]

My John Deere compact utility tractor with pallet forks put it up there!
I made a pallet and strapped it to the bike
I only hope I don't need to retrieve a part off it next summer! I did keep the pallet just in case!

 

[argonsagas]

I have been reading on this forum since April.
I bought a 1978 GS550E that had been dropped but it came with a low milage (2,300 ) GS550C for a parts bike.
I used many parts to get the E going and rode it all summer it now has 5,000 miles. The 550C motor ran excellent so this fall I bought a 1982 GS550L that was a non runner and was going to do a motor transplant for a winter project. After doing some research I think the L motor will run OK!
I have new carb boots orings carb kits and am waiting on some valve shims from Ray at the GS valve exchange.
I presently have 11 bikes in the garage so yes I have a motorcycle weakness!

Welcome to you!

That said, you make me feel bad, as I have never owned more than five bikes at the same time

 

[Mr.humbucker]

I took an 82 GS550L beater non-runner that I picked up cheap $300 last winter for a project and turned into a GS550T by swiching the seat, bars, side covers, rear grab rail and it is a much nicer looking ride. New seat cover from Pit Replicas on eBay. Have fun with the GS550 project!

 

[Snowman550]

Nice bike!!!!
I love the 550's