1981 Kawi GPZ550 $400 Colorado Springs, CO

[ptexotik]

Anyone know were to get Fox rebuild kits?

TIA

great score! that'll scrub up nice

http://ltthor.home.comcast.net/~ltthor/forsale.html

[JEEPRUSTY]

Last BEFORE cleanup photo

I cannot believe its a before pic. It looks that good.

[srsupertrap]

great score! that'll scrub up nice


http://ltthor.home.comcast.net/~ltthor/forsale.html

Ptexotik, Thanks for the link.

Love those '81 550's. Super cool bike. Had one back in the day and it's the one bike I regret selling. Looking forward to your review Steve. The valve shims are under the buckets so good luck with that. Using paint marks on the cam sprockets and chain may help speed up assembly when you get to that point.

Ed, Thanks for the tips, I guess I will find out if someone over torqued a cam, bearing cap bolt sometime in the future. I am not loving this Yosh 4 into 1: I can repaint it black in time but how do you choose an exhaust system that eliminates the center stand?

[srsupertrap]

AFTER some Clean Up;

Luckily the Gas Tank is rust free & empty



One coat of Turtle Wax


Fork Tubes are Ok too



Clear coat has peeled from the top of the Gas Tank & Tail section, Need new grips too


Plugs are black & fouled. Appears to be running too rich but cleaned up nice with a wire brush



Drained one float bowl and a clear light oil came out . . . sure was not gas. Carbs will come off next week. NOTE: The Aluminum Adapter on the head to mount the Mikuni Flatslides



I can picture it with a black exhaust now (#1 in the background)

[tkent02]

wow !

[jwhelan65]

That thing is killer! luv it!

[nvr2old]

I'm thinking a Mini-Me ELR would be a fun route to take, especially with the pipe and other upgrades it already has..I mean, hey..it needs to be re-painted anyway..

Kerker badge for the muffler--side cover graphics in vinyl to replicate the 1000's design--gold wheels--color matched rear shock springs to reflect the ELR's........just thinkin' out loud...

[ptexotik]

I can picture it with a black exhaust now

http://www.jet-hot.com/

[tkent02]

http://www.jet-hot.com/

I'd have Jet-hot do it in red. I like it.

[Big T]

I have read the stock TK's are very cold blooded and take forever to warm up . .. then again my 79 GS1000 was cold blooded too. The Carbs are Mikuni Flatslides with 17 drain bolts.

The shocks are Fox Street Shox, looks like one is leaking. Fox Street Shox were the first pair of aftermarket shocks I had on my GS1000 (Fox, Marzochi Symbol, Progressive etc). Anyone know were to get Fox rebuild kits?

Big T, when you get a moment can you send me the valve lash specs that will be one of the first maintenance jobs I will do.

TIA

Inlet -.1-.2mm
Exhaust - .15-.25mm

Measured at TDC for each cylinder

http://www.nwsca.com/scripts/gpz_forum_2005/login.asp?target=forum.asp?FORUM_ID=4

There's a forum just for GPz 550s

The TKs are so much cold blooded as just weird

Here's a shot of mine, much more stock



It has an 82 fairing on it, thus the extra stripes

Slap some Avons on it in the 3.25/4.00 sizes, handles great!

[srsupertrap]

Inlet -.1-.2mm
Exhaust - .15-.25mm

Measured at TDC for each cylinder

http://www.nwsca.com/scripts/gpz_forum_2005/login.asp?target=forum.asp?FORUM_ID=4

There's a forum just for GPz 550s

The TKs are so much cold blooded as just weird

Here's a shot of mine, much more stock



It has an 82 fairing on it, thus the extra stripes

Slap some Avons on it in the 3.25/4.00 sizes, handles great!

Thanks Big T for the valve specs & links too. Hopefully when I adjust valves the next size up or down will move the valve lash back into specification.

On tires you don't think I should ride on those 20 year old cutting edge Dunlop K391 Front & Metzeler ME-1 Rear?

Nice looking GPZ550 too!

[Big T]

On tires you don't think I should ride on those 20 year old cutting edge Dunlop K391 Front & Metzeler ME-1 Rear?

Nice looking GPZ550 too!

If you eyeball that photo, you'll see a 15 year old Pirelli Match and an even older Dunlop. I picked mine up crashed about 25 years ago from a friend of a friend for my wfe to ride. She rode it for 4 years, then swapped riding for kids.

I would ride it occassionally and take it on one big ride every year to make sure everything still worked. Last year, I finally put a fresh set of Avons on it and started riding and restoring it more.

I imagine yours will be even faster than mine.

[srsupertrap]

Look what I found over on the Kawasaki World Forum, look familiar?

http://kawasakiworld.com/classifieds/50072-1981-gpz550-000025-out-27-year-storage.html

According to Dave (PO), the bike has been stored for 27 years, rebuilt at 20K? and has the following

It does need a lot of work.
The Engine was rebuilt at 20,000 miles. (Bike now has 23,480 miles)
Balanced\Blue-Printed
Bored to a 605
Racing Cam
26mm Mikuni Carbs
Electronic Ignition

I have my garage back so tear down & inspection begins 12/15 Thanks Dave!

[srsupertrap]

I'm thinking a Mini-Me ELR would be a fun route to take, especially with the pipe and other upgrades it already has..I mean, hey..it needs to be re-painted anyway..

Kerker badge for the muffler--side cover graphics in vinyl to replicate the 1000's design--gold wheels--color matched rear shock springs to reflect the ELR's........just thinkin' out loud...

Larry,
Check this beauty out from the GPz550 Forum . . . vulcan mind meld

http://s163.photobucket.com/user/mg1...11730968391151

[Montanaman]

How much do you suppose they've got sunk into that little 550 though ?

Nice bike - never able to sell it.