What the heck is this???? Help from you GS experts!

[Anonymous]

Hello! I take bikes apart and sell the parts on Ebay. I like selling Suzuki GS's because the demand is there and they are nice and straightforward.

Today, I bought what the owner called a "1983 Suzuki GS550L." Now, I have a 1982 Suzuki GS850L for joy riding, but I simply don't recognize about 3/4 of this bike! Then again, I've only sold the "T" model and a couple of others.

Here are some photos. Can you please tell me what the heck the bike is? Also, I though these frames were rounded. This one is squared. I've -never- seen handlebars like this on a Suzuki GS before. Are they aftermarket? What brand? I didn't think the "L" model had a grab bar. Those footpegs are way wider and fancier than anything I've seen on GS's before, but maybe I just haven't seen one of these. Also, are the footpeg brackets normal? I do know this guy did some aftermarket work, including a complete new paint job (still like new).

Here's the engine. It looks like a 550 to me.

I didn't think the "L" had a grab bar.

The frame is not made of rounded piping.

Here, the metal of the frame is of the "crowbar" shape, not round like the "L" or "T" model I have owned.

What is up with these handlebars??? They are attached directly to the forks. Are they aftermarket? Anyone know what brand?

Here are the sidecovers. These don't look like "L" sidecovers to me. What model do they belong to??

Here's the weird footpegs (aftermarket?) and bracket.

Which GS model has this style of fork brace?

Well, there you go, guys and gals. :? Any help would be appreciated! Thanks again!

 

[Kabonkie]

That's exactly what a 83 GS550L looks like.
The frame is not round tubing and is six sided. Stock handlebars, stock foot pegs for the year. The 83 had the step seat with the little grab bar in the rear.
Your pictures look pretty stock to me and look like mine.
I'd be interested in some of the parts if you're parting it out. Post a link to your e-bay site.

Roger

 

[shaftzuki]

You really need to find something else to do for a living ... :x 8)

 

[Anonymous]

I -do- have something else I do for a living. I'm a 7th grade science teacher who gets a paid summer off. During the summer, I also buy and take apart bikes. A typical bike costs me between $50-300 and doesn't run. I take it to my home and part it out on Ebay for between $300-$1200.

What's wrong with that?

Thanks for the info, by the way! I'm glad the whole thing is stock...used aftermarket parts just aren't worth as much!

-Erik

By the way, if you want to find my auctions, my Ebay handle is "faynce."

I have parts from various bikes. Just ended auctions for a 1981 GS450 two days ago. I'm going on vacation, so those parts aren't for sale until around July 10. The fenders, sidecovers, and tank have been painted and basically look new. Not bad for $225, eh?

 

[Anonymous]

Are the handlebars really stock? Here's another stock 1983 GS550L going on Ebay. The handlebars aren't even close.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=6027&item=4558363141&rd=1

 

[Anonymous]

Whoops...that was a 1986, not an 83. Here's an 83 650L, only 100cc larger, but the body style is totally different. Different frame, different pegs, different handlebars, different fork brace, different sidecovers. Totally different.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=6027&item=4559175487&rd=1

I've never seen these handlebars!

 

[jimcor]

 

[Anonymous]

I suggest if you are going to be breaking GS's that you should at least familiarise yourself with the history of the range and the models contained within.
Bike Bandit is a good starting point for a technical drawing heres the GS550L 83 handlebars

http://houseofmotorcycles.bikebandi...el_dept_id~703487~model_dept_name~GS550LD.asp

The 8 valve models like the pre 83 GS550 and GS650/850/1000 are basically 70's throwbacks. the 83 onwards 550 is a 16valve job and as such had radically different styling such as square section frame, clip on bars, TSCC, crappy small front wheel, anti dive forks. Its a completely different thing from an 8 valve GS, over here in Europe it's known as a GSX550L.

 

[Anonymous]

Well, I break down anything I can get my hands on for a good price where the parts will sell. It just so happens that I've done a lot of GS's.

Thanks a lot for the OEM picture! Come to think of it, I have no clue why I didn't look at it myself, as I look at BikeBandit daily. :idea:

Thanks again for your help! I'm glad everything's stock! It's much better that way. Whew.

-Erik