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Mid 80s 550cc proto sport bikes

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    #16
    what are the specs? gsx550 vs gs550 is a meaningless moniker.
    1983 GS 550 LD
    2009 BMW K1300s

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      #17
      My first street bike as an '82 GPz 550. Awesome bike. I lusted after the Interceptor but ended up with A Ninja 600 before getting a VF1000R.

      You left out the RZ350. It was a legitimate contender. I had two of those, one with a massively modded Banshee motor in it.
      "Thought he, it is a wicked world in all meridians; I'll die a pagan."
      ~Herman Melville

      2016 1200 Superlow
      1982 CB900f

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        #18
        I preferred the ergonomics of my '85 (?) GPz550 over my current '83 GS550. Maybe it's the foggy memory of 30 years ago (or a more lithe body), but my lower body feels very cramped on the GS. However, I did ride my friend's GS550EF back in the day, and I recall thinking the same thing.

        I sold the GPz to a friend after a few seasons, and apparently it seized awhile after that...

        The RZ350 is a more appropriate comparison than the 500 two-strokes, and would be my choice among them for a canyon burner or track bike.
        '83 GS650G
        '83 GS550es (didn't like the colours in the 80's, but they've grown on me)

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          #19
          It is odd that two bikes with close ergonomics can be so different to different riders.
          I have a friend who hates his concours cos it hurts his precious special areas.
          He is a tall freak though.
          1983 GS 550 LD
          2009 BMW K1300s

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            #20
            Originally posted by BigD_83 View Post
            I preferred the ergonomics of my '85 (?) GPz550 over my current '83 GS550. Maybe it's the foggy memory of 30 years ago (or a more lithe body), but my lower body feels very cramped on the GS. However, I did ride my friend's GS550EF back in the day, and I recall thinking the same thing.
            The position of the foot pegs probably the cause. The GS550 pegs are forward for peg in center of sole casual upright sitting, and the 85 GPz550 pegs are set back with peg under toes for intense sport riding.
            "Only fe' collected the old way, has any value." from His Majesty O'Keefe (1954 film)
            1982 GS1100G- road bike, body, seat and suspension modded
            1990 GSX750F-(1127cc '92 GSXR engine) track bike, much re-engineered
            1987 Honda CBR600F Hurricane; hooligan bike, restored

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              #21
              Had a couple of GPz550s but my favourite mid size bike was a Yamaha YX600 Radian like this...

              1986_YX600_Radian.jpg

              Same motor as the xJ600 and overall a great little package.
              The continuing renovation of a GS850L

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                #22
                GREAT choice, Cyrano-and the one of all of them that has enduring beauty. Nearly perfect to ride once you firmed up the suspension.
                "Thought he, it is a wicked world in all meridians; I'll die a pagan."
                ~Herman Melville

                2016 1200 Superlow
                1982 CB900f

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                  #23
                  I voted for the GPZ550 and the FJ600.

                  The FJ, although introduced at the end of the air cooled era, smoked all the other middleweights when introduced in '84 and instantly made the GPZ550 and monoshock GS550 obsolete on the track. It was still winning races in '85 and '86 because the water cooled 600 Ninja wasn't as easy to hot rod as the FJ.

                  It also was very comfy. It handled as well as the other middleweights of the era, but didn't have the toy bike feel ergonomics-wise that the others did.
                  sigpic

                  SUZUKI:
                  1978 GS1000E; 1980 GS1000G; 1982 GS650E; 1982 GS1100G; 1982 GS1100E; 1985 GS700ES
                  HONDA: 1981 CB900F Super Sport
                  KAWASAKI: 1981 KZ550A-2; 1984 ZX750A-2 (aka GPZ750); 1984 KZ700A-1
                  YAMAHA: 1983 XJ750RK Seca

                  Free speech is the foundation of an open society. Each time a society bans a word or phrase it deems “offensive”, it chips away at that very foundation upon which it was built.

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                    #24
                    Originally posted by Griffin View Post
                    I voted for the GPZ550 and the FJ600.

