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Afternoon Ride in CO

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    Afternoon Ride in CO

    So today I took the bike out for a long drive with the intention of running out of gas so I can see how big the tank really was. Unfortunately, I didn't get to the out of gas part but did have a good 140 mile ride (filled up at 109 as I was pretty much back home anyway). When I filled up I only put in 2.655 gallons and I didn't hear much else in the tank so I think my Clymers and everything else I am seeing is totally wrong on the size of the tank I have (Clymers says I have a 4.2 gallon but the L model had a 3.2 gallon so I don't know.

    Either way, I took some pictures here and thought I would share. Here I am topping off the tank at my local gas station (the one 10 miles from the house) before leaving:



    When I walked out after getting my change from filling up I saw this parked at the diesel island; a 1927 Ford Pickup fully running and being restored. The 80 year old man who bought it has a Honda Goldwing Trike for him and his wife.



    Took off down the road to catch the Elbert Hwy that runs up to Elbert CO and Kiowa CO. After running through a couple of small twisty sections, I took this picture. None of these were anything like what you folks out east have but at least they were something I could get started on.



    This barn is the one I want to have when I finally retire for good. It's one heck of a nice setup and I think they must have several hundred acres behind it and on both sides of the hwy.



    When I take this route in the truck we are normally in a bit of a hurry so I don't get to stop to do much looking. Today, I pulled off in Elizabeth CO and looked at the old town section. Here's Main St.



    A section house from an old railroad; it's the only one remaining.





    On the way back into town I just had to have this picture of Pikes Peak. Didn't rain on me but sure looked like it might.



    All in all it was a good day. Finished up at home and then took the horses out for a short ride with the eldest.

    Thanks for looking
    Cowboy Up or Quit. - Run Free Lou and Rest in Peace

    1981 GS550T - My First
    1981 GS550L - My Eldest Daughter's - Now Sold
    2007 GSF1250SA Bandit - My touring bike

    Sit tall in the saddle Hold your head up high
    Keep your eyes fixed where the trail meets the sky and live like you ain't afraid to die
    and don't be scared, just enjoy your ride - Chris Ledoux, "The Ride"

    #2
    What a great day and place for a ride! I love the sky in the Pike's peak shot, thanks for posting.
    "Men will never be free until Mark learns to do The Twist."

    -Denis D'shaker

    79 GS750N

    Comment


      #3
      Great pictures! Looks like a fun ride. I simply love looking at mountains in the distance, even when they aren't the size of Pike's Peak. That's a fantastic view. How far from Yoder were you when you took that shot? Or maybe I should ask, how close do you have to be to see Pike's Peak?

      I got in about a 100 mile ride today in the "other" bike after resetting float bowl levels. Weather was perfect here (80F and sunny), but a little windy.

      Comment


        #4
        I see the mountain every morning from the back porch and then the entire drive into work. From there, I had driven 80 miles from home but was on the north side of the peak so really only about 40 from it.
        Cowboy Up or Quit. - Run Free Lou and Rest in Peace

        1981 GS550T - My First
        1981 GS550L - My Eldest Daughter's - Now Sold
        2007 GSF1250SA Bandit - My touring bike

        Sit tall in the saddle Hold your head up high
        Keep your eyes fixed where the trail meets the sky and live like you ain't afraid to die
        and don't be scared, just enjoy your ride - Chris Ledoux, "The Ride"

        Comment


          #5
          Good pictures and story. I've been through Elizabeth and a few of those other roads you pictured in your story (a looooong time ago). It got boring so I had to head for the mountains......
          I don't remember, is your bike an L? They do have 3.2 gal tanks up to '82, then went to a 4 gal tank. The 4 something gal tank seemed to be the standard for everything except the G bikes with the humongous 5.8 gal tank (somebody will probably tell me I'm wrong, but so be it.....)

          Comment


            #6
            Dan, my bike is supposed to be a T but I'm starting to wonder if I'm seeing another PO issue. Of course the tank has GS550T handwritten on the bottom though.
            Cowboy Up or Quit. - Run Free Lou and Rest in Peace

            1981 GS550T - My First
            1981 GS550L - My Eldest Daughter's - Now Sold
            2007 GSF1250SA Bandit - My touring bike

            Sit tall in the saddle Hold your head up high
            Keep your eyes fixed where the trail meets the sky and live like you ain't afraid to die
            and don't be scared, just enjoy your ride - Chris Ledoux, "The Ride"

