My 550 has 650 engine.. how do i tell the year?

[Anonymous]

I just noticed my engine says GS650 - and some numbers after it.. can i tell the year from this?

Thanks

[TheBigRed]

Re: My 550 has 650 engine.. how do i tell the year?

I just noticed my engine says GS650 - and some numbers after it.. can i tell the year from this?

Thanks

Hmm.. now I know it can be done. What year and model is your "550"?

I'm not sure, best bet is to find somewhere (good luck) that lists serial numbers of engines made during specific years. I've tried, but not suceeded.

Amos

[HiSPL]

Does this bike have a shaft drive or a chain? Some pictures would be a great help. Usually the model # and year of production is stamped on the head tube There is a sticker there with the same stuff but it usually rots away.

HTH,
-=Tim=-

[TheBigRed]

Does this bike have a shaft drive or a chain? Some pictures would be a great help. Usually the model # and year of production is stamped on the head tube There is a sticker there with the same stuff but it usually rots away.

HTH,
-=Tim=-

I see where you are headed with this Tim, however remember that they did make chain drive 650's for 2 years here in the US, the 1981 and 1982 GS650E was a chain drive. Also (though I very much doubt this is the case) there was the GR650 which was a 2 cylinder 650 engine.

Amos

[Anonymous]

engine

the bike is a GS550MZ Katana. When i get home I will take some pics..

[TheBigRed]

Re: engine

the bike is a GS550MZ Katana. When i get home I will take some pics..

Ok, perhaps my idea wont' work then.

I've got a 1981 550T frame and may shortly have a spare 650 engine.. but the fame for the Kat is different..

Amos

[first timer]

how many speed is it, i have heard of people pulling 550 jugs and heads and swaping 650 jugs and head to get a 6 speed 650, hmmmmm....

you can also look at the front of the jugs on the left that will tell you the cc's and look at the steering head that will tell you the type of bike too it would say like gs650 or gs550. maybe someone just swaped 550 side panels on it.


-ryan

[Anonymous]

chain drive

ok to answer a few q's. It is chain drive.. the head on the bike says 550 but the lower half of the engine says 650. Not sure on how many gears i believe it has 6. Electronic Igniton if that helps.. it has 4 CV carbs 4 cylinders.. I will get a better look after work.

Thanks for your input

[first timer]

this is the jugs, they have a cc number cast onto it on the lower left side of the jug

this is the head, i was not aware that the head had any numbers cast onto it.

this is the crank case there is a plate by #5 that has a number engraved into it there gsxxxx -xxxx

hope this helps, try to go through all the gears, 550's have 6 gears 650's only 5 gears. i think a 650 kat model or the m model was shaft driven, if so then this could be a 550 kat with a 550 crankcase and 650 jugs and pistons. if that is the case keep an eye on the bike because someone wanted to build a bike for pushing hard and racing hopefully the motor isn't to beat up.

-ryan

[Anonymous]

sorry im new to motor cycles.. by head i meant up by the steering printed on a sticker..

[DMPLATT]

Look on the left side, just above the stator cover (the cover above the gear shifter). There should be some cast numbers on it. Not ON the stator cover, but on the engine just above the stator cover

Mine, for example, has cast numbers of : 747 cm3. Thats for a 750.

[Eliseo Monteverde]

My 650 Kat is a 5 speed shaft driven engine.
Behind cilinder #4 (from left to right, if you?re ON the bike),has cast numbers of : 673 cm3.
Above the cluth cover (not ON the stator cover,but on the engine case)it?s the engine number wich starts with GS 650 G (G; is for shaft drive).

Hope this helps.



Eliseo.

[Anonymous]

more info

Ok, the crankcase says GS650, the juggs say 673. The gearbox cover shows 6 gears but that may have been changed.. The bike is not running at the moment so its hard for me to count the gears. However the mufflers say 550 on them I am going to tear down the carbs and check the jets hopefully its jetted for 650

I guess the best question is how many years did they make 650 chain drives?

[TheBigRed]

Re: more info

Ok, the crankcase says GS650, the juggs say 673. The gearbox cover shows 6 gears but that may have been changed.. The bike is not running at the moment so its hard for me to count the gears. However the mufflers say 550 on them I am going to tear down the carbs and check the jets hopefully its jetted for 650

I guess the best question is how many years did they make 650 chain drives?

The answer to that question would be yes.

In 81 and 82 they had the 650E model which was in fact a chain driven 650 bike. I have one sitting on my porch right now. (unfortunately looked like rain today so I didn't ride to work.)

So it seems someone put a 650 into your 550 Kat frame. (and yes the gearbox cover may have been changed, though the 550 ones would have the workings for the clutch pushrod in them)

Amos

[AOD]

they made a 650 Katana? or are you just calling it that?

somed00d, what is the VIN on the frame of your bike?