Mid 80s 550cc proto sport bikes

[Cipher]

what are the specs? gsx550 vs gs550 is a meaningless moniker.

[GS1150Pilot]

My first street bike as an '82 GPz 550. Awesome bike. I lusted after the Interceptor but ended up with A Ninja 600 before getting a VF1000R.

You left out the RZ350. It was a legitimate contender. I had two of those, one with a massively modded Banshee motor in it.

[BigD_83]

I preferred the ergonomics of my '85 (?) GPz550 over my current '83 GS550. Maybe it's the foggy memory of 30 years ago (or a more lithe body), but my lower body feels very cramped on the GS. However, I did ride my friend's GS550EF back in the day, and I recall thinking the same thing.

I sold the GPz to a friend after a few seasons, and apparently it seized awhile after that...

The RZ350 is a more appropriate comparison than the 500 two-strokes, and would be my choice among them for a canyon burner or track bike.

[Cipher]

It is odd that two bikes with close ergonomics can be so different to different riders.
I have a friend who hates his concours cos it hurts his precious special areas.
He is a tall freak though.

[Buffalo Bill]

I preferred the ergonomics of my '85 (?) GPz550 over my current '83 GS550. Maybe it's the foggy memory of 30 years ago (or a more lithe body), but my lower body feels very cramped on the GS. However, I did ride my friend's GS550EF back in the day, and I recall thinking the same thing.

The position of the foot pegs probably the cause. The GS550 pegs are forward for peg in center of sole casual upright sitting, and the 85 GPz550 pegs are set back with peg under toes for intense sport riding.

[Cyrano]

Had a couple of GPz550s but my favourite mid size bike was a Yamaha YX600 Radian like this...

1986_YX600_Radian.jpg

Same motor as the xJ600 and overall a great little package.

[GS1150Pilot]

GREAT choice, Cyrano-and the one of all of them that has enduring beauty. Nearly perfect to ride once you firmed up the suspension.

[Griffin]

I voted for the GPZ550 and the FJ600.

The FJ, although introduced at the end of the air cooled era, smoked all the other middleweights when introduced in '84 and instantly made the GPZ550 and monoshock GS550 obsolete on the track. It was still winning races in '85 and '86 because the water cooled 600 Ninja wasn't as easy to hot rod as the FJ.

It also was very comfy. It handled as well as the other middleweights of the era, but didn't have the toy bike feel ergonomics-wise that the others did.

[Nessism]

I voted for the GPZ550 and the FJ600.

The FJ, although introduced at the end of the air cooled era, smoked all the other middleweights when introduced in '84 and instantly made the GPZ550 and monoshock GS550 obsolete on the track. It was still winning races in '85 and '86 because the water cooled 600 Ninja wasn't as easy to hot rod as the FJ.

It also was very comfy. It handled as well as the other middleweights of the era, but didn't have the toy bike feel ergonomics-wise that the others did.

I remember watching the middleweight race class at Willowspring's and the field was filled with FJ600's. They were durable bikes too.

[Griffin]

I remember watching the middleweight race class at Willowspring's and the field was filled with FJ600's. They were durable bikes too.

The engine was basically a punched out XJ550 Seca engine, with an up to date monoshock chassis.

Hot rodders would put the original 550 cams in it for more top end punch, then install XJ750 carbs with 750 valves in the head to make them fly.

[GS1150Pilot]

Speaking of which, somewhat relatedly, there is a pretty clean Seca 650 for sale here in town. Nice little bikes.

[Griffin]

Speaking of which, somewhat relatedly, there is a pretty clean Seca 650 for sale here in town. Nice little bikes.

I like them greatly. Either a 650 or 900 Seca are on my want list. No Yammies in the garage right now.

[GS1150Pilot]

The 900 is very high on my wishlist.

[kaufen]

I've toured with a Honda CB350 K1, a Yamaha TX500, a BMW R75/6,& a couple of honda CXs. Of them all I preferred the CB 350. A lot of my riding was on dirt back roads & the comparitively light weight of the 350 was handy. Only downsides were the voltage regulator & lousy front brake. The beemer was fine for high speed stuff but not all that comfortable until you got over about 120km/hr. The CX 500 was fun & handled both dirt & main roads well, was even ridden off road a few times , the CX650 was more relaxed but not as much fun.

[TxGSrider]

I had a VF500 and loved it. Id buy another but they don't show up for sale (at a price I can afford) around here very often.