Howdy from NH!

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  • XJlimitedx99
    • Feb 2026
    #1

    Howdy from NH!

    Why hello there!
    My name is Mitchell, I'm 19y.o. from New Hampshire, and this is my first time on the forum. Last year I scooped up a 1985 gs 550e with 25k that was for sale in somebody's yard down the street for me. I paid $800 for it. It had new tires and brakes when I got it. I replaced the fork seals, stator, intake boots, and had a shop go through the carbs for me. Every time I ride this bike I fall in love with it more!

    Now if only I could figure out how to upload a picture from my iphone...
    Tags: None
    • 850 Combat
      Forum Guru
      Past Site Supporter
      • Sep 2006
      • 6018
      • Spokane, WA, and Hampden, ME
      #2
      Great bike in its day. The first 550 to run low 12 second quarter miles, as I recall. Its a cool bike, even though most people don't know it. Kind of a secret. Enjoy the heck out of it, and welcome. in '83, Cycle World tested the 550ES and ran 12.39 at 105.75. Top speed in a half mile was 124 mph. By any standard, that is not slow. They don't have much of a fpllowing, but in my opinion, they should. They could spank a GPZ550, but the GPZ gets all the glory.
      sigpic Too old, too many bikes, too many cars, too many things

        Comment

        • XJlimitedx99
          #3
          Originally posted by 850 Combat
          Great bike in its day. The first 550 to run low 12 second quarter miles, as I recall. Its a cool bike, even though most people don't know it. Kind of a secret. Enjoy the heck out of it, and welcome. in '83, Cycle World tested the 550ES and ran 12.39 at 105.75. Top speed in a half mile was 124 mph. By any standard, that is not slow. They don't have much of a fpllowing, but in my opinion, they should. They could spank a GPZ550, but the GPZ gets all the glory.
          Haha don't tell me how fast it goes! It goes fast enough, that's all. I really enjoy how quick it is and how high the redline is. Above 6k it screams (for a 550)

            Comment

            • BigD_83
              Forum Sage
              Past Site Supporter
              • May 2011
              • 4872
              • Vancouver
              #4
              The biggest issue with this series is the ignitor. Keep your fingers crossed it doesn't crap out on you. Hard to source, and expensive when found NOS. The other issue I have seen is the seat leaves a little to be desired for people not much heavier than me (165lb soaking wet)

              I enjoy my 550es. It's been a hoot, but I don't have it on the road this year due to the high cost of insurance here. Hopefully, that will soon be remedied as I am about to get a new-to-me left side panel (complete with fuel door that the 84-86 didn't have) which will complete the graphics package and allow me to register it as a collector (along with my 650 when I recover the seat)

              Uploading from phone = difficult. I use links to Photobucket when necessary
              '83 GS650G
              '83 GS550es (didn't like the colours in the 80's, but they've grown on me)

                Comment

                • Bluepunk18
                  #5
                  Welcome to the group, from another NH-ite!

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