Mid 80s 550cc proto sport bikes

[Buffalo Bill]

One of my favorite periods was the 550 wars of the early to mid 1980s.
These bikes evolved from being called middle weights to sportbikes.
I've owned a Kawasaki EX500, GS5500T and a Yamaha XJ550 Seca. I'd like to have all of the others.
Suzuki GS550 to the GSX550
Honda CBX550 to the VF500
Yamaha XJ550 Seca to the FJ600
Kawasaki GPz 550 to the EX500

[Buffalo Bill]

93 EX500, almost a retro bike but it was first released in 1987.
This kills all the 550s above 6000RPM, but the twin engine lugs at low RPMs, and the seat sucks.


Yamaha XJ550 Seca. This was a cool bike, only cost me about $250!!!


Suzuki GS550T, fun bike but kinda slowish compared to the XJ550 Seca

[Guest]

I love the XJ550 Seca. The engine is extremely smooth and really comes alive past 6000rpm, the 6 speed transmission is nice as well. Not to mention with a 4-1 pipe or aftermarket mufflers the sound is unbelievable. Just like Buffalo Bill I picked mine up for $250 as well.
seca dec23(1).jpg

[Tim Tom]

No love for the GPx600R? Debuted the same time as the EX500, but with twice the cylinders and an extra 50cc's.

I had one, very fun bike to ride. Oddball 16" wheels meant it handled stupidly well on smooth roads, and terrifying poor on bumpy ones...

[Nessism]

I've owned and enjoyed the following...

'79 GS550E
'81 GS550T
'81 GPz550
'82 XV550 (Yamaha Vision)
'84 VF500 Interceptor
'92 and '97 EX500's

The VF500 handled great and had the best brakes. The XV550 had the best engine. The GPz550 was the nicest looking. The two Suzuki's were awesome too of course. The EX500's were nice bikes, but not enduring. I loved to rap them out to redline blasting up freeway onramps. They pulled really nice and smooth. Great fun!

[Chris]

My favorite mid-80s 500cc sport bike was the RG500 Gamma. So much so that I still have it.

[Buffalo Bill]

I've been looking at the VFs lately and the VF500 looks sweet.

[Nessism]

The baby Interceptor was COOL. It's a pretty small bike. Don't think you would fit on it Bill. Back then I was about 160 lbs soaking wet. Bigger guys thought the suspension was kind of soft, which is was, but it was fine for me overall.

I sold the Vision to buy the VF. The Yamaha would wallow in fast corners but the Honda was super stable, despite the 16" front tire. I remember thinking that the bike was laughing at me while riding through the mountains because I wasn't pushing hard enough.

[Buffalo Bill]

I am too tall for a lot of bikes, gave up on the RDs after I took a good look at photos of big riders on them in magazine bike reviews from the time.
Seems like the VF750 is more to my size, but it gets heavy and big too.

[wymple]

My Yamaha dealer had access to anything he wanted. His ride of choice was the Vision.

[Guest]

The only bike I owned in that segment was the GPz 550, and it blew up within 10 miles of me first riding it. I was always too big for bikes this small anyway.

[Buffalo Bill]

Some AHRMA 550 and 650 vintage racers I saw

Nice bikes to own;
GPz550


Nice Seca 550 racer


Nice Seca 650 race bike

[limeex2]

I've been looking at the VFs lately and the VF500 looks sweet.

I had and raced one in 85. Loved it. I was always always trying to crack a 2 minute lap at the local track.Thats what the faster guys were running.Got down to a 2:03 on my GS1100, Got down to a 2:01 on the VF500F. GREAT sound with a pipe.

[Buffalo Bill]

National Champion #1

Ok, have a close look at this bike if you know something about the 1981 Seca 550.
It's got huge brake discs, and 18" wheels from the 1984 FJ600.
Aluminum and braced rear swingarm.
Most of all, it's got the hard to earn number 1 on it, with stickers showing it's also earned #3.

[Buffalo Bill]

Recumbant Kawi EX500!!!!

Just too weird, You Go Dude!! Homebuilt Recumbent Motorcycle Racer