1981 Kawasaki GPz550: Restoration

[Big T]

Nice score on that 82
Check your pms

[srsupertrap]

Dang. That pipe alone is worth way more then the cost of the bike. Nicely done. This bike is gonna be SO cool. Love the style of wheels on these bikes, painted a magnesium gold, they'd look like a pair of Morris wheels.

Check this out . . . . 1982-83 NOS GPz550 Bassani system which recently sold on EBay for $475. Everyone was watching on the GPz550 forum it was bid up to $650 before sliding back to final price

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VTG-NOS-Bassani-Superbike-82-83-Kawasaki-GPZ550-Exhaust-Muffler-Racing-Pipe-4in1-/291300508069?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash =item43d2dd01a5&vxp=mtr

[srsupertrap]

Nice pick up Steve. Guess you don't have enough to do.

Learned something today which may serve you as well: the valve cover on my 750 has a rub block for the cam chain, and when you install the cover it contacts and deflects the chain. Your 550 has a similar rub block in the valve cover so you may want to check to see if the block depresses the chain between the cams like it does on the 750. In order to degree the cams on a 750 you need a cutaway valve cover to avoid upsetting the timing when the cover is installed. Hope this is not the case for the 550 but wanted to share.

Ed,
Thanks for the information. Corey Clough the GPz550 forum administrator ( who has almost as many posts ) mentioned the same and posted some pictures of his cutaway valve cover. I did not not follow that procedure when I timed the cams. I did replace the cam chain, cam chain guides including the rub block in the valve cover and that rub block barely showed any signs of wear/contact. Since I had new OEM parts as a matter of principle I replaced it and the rest of them. Now I don't believe my cam chain was ever running tight considering how the PO modified the original cam chain tensioner ( the bolt he installed was not seated against the rear cam chain guide ).

I learned the following from Loudhvx which is most likely applicable to your KZ750 cam chain tensioner if its a "wedge type" cam chain tensioner. I didn't double check yours but Kawasaki just like Suzuki shared many parts across models. When you removed the GPz550 cam chain tensioner there is no screw like a GS tensioner which holds the plunger in place and the result is the plunger moves all the way forward taking up all the excess cam chain slack. Install the GPz550/KZ750 cam chain tensioner in that position against your new cam chain and your cam chain will stretch in short order because its exerting maximum pressure.

The correct way to install the GPz550 wedge type cam chain tensioner is to first break loose that 17mm nut that is perpendicular to the cam chain housing. Remove the internal wedge & spring. Next install the cam chain tensioner housing to the cylinder block with the main plunger. Secure the housing with the 10 mm bolts. Install the valve cover then finally installed the wedge, spring & cylindrical cover. The inserted Pdf states it better. When I was fiddling with the GPz550 cam chain tensioner on the bench I could not get the cam chain plunger to retract no matter what force I exerted. In other words the GPz/Kz wedge type cam chain tensioner is designed to extend but never retract.

http://home.comcast.net/~loudgpz/GPZweb/CamsKZZXZR550500400/CamsKZZXZR550500400.html

[srsupertrap]

Purchased this GPz gas tank on EBay last week. No perfect but better


Its dented by the emblem front screw hole







This needs help?

[srsupertrap]

4/12/15: S/B ready to start




Not too much space between header & oil pan

[JEEPRUSTY]

so start it already...............
it looks fabulous

[JEEPRUSTY]

got a line on a clean 82
do no tlike em as much as the 81
sort of stuck in the middle of old school and repli-racer

[srsupertrap]

got a line on a clean 82
do no tlike em as much as the 81
sort of stuck in the middle of old school and repli-racer

Most say the 82/83 H-1/2 models were considered the best GPz550 models produced. If you can a good deal on the 82 go for it you can always flip it. 81 has roots in 70s

[Mr.Mom]

So are you riding it yet...? Hello...anyone there...

[srsupertrap]

I sat out the 2015 season sidelined with a rotator cuff tear which required surgery back in October. I can say you loose interest in motorcycles when you cannot lift your arm Just before I went in for surgery I sent out the entire set of Gpz bodywork to get repainted with an old codger on the south side. I will post pics when they return, hopefully worth the wait.

[kingofvenus]

I was rearended on my then two month old ES by one of those. Looks really nice.

[Nessism]

I sat out the 2015 season sidelined with a rotator cuff tear which required surgery back in October. I can say you loose interest in motorcycles when you cannot lift your arm Just before I went in for surgery I sent out the entire set of Gpz bodywork to get repainted with an old codger on the south side. I will post pics when they return, hopefully worth the wait.

Fresh tin work will be icing on the cake! Can't wait for some new photos...and a video showing the first start!

[srsupertrap]

Finally found an original 81 GPz550 seat, I flipped a Honda ST1100 bag I found on C/list last year for a song and it turned into




a sought after GPz550 seat. Very similar to GS1000 C & E seats but lot smaller.







This was Jeff Tuttobene's GPz550 seat. I ran across his Ebay listing for a set of those Mikuni 27 S/B's and decided to send him an email. Jeff was sponsored by Pops Yoshimura in the 550 1980 AFM box stock and superstreet classes back in the 1980s, raced Willow Springs and still has a trick 81 GPz. After a couple of conversations, he was willing to depart with his original seat . . . Thx Jeff


PS: Are we limited to number of Pics we can insert? I keep getting error messages . . . doing something wrong!

[Nessism]

Nice seat Steve. Now where is that ride report?

You gonna do the easy or firm break in method?

[srsupertrap]

Ed,
I still have to figure the why the headlamp indicator light is "On" when the headlight is functioning properly. Jeff Tuttobene suggested/told me I am missing a ground connection which makes sense. . . .just gotta find it. To answer your question, I will break it in quick in the garage. IF it carburets and accepts throttle, I will blip it between 2.5 - 4K in the garage I will put a fan in front of it too keep things cool.

Woohoo parts back from the painter, picked up in the rain so kinda blotchy. Moving forward though