79 gs550l options??

[bexabarr]

Well I have this little dilema that some of my fellow "L" model owners share with me. I like this bike a lot, and I think that it has a lot of potential, yet honestly I am more fond of the E model than the L model. I know that there is a ton of things that I need to do to this bike before I start thinking about how it looks, but I just can't help it. I was origionally thinking about getting a new seat cover and leaving it alone... but now I am thinking of modifying the bike's back end (shocks included) make it look sportier- more like an E. I know that everyone says that there is no other seat model that fits the bike, but what about cutting and welding... etc.. so here is the bike with and w/out the seat (mind the mess). I have time to spare... any ideas or tips or should I just keep the bike the way it is supposed to look (get a new seat cover and deal with it)?

http://us.a1.yahoofs.com/users/41c53280z1e352316/4fc2/__sr_/edc1.jpg?ph418eDBnqltril7

http://us.a1.yahoofs.com/users/41c53280z1e352316/4fc2/__sr_/2ed0.jpg?ph418eDB8hMexjVZ

http://us.a1.yahoofs.com/users/41c53...Qm8eDBy2RSMqWd http://us.a1.yahoofs.com/users/41c53...Qm8eDB8tqVXCYJ

[jsuani]

I am with you...

I own a 80gs550l that I went back to original with. I just finished the rebuild on it but I am looking for some streetfighter options. I have seen ideas in other bikes but not these. I am looking for some ideas straight for 550l's. I will post as many as I find when I can. They are just not followed with any information on exact fits. I do not have the space for welding just cleaning, replacing, and slight repairs. No garage and saying in an apartment complex does that to you. Oh by the way your pictures didn't come through. Let me know what you find.[/url]

[Donut]

I have a 79 550l and I hate the "cruiser" look also. So far I've changed the handlebar to more a standard bar(bought a bar off an old kawi behind a shop I went to..15$) Easy swap out.

I took off the grab rail behind the seat and mounted my rear turn signals to the piece that holds the tail light and liscense plate on.(big improvement, imo). Now the rear signals stick out about 3 in each side of my plate.

For the seat. I plan on buying a seat cover for a 79550e and cutting the foam pad( or replacing it) to fit the new cover. Should work but haven't tried it yet, planning on doing it this winter.


david

[jsuani]

I have been looking for straight swap ideas for more of a streetfighter look. I want at least dual disk up front and a rear that is wide enough for the road. The current rear tire size is not nice enough for me. I also want to change the grips to either clipons or another front ends straight swap. Let me know if you guys find some gs550 userfriendly websites or just some good pictures to go off of. Peace Duane.

[bexabarr]

I also like the streetfighter look, but I feel that a 550 might be a bit small for that type of bike. I like the seat idea, and if you get around to doing it let me know how it turns out. I already switched the handlebars? and that the tail lights idea seems like it will make a significant difference-

Any how, I would really like to know about the progress you guys make on your gs?, on the other hand I?m a bit short on cash now and probably won?t be able to get around to mine for a few months :x .

[jsuani]

Just some information that I found...

Here it is. It all can be done. And do not let anyone tell you otherwise. If you are curious and you want to do it, why not spend a little time looking for the right person that will guide you and not step on your dreams.

You can do it all. From placing a gsxr750 motor in a gs550l frame. Placing a sportbike front end and rear assembly on a gs550l. Restoring it to completely stock with the original parts. Adding a oil cooler to it, and even placing a 650 head, carbs and exhaust on your current stock bike. If you have a little time and some working skills, and a little change well go for it.

http://oldskoolsuzuki.info/index.htm?/cgi-bin/album/album.pl~main

Just copy and paste. This is only a picture but it gets you started. This happy owner started out with a 79 gs550l and look at it now. I have seen pics of gs bombers, gs streetfighters, to gs choppers. What is you flavor this year. Have fun and ride on. Duane.

[jsuani]

Added information...

Give it some time and go to the search engine and type in orange. The bikes full title is agent orange. He owns an rock band called that and his bike rocks is all I know so far. I like it. Have fun, Duane.

[kieron]

Hi there!

Long time to resurrect a post but strange I should just come across this. That bike your talking about, "Agent Orange", is mine :-D

I'm not in a band, Agent Orange is a band though from SoCal lead by Mike Palm, but the bike is named after them as seen on the original grey bodywork.






There is more info on it here if your interested and some photos of it's earlier guise here. If you want any info on the build or the component parts let me know.

Merry Christmas
Kieron

[badbrown]

I have an E and I made it look wore like an E. If I had an L I would keep the fender, bob the tail and seat pan, cut out 85% of the seat and recover it with black vynyl, and drop it with Suzuki savage rear shocks. You can still go with clip ons or dirtbike bars. The look you end up with is sport in front and bobber in back.