Honda guy with a Suzuki: GS550 project

[dorkburger]

Nce work on the previous projects. Welcome to the GS fun house.

[Scott S]

That red paint is not factory. Side covers are supposed to be painted tank/tail color and have pinstriping. You can look up this sort of detail in the parts fishe at partzilla or alpha sports.

It will most likely be a resto-custom, so I'm not too concerned with correctness.

I read your "newbies" post and have found the online manuals. I use the parts fiche to cross reference parts, but they often don't show color or stripe differences.

I'll do my research but I'm still gonna ask questions! The good news is, I can take advice and follow directions.

I think the GS is handsome and I'm looking forward to learning about it.

[Nessism]

It will most likely be a resto-custom, so I'm not too concerned with correctness.

I read your "newbies" post and have found the online manuals. I use the parts fiche to cross reference parts, but they often don't show color or stripe differences.

In the Suzuki parts fishe you can look up things like the fuel tank P/N and when you see a third - number such as XXXXX-XXXXX-ABC the ABC part references a color code. In later years though Suzuki superseded some part numbers with only one part number with the understanding that the user would have to repaint. It can get a bit consuming. Alpha Sports fishe is one of the better ones since it shows the older p/n's most of the time so you can judge supersession.

[Stuarth]

I think you need to add a Hawk GT to the stable as well...

[nvr2old]

You can see in my signature that, I, too, am a Honda guy. The one thing I noticed almost immediately when I started on my GS1000, was how easy everything came apart and went back together. That bike changed the way I thought about other brands. One of the best decisions I ever made. I still love my Hondas, but now have a whole new appreciation for Suzuki engineering.

[Scott S]

Sprayed some engine degreaser on it and hosed it off today. It was a bit oily and I noticed some black rubber goop around the valve cover gasket.
Can you do the top end in the frame or does the engine have to come out? Can I do head and possibly base gasket without pulling the engine?

I also noticed a pretty bad dent in the #1 pipe.....dang it!

[nvr2old]

The engine comes out easily. I look at your other bikes and would think you'd want to do that if for no other reason then cleaning and painting the parts once it's out. You do nice work, you'll thank yourself for pulling it.

[steve murdoch]

Love the mufflers on the CB500, similar to the early GP bikes.
41mm front end?
Got the brother to your S90.

[Scott S]

Love the mufflers on the CB500, similar to the early GP bikes.
41mm front end?
Got the brother to your S90.

The mufflers are hand made in Spain. They mimic the race pipes Honda (and Bennelli and others) used in the '60's. I believe the R6 front end is 43mm.

[Snowman550]

Scott
Looks like yours is a 1980 The carbs are CV Type carbs

[Scott S]

Yeah, someone pointed that out. I'm still learning a out the GS series.

[Scott S]

Found a good, used wiring harness and RH control for $36 shipped. WAY better than spending time trying to figure out the mess I have now!

I've pretty much decided to pull the engine (after I get done with my CT70 project) and go through the top end. Just check it out, re-seal it, lap the valves. Hopefully, a hone and maybe new rings will do the job on the cylinders.
It has 36K on it and was quite oily. That would drive me nuts.

What do the GS people think about the Cruzin Image kits? They have a pretty good reputation in the Honda world.

[Nessism]

Don't think Cruzin Image makes a GS550 kit. With only 36k on that engine it shouldn't need a bore job anyway unless it's got corrosion or someone ran the engine out of oil. Those engines will push 100k miles with decent care.

OEM gaskets are best when you get to that point. A lot of guys don't believe this and/or don't want to spend the money only to get burned later.

[Scott S]

Actually, they do....in stock, .50 and 1.00 over. Hopefully, I can just clean everything up and be fine.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/77-79-SUZUKI-GS550-STANDARD-SIZE-PISTONS-SET-56-00mm-10-GS550APS/162643884653?epid=2201631002&hash=item25de54ba6d:g:P4EAAOSwio1Znmw3&vxp=mtr

Suzuki gasket over a Vesrah kit and the like?

[Nessism]

Actually, they do....in stock, .50 and 1.00 over. Hopefully, I can just clean everything up and be fine.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/77-79-SUZUKI-GS550-STANDARD-SIZE-PISTONS-SET-56-00mm-10-GS550APS/162643884653?epid=2201631002&hash=item25de54ba6d:g:P4EAAOSwio1Znmw3&vxp=mtr

Suzuki gasket over a Vesrah kit and the like?

Ah, I stand corrected on the pistons. I searched but came up empty for some reason... Still, I wouldn't go that way unless the bores measure poorly they way they are now.

Vesrah gasket kits inferior to the OEM gaskets, but some people use them anyway and live to tell about it. Others get leaks. Use at your own risk. They are better than Athenia anyway.