First road bike - 1982 GS550L

[cdahl383]

Picked up a nice 1982 Suzuki GS550L last weekend. Runs good and it appears to be in great shape. Only 4800 miles on it.

This is my first road bike. I’ve been riding dirtbikes for 30 years, but never had a dedicated road/street bike. Sold one of my dirtbikes that I didn’t ride that often and picked this bike up. Just got the title transferred and plates/insurance for it last week. Took it for a few test rides and it’s a fun little bike!

I bought a set of stock bars for it as I’m not a fan of the shorter bars the previous owner had on it. I also picked up a couple new tires as the tires on it appear to be the originals!

Looking forward to riding the bike more and learning more about them on this forum!

[DimitriT]

I love my 550. I have over 60k miles on it and it runs great. I really like the period look white letter tires you have on it.

https://immortalsunited.com/s/6mzADf4YZ2Gf3d3

[cdahl383]

I love my 550. I have over 60k miles on it and it runs great. I really like the period look white letter tires you have on it.
https://immortalsunited.com/s/6mzADf4YZ2Gf3d3

Wow 60k miles! That's insane! Have you rebuilt the engine/trans yet or no?

I'd like to keep those tires but I just don't trust 42 year old tires. They don't have any cracks or dry rot on them, but the rubber is probably hardened up pretty good now after all those years. I'd feel a lot safer on some new tires.

[Nessism]

Wow 60k miles! That's insane! Have you rebuilt the engine/trans yet or no?

I'd like to keep those tires but I just don't trust 42 year old tires. They don't have any cracks or dry rot on them, but the rubber is probably hardened up pretty good now after all those years. I'd feel a lot safer on some new tires.

Replace those tires. They are too old.

There is a member here with something like 125k miles on an original GS550. GS bikes are tough. Biggest impediment to high mileage are people that don't do maintenance. Valve adjustment in particular.

[DimitriT]

Wow 60k miles! That's insane! Have you rebuilt the engine/trans yet or no?

I'd like to keep those tires but I just don't trust 42 year old tires. They don't have any cracks or dry rot on them, but the rubber is probably hardened up pretty good now after all those years. I'd feel a lot safer on some new tires.

The bottom end is untouched. The top end had new (used) cylinder sleeves and a new (used) valve head. The only reason I replaced these was because I cross threaded a spark plug and stripped the threads. I tried inserts but eventually found a great deal on a replacement head. I also blew a piston once due to a carb problem and re-sleeved it when I had it apart. I can say that the bike has always brough me home.

I have a GW250 and a GSX750F but I will probably let those go before the 550. And it was my first road bike as well.

Yea replace the tires.

[rphillips]

I apologize up front and apologize for asking. I'm unfamiliar with the term "blew a piston"... What happened to that piston?

[DimitriT]

I apologize up front and apologize for asking. I'm unfamiliar with the term "blew a piston"... What happened to that piston?

The carb was dirty and wasn't delivering enough fuel. I had it wide open throttle and it burned a hole in the piston.

[rphillips]

Thought that might be it, around here we've always called it burnt (burned) a piston. Blew a piston just seemed maybe more serious

[rphillips]

cdahl, giving you a big WELCOME, and congrats on getting out of the dirt and up to a real bike. I don't like the bars too low either. Did you get stock "L" bars or just stock 550 standard bars? You're familiar with bikes, so I'll be interesting your opinion of the "L" bars, if that's what you got, after you ride with them for a while.