            Comment


              #7
              Originally posted by cowboyup3371 View Post
              Dan, my bike is supposed to be a T but I'm starting to wonder if I'm seeing another PO issue. Of course the tank has GS550T handwritten on the bottom though.
              The T designation just tells what year it was made in from what I understand. Mine is a 1980 (79 on the fork tube)GS850GLT
              Yours could also be an LT and all the PO remembered was the "T" part. If the tank just says 550T handwritten on the bottom, it's probably a junkyard replacement tank.
              On edit: One more thing. Looking at your tank, it does highly resemble an "L" tank.
              Last edited by Guest; 10-18-2010, 12:06 PM. Reason: addition to post

              Comment


                #8
                Originally posted by DanTheMan View Post
                The T designation just tells what year it was made in from what I understand.
                No, he has a 1981 550T, it's not an L model.
                Just like this one, at least in the before pics:

                Oops, looks like the page is lost. Start your website on the cheap.


                The T year designator was for 1980 bikes, 1981 are all X.
                So technically it's a 550TX. I have no idea what size the tank is, but it's not very big.
                Still a stock 550 should be over 50mpg, sounds like your is not quite there?


                Life is too short to ride an L.

                Comment


                  #9
                  Looks like a good ride... It was gorgeous outside yesterday!

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Originally posted by herostar View Post
                    Looks like a good ride... It was gorgeous outside yesterday!
                    It was, do you have your 450 running yet?


                    Life is too short to ride an L.

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Originally posted by tkent02 View Post
                      No, he has a 1981 550T, it's not an L model.
                      Just like this one, at least in the before pics:

                      Oops, looks like the page is lost. Start your website on the cheap.


                      The T year designator was for 1980 bikes, 1981 are all X.
                      So technically it's a 550TX. I have no idea what size the tank is, but it's not very big.
                      Still a stock 550 should be over 50mpg, sounds like your is not quite there?
                      OK, I was just hazarding a guess. However, I think side by side, my old "L" tank next to his "T" tank would pretty much match up size wise. The only difference would be in the mounting bolts. Mine has the center mounting bolt.

                      Comment


                        #12
                        I managed 40 miles to the gallon yesterday. I know I'm still running a little rich since I can definitely smell gas fumes from the tank. However, I picked up a new screwdriver from Sears after I got back into town yesterday and will try to work on tweaking the pilot jets this next weekend if the weather holds.
                        Cowboy Up or Quit. - Run Free Lou and Rest in Peace

                        1981 GS550T - My First
                        1981 GS550L - My Eldest Daughter's - Now Sold
                        2007 GSF1250SA Bandit - My touring bike

                        Sit tall in the saddle Hold your head up high
                        Keep your eyes fixed where the trail meets the sky and live like you ain't afraid to die
                        and don't be scared, just enjoy your ride - Chris Ledoux, "The Ride"

                        Comment


                          #13
                          According to these, the "L" has a 3.43 gallon, tank, the "T" has a 4.36 gallon tank. I wonder if someone swapped an L tank onto the T?


                          The 1981 Suzuki GS 550 T and all other motorcycles made 1894-2024. Specifications. Pictures. Rating. Discussions.


                          The 1981 Suzuki GS 550 L and all other motorcycles made 1894-2024. Specifications. Pictures. Rating. Discussions.


                          Life is too short to ride an L.

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Which is also what my book says. Oh well, at least I will know what I have and can work with it. I just hated not knowing.
                            Cowboy Up or Quit. - Run Free Lou and Rest in Peace

                            1981 GS550T - My First
                            1981 GS550L - My Eldest Daughter's - Now Sold
                            2007 GSF1250SA Bandit - My touring bike

                            Sit tall in the saddle Hold your head up high
                            Keep your eyes fixed where the trail meets the sky and live like you ain't afraid to die
                            and don't be scared, just enjoy your ride - Chris Ledoux, "The Ride"

                            Comment


                              #15
                              Originally posted by tkent02 View Post
                              According to these, the "L" has a 3.43 gallon, tank, the "T" has a 4.36 gallon tank. I wonder if someone swapped an L tank onto the T?


                              The 1981 Suzuki GS 550 T and all other motorcycles made 1894-2024. Specifications. Pictures. Rating. Discussions.


                              http://www.bikez.com/motorcycles/suz...550_l_1981.php
                              I guess 3.43 is probably right. I never was able to squeeze more that 3.2 something in mine when it was flat empty.
                              Judging from the fact that 550T is handwritten on the bottom of the tank I think it might be a swap.

                              Comment

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