for GS550 owners only (80-82)

[satchmo]

Ryan,

I saw that exhaust on ebay and while I don't have the money for it, I'm wondering if a used Yosh for a 550 is worth $200??

Do you guys know how much they regularly go for?

Satch

[Anonymous]

i couldnt find the yosh you both mentioned. i did find "Suzuki GS550, gs 550 Exhaust KERKER header 79"

[AOD]

are you sure its not a new exhaust Satch? i saw it on ebay too.

i recently picked up another 'mysterious' brand exhaust like the one i have now. i got it for $40 and its in better shape then mine, so i can't go wrong i hope.

still waiting for it to come. originally i did not have a choice with my exhaust btw. i got the bike with the 4-1 on it.

~Adam

[Pete's GS]

Some things never change in motorcycling, and one of them is that there's no replacement for displacement. The easiest way to get your GS550 to wake up and run is to install a 610 or 630 kit from Megacycle (megacycle.com). Or, maybe, you could install GS650 pistons.

[first timer]

to give you a update pete the wiesco kit 610 and 630 are not made any more and mega cycle cams doen;t have any more,
( http://www.megacyclecams.com/catalog/page51.pdf ) but if you wanted to get really tricky you can get custom pistons made at $145 a pop. i would love to know if anyone knows anyone that has some of the 610/630 kits floating around they want to sell.

ryan

[HiSPL]

You could look around for a set of 29mm smoothbores. That or flatslides would give you a good boost. Port 'n' polish with a good exhaust. Bump up compression. Then buy another bike to ride around town on ....

I wouldn't go past the pipe, pods, and jets stage. Because you start sacrificing drivability for horsepower after that stage. Its a peppy little bike anyways. Keep it revved high and slam it through the corners and you won't have any problems with it.

Remember, anybody can turn the throttle on their new super litre widget bike.... But, it takes skill to go fast on a smaller bike.

[Pete's GS]

Ah, the 29mm Mikuni Smoothbores. They were wonderful, and I had them on a, ahem, CB750F that was one ol' bad boy. Too bad they're not made anymore though Sudco still carries parts. A lot of '70s and '80s UJMs just loved those carbs and they went like hell. Megacycle just sent me their catalog and the 610 and 630 kits were listed but I'll call and check.

[first timer]

they are listed but they just don't have any more and they don't make them any more is what i was told by a very very nice and helpful women at megacylce 2 thumbs up for service.
maybe you can have better luck

ryan

[Anonymous]

Hey ya fellas

thanks for all the tips and advice. I have started rebuilding my bike and things are going well.

since I am still waiting for my engine gasket kit, I decided to start with all the easy stuff. I Por-15'ed all the rust, rubberized the undersides of the fenders, and touched up the frame's paint. I got so excited that I even ground and buffed out all of the aluminum pieces to a brilliant shine.

I have been reviewing my service manual and all the tips and advice that you folks have offered to get ready to start on the engine and carbs next week or so...

so thanks a ton and wish me luck

van

[Anonymous]

Hey All..

Its been awhile since I've been on the forum..

To answer your original post.. I have a 1978 GS550 w/ pods, rejetted, Dyna 3 and a "no-name" 4-1 pipe I got off of eBay last year.

My GS550 was one that I rescued from a neighbors side yard, and worked with a new rider to restore it for her use. In the space of 1 year she managed to put 10,000 miles (actual mileage) on it riding up and down the west coast.

I haven't done much to it for about 4 months, but am going to probably give the carbs a methodical tune up... there's a little flakiness at 7/8 thottle.. and maybe upgrade the coils..

So there are mods out there, and eBay is a great place for parts.
Cheers, Tim

[Anonymous]

I finished my bike this june. i sync. the carbs put the tank and seat on and took it out for a test drive at 10:30pm. On the way back I missed a deer but hit two trees? so its back to the garage.

here are a few pics if your interested... just click on the thumnails...

http://www.personal.psu.edu/users/j/l/jlb661/suz.htm

van

[Anonymous]

well as it turns out the frame is bent along with the swing arm, rear wheel, handlebars, roll bar, etc...

so i wont be rebuilding it (not to confident i can straiten the frame).

i did buy a 550MZ with seized tranze and engine etc.. problems. then spent a good day swaping the engines/tranz, carbs, and a most of the elec. components, as well as going over the wiring and re-setting all the connections and grounds. and as fate would have it, it fired right up on the first push of the button.

now for some quick bodywork and i'll be back to the open road.

i really like the tank, seat, and such on the MZ better then the LT anyway. the other thing i really like is that no one else in America seems to have one. (i like driving autos that are unlike everyone elses)

in the future i have some big plans for the bike. so for anyone who cares i'll continue this post with pictures and updates in the future.

bottoms up
van

[Hoomgar]

Heck yeah Van, post them. There is one of these bikes very much like your L that sits right here in Manheim.

[GSJoe]

Damn, that looks almost like mine except it's in much nicer condition.

Unfortunately, none of the afformentioned mods are available for my particular year. I really wish that I could find a 4-1.

[Anonymous]

this is what it looks like now:

http://www.personal.psu.edu/users/j/l/jlb661/suz550mznow.htm

this is what it looks like stock:

http://www.personal.psu.edu/users/j/l/jlb661/suz550mzstock.htm

this is aprox. what i want it to look like in the future:

http://www.personal.psu.edu/users/j/l/jlb661/suz550mz.htm