                    The FJ, although introduced at the end of the air cooled era, smoked all the other middleweights when introduced in '84 and instantly made the GPZ550 and monoshock GS550 obsolete on the track. It was still winning races in '85 and '86 because the water cooled 600 Ninja wasn't as easy to hot rod as the FJ.

                    It also was very comfy. It handled as well as the other middleweights of the era, but didn't have the toy bike feel ergonomics-wise that the others did.
                    I remember watching the middleweight race class at Willowspring's and the field was filled with FJ600's. They were durable bikes too.
                    Ed

                    To measure is to know.

                    Mikuni O-ring Kits For Sale...https://www.thegsresources.com/_foru...ts#post1703182

                    Top Newbie Mistakes thread...http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...d.php?t=171846

                    Carb rebuild tutorial...https://gsarchive.bwringer.com/mtsac...d_Tutorial.pdf

                    KZ750E Rebuild Thread...http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...0-Resurrection

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                      #25
                      Originally posted by Nessism View Post
                      I remember watching the middleweight race class at Willowspring's and the field was filled with FJ600's. They were durable bikes too.
                      The engine was basically a punched out XJ550 Seca engine, with an up to date monoshock chassis.

                      Hot rodders would put the original 550 cams in it for more top end punch, then install XJ750 carbs with 750 valves in the head to make them fly.
                      sigpic

                      SUZUKI:
                      1978 GS1000E; 1980 GS1000G; 1982 GS650E; 1982 GS1100G; 1982 GS1100E; 1985 GS700ES
                      HONDA: 1981 CB900F Super Sport
                      KAWASAKI: 1981 KZ550A-2; 1984 ZX750A-2 (aka GPZ750); 1984 KZ700A-1
                      YAMAHA: 1983 XJ750RK Seca

                      Free speech is the foundation of an open society. Each time a society bans a word or phrase it deems “offensive”, it chips away at that very foundation upon which it was built.

                      Comment


                        #26
                        Speaking of which, somewhat relatedly, there is a pretty clean Seca 650 for sale here in town. Nice little bikes.
                        "Thought he, it is a wicked world in all meridians; I'll die a pagan."
                        ~Herman Melville

                        2016 1200 Superlow
                        1982 CB900f

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                          #27
                          Originally posted by GS1150Pilot View Post
                          Speaking of which, somewhat relatedly, there is a pretty clean Seca 650 for sale here in town. Nice little bikes.
                          I like them greatly. Either a 650 or 900 Seca are on my want list. No Yammies in the garage right now.
                          sigpic

                          SUZUKI:
                          1978 GS1000E; 1980 GS1000G; 1982 GS650E; 1982 GS1100G; 1982 GS1100E; 1985 GS700ES
                          HONDA: 1981 CB900F Super Sport
                          KAWASAKI: 1981 KZ550A-2; 1984 ZX750A-2 (aka GPZ750); 1984 KZ700A-1
                          YAMAHA: 1983 XJ750RK Seca

                          Free speech is the foundation of an open society. Each time a society bans a word or phrase it deems “offensive”, it chips away at that very foundation upon which it was built.

                          Comment


                            #28
                            The 900 is very high on my wishlist.
                            "Thought he, it is a wicked world in all meridians; I'll die a pagan."
                            ~Herman Melville

                            2016 1200 Superlow
                            1982 CB900f

                            Comment


                              #29
                              I've toured with a Honda CB350 K1, a Yamaha TX500, a BMW R75/6,& a couple of honda CXs. Of them all I preferred the CB 350. A lot of my riding was on dirt back roads & the comparitively light weight of the 350 was handy. Only downsides were the voltage regulator & lousy front brake. The beemer was fine for high speed stuff but not all that comfortable until you got over about 120km/hr. The CX 500 was fun & handled both dirt & main roads well, was even ridden off road a few times , the CX650 was more relaxed but not as much fun.

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                                #30
                                I had a VF500 and loved it. Id buy another but they don't show up for sale (at a price I can afford) around here very often.
                                1982 GS1100E "Jolene"

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