'79 GS550. Almost done.

[Gumbo76]

So I have almost completed my GS Flat Tracker Project. I have been driving it around for the last month and a half. I am finding it so hard to get off the damned thing and finish it!

Anyway, I have put in a lot of time with this bike. I have done mostly appearance Mods, with some performance maintenance forthcoming. I thought I would post a couple of pics so that you all can have a look. Let me know what you think. I’d be interested in hearing different opinions. This bike is so much fun to ride!

Thanks for looking! And for your feedback!

-Gumbo

[Gumbo76]

The Befores

[spyug]

From one Tracker builder to another very nicely done Mr.G.

I would not have thought a 4 banger would look right as a tracker or cafe but it turned out quite sweet. The only criticism I have is that the mufflers are a tad long. I always feel that you should be able to see the hub of the back wheel.......but maybe that's just me.

How do you like the bar end mirrors? Can you see anything with them? I had napoleons I was going to put on mine but I never got around to it.

What else are you going to do?

More pics as you go along please and enjoy the fruits of your labour

Cheers,
Spyug

[oshanac]

Nice bike! I'm with Spyug, change the exhaust to something flat trackerish and you'll strike gold!

[Bad Kaw]

Nice stuff!
-KR

[Gumbo76]

From one Tracker builder to another very nicely done Mr.G.

I would not have thought a 4 banger would look right as a tracker or cafe but it turned out quite sweet. The only criticism I have is that the mufflers are a tad long. I always feel that you should be able to see the hub of the back wheel.......but maybe that's just me.

Thanks a bunch! I agree with you on the Exhaust. I plan on getting a free flowing 4-1. Probably not until the end of this season though. For now I just want to ride! I figure a 4-1 on the right side would look mint! I also agree with the shorter look so you can see the hub. I am thinking of getting something shorter and something that points upward a bit. I've got time.

How do you like the bar end mirrors? Can you see anything with them? I had napoleons I was going to put on mine but I never got around to it.

The bar end mirrors took about two rides to get used to. I had a different set that basically attached to the end and it was hard to see beyond my elbows. My bars are about 2-3 inches shorter on each side compared to the stock. But I found these at a Bicycle shop. About 15 bucks a piece. They are mint! Out and Up. Gets me enough space to see around my elbows. I'm a big guy so there is a lot to get around! LOL!

What else are you going to do?

Well, like it states in my title, Almost done. I still need to repaint the rear seat/fender. I was putting clear coat on it, and it fell off my rack into a pile of dust! Ugh! You can only imagine the cuss words coming out of my mouth! LOL! So I need to start over. Also, my left side cover didn't get shipped in time for the designated Paint Booth time, so I still need to paint that and get my Vinyl Number on that too.

I also have some details to clean up. I had to fabricate the brackets for the Dual to Single Gauge and need to paint those up. I need to clean up the wiring for my Dummy LED's... I'll post a pic. I fabbed an aluminum Plate and put four LEDs in for my blinker signals and my Oil Pressure indicator as well as my High Beam indicator. (Friggin' Laws).

I am also going to get a different speedo. I want to get one of the Speedos that had the gauges separate from the center dummy box. They have Chrome bucket the sit in. I want to get one of these and paint the bucket red. Not sure. May just leave it or paint it black.

Other than these few things, I have only regular maintenance to do. I bought the bike in October, and spent the entire winter with my buddies wrenching. So much fun! I can't believe I was able to pull off the Tracker look. I mean, I can believe it, but for my first build, I am very very very happy with it.

More pics as you go along please and enjoy the fruits of your labour

Cheers,
Spyug

There will be more pics as I finish up the details. Thanks again for the support and the encouragement. I really wanted to do something different, and I have never seen a flat tracker in Maine. I figured that was it. I'm doin' it! My first day out, I pulled into a gas station and some guy came into the parking lot and started asking me questions about it. He said he turned around just to chat with me about it. He was like, "It looks like one of those old dirt track racing bikes!" I was stoked!

I went blank just for that reason. I wanted people to ask me what it was! It worked perfect! Keep 'em guessing!

[Gumbo76]

LED Plate

Oh yeah, I forgot to show you guys the plate I made up from a two inch wide piece of aluminum. I cut out the key notch, and just bolted in on top of the handlebar brackets. Polished it up. It's not perfect, but it looks pretty sweet. especially at night.

[feelergaugephil]

For me, the 550 is the best bike! I had a 79 550 in UK many years ago, I rode that bike for 80,000 miles, and all what went wrong was piston rings wore out and camchain, once replaced, it ran as strong as ever.
I own a 1000G and would have another 550 in a heartbeat.
Nice work you have done sir......

[feelergaugephil]

ps............. look into getting a Harris 4 into 1 pipe, UK based company,kind of expensive with the exchange rate BUT well worth it, I'll post a pic next of mine....

[feelergaugephil]

[Gumbo76]

Harris 4-1

Feeler, that looks pretty sweet! Do they only sell those across the pond?

[feelergaugephil]

Feeler, that looks pretty sweet! Do they only sell those across the pond?

Yes, only in UK.
Marving also do a nice system, www.exactrep.co.uk