Are 550s supposed to be quick little bikes?

[1977GS550]

So, the question is

If you take it to a shop, do they actually know how to work on it?

Is the mechanic at least 50 years old?

Otherwise, you're throwing money away

And yes, the 550 is quick, almost as quick as my GPz

Yes, the guy was over 50 and specializes in older Japanese bikes. I think he's pretty trustworthy

[1977GS550]

Hopefully this works:

http://i329.photobucket.com/albums/l378/srsrandau/DSCF0116.jpg

http://i329.photobucket.com/albums/l378/srsrandau/DSCF0123.jpg

http://i329.photobucket.com/albums/l378/srsrandau/DSCF0122.jpg

http://i329.photobucket.com/albums/l378/srsrandau/DSCF0120.jpg

http://i329.photobucket.com/albums/l378/srsrandau/DSCF0118.jpg

[1977GS550]

And mybe a little help from your friends, where are you located?a

I live in Cleveland, OH

[tkent02]

Wow, that thing looks brand new. Beautiful. Yeah, it should rip right up to 90 or so in just a few seconds if you keep the RPMs up above 7,000 or so. If you chug it around at 3,000 like a little old lady it won't do much.

[1977GS550]

Wow, that thing looks brand new. Beautiful. Yeah, it should rip right up to 90 or so in just a few seconds if you keep the RPMs up above 7,000 or so. If you chug it around at 3,000 like a little old lady it won't do much.

I actually do drive it like a little old lady, I guess. So typically, when I'm cruising I run the bike like this: 20 mph and over I'm in 3rd gear, 30 and over I'm in 4th, etc. Are you guys saying that this is wrong?

[tkent02]

Find a safe road, get going, put it in second gear, aim the bike in a safe general direction, hold the throttle wide open, DO NOT BACK OFF OR SHIFT UNTIL 9,000 RPM.

Report your findings here.

[koolaid_kid]

You are not taking advantage of the 550's strengths. Your riding style would be O.K. with a torque monster like my GS (although I seldom ride that sedately). But for your bike, I would be taking it to 5-6 k at every shift. If you need to get somewhere in a hurry, wick it up to redline at every shift. You have stock pipes so it will not make a racket, and the experience will be much better.

[mike_of_bbg]

Don't be scared of the red line, either. If I'm in a hurry I'll hit 11k and not think twice about it...

[Allie]

Find a safe road, get going, put it in second gear, aim the bike in a safe general direction, hold the throttle wide open, DO NOT BACK OFF OR SHIFT UNTIL 9,000 RPM.

Report your findings here.

Really, that is just the Rx for you. That gorgeous bike is just crying for some revs... Don't be afraid to slip the clutch a little to start out briskly either. It has a wet clutch, it was meant for it. It's fine to just start out loafing, but if you want to merge quickly or whatnots, you need a few revs to light a spark under you.

[Allie]

I couldn't resist... I think I'm in love! <3

[1977GS550]

Thanks for posting those right to the page, Allie. I couldn't get my computer to upload so I just posted the links. I'll try riding the bike like you guys say and let you know. Just curious, what do you mean "slip the clutch, it's wet and meant to do that?" Like I said this is my first bike so a lot of what you say goes over my head :P

[Allie]

For a quicker start you can wind the throttle higher than normal before you let the clutch out so you're higher in the power band. In a car that = lots of smoke, on the bike the clutch plates are bathed in oil so you won't burn it up short of serious abuse.

Now get thee hence and do those things unto your throttle that the Good 'Rev'erend Kent hath revealed unto you.

[Loki]

Gorgeous 550. Feed some speed to your ride, their only happy when spinning fast.

[oldrookie]

Shouldn't be that different from my old Yamaha Radian, a 600cc. 0-60 in 3.2 seconds, according to an old Cycle World article.

Most Japanese motors in these old bikes like to rev. Have the same issue teaching people to drive my old Miata. They want to shift at 2k rpm. Nothing happens in the car until you hit 6k. Its about getting into the power band and then staying there in and out of the corners. It'll feel like a different bike if you wind it up.

[OzJavelin]

After a life of driving V8s .. motorbike revs tend to scare me. I've always thought my '79 GS550 was slow, but I have given it a good wringing out a few times .. it's fast enough ( however I tend to favour the laziness of my GPZ750R1 .. wonder how a GS1100 or GPZ1100 would go??!! )