Name that BIKE!

[jager1313]

So I have been looking at pictures of my bike on sites like bikez.com and the specs for it as well. All these sites say that an '81 GS550L has dual front disc brakes.

I purchased my bike thinking it was an '81 GS550L but it only has a single front disc. What does this mean? What am I riding around telling people I have? I feel like I dont know myself at all... Who am I...

So please, help me out, and Name That BIKE!!

[Nessism]

US model first generation, 8 valve, GS550's all have one disc. Many other countries got dual, mostly for the E model, but not in the US. Exception is the 550M Katana model.

[brveagle]

does your bike have a kickstart?

easiest way to tell if it's a first gen or 2nd gen 550

[Nessism]

does your bike have a kickstart?

easiest way to tell if it's a first gen or 2nd gen 550

To me, all the 8 valve engines are first generation - '77 - '83?

Edit: now that I think about it the 550M (Katana) had dual discs...not on an L model though.

[DanTheMan]

What am I riding around telling people I have? I feel like I dont know myself at all... Who am I...

So please, help me out,......

Does where did I leave my keys and who is this "lady" in my bed go with those questions??????:-D\\/

[Griffin]

After perusing my old Suzuki sales brochures, here's the breakdown on front brakes on USA GS550 models:

ALL GS550 models (E, L, & T) through 1981 had a single disc up front.

In 1982, the only GS550 models available were the L (still single disc), and the M (Katana). The M has dual discs up front.

In 1983, the four valve per cylinder GS550 was introduced in E, ES, and L configurations. These models were continued (with the exception of 1984, when only the ES was available) through 1986. All '83-'86 E and ES 550s had dual front discs. The L still only had a single front disc.

I hope that clears this up. If you post a picture of your bike, I'm sure we'll be able to tell you immediately what it is.