1978 gs550E

[crc1214]

Anybody know by chance approx. how many GS550E's were made in the 1978 model year?

It is my understanding that they started production in August of 78, then after December switched to the 79 model.

If so, is this considered a bit of a rare bike?

[Hoomgar]

As usual I don't know the answer to the question but like to pipe up amd put my two cents in anyway
I don't know about it being a rare bike but I know it is a nice one. I like the stocky larger bike look it has over the newer models.

Here is a picture of one of the 79 models on my website that belongs to fellow forum member Dineke.

[Anonymous]

hey that looks like my bike

when did they start putting mag wheels on?

[Anonymous]

I believe the mag wheels were first available on the 79 models.

[Dark Jedi]

I would second that guess. My '79 had mags, the 78 parts bike did not.

I liked the look of the mags better. So did the guy who bought the bike.

[crc1214]

All the web sites and literature I have read indicate that the mags were available first on the 78 bikes, about mid-way into the year. I forget the specific website, but type in "gs550 year by year" in a search engine page and the website should be the first one listed.

Some of the models pictured are not the ones that were made for the US (like my GS550E, it shows with dual disk brakes at the front, when infact the gs550E's made for the US that year were the "economy models" and only had a single disk brake at the front), but it does contain information on when the mag wheels first were available (my 78 does have mags on it)

The website is great for pictures of bikes to put up on your computer too.