What are stock carbs for a 80 GS 550E?

[wolfpaak]

Question #1.
Just got the bike mentioned and it is missing the carbs. Can anyone tell me which carbs came with it? CVs? Can a set of older ones be used? Round slides?
Thanks for the help!
Later,
Kenny

[Steve]

The stock carbs were Mikuni BS32SS. Pretty much the same carbs that were used on the 550 through 850 bikes. Yes, they are a CV style carb.

You could probably adapt older carbs to it, but why? Not only would you have to change the intake boots, I think the ports are larger with the '80 head, so you would have to re-shape the ports to match the smaller (earlier) carbs. The earlier VM series carbs were 22mm, so the diameter was considerably smaller.

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[wolfpaak]

Thanks Steve! Thats the answer I was looking for!
Later,
Kenny

[Guest]

The spacing will only let you use 550 and 650 carbs.

[wolfpaak]

Thanks chef! Just the 550 and 650s then huh? What years of bikes can I find a direct replacement from? I have a local guy that has a schmitt pile of parts for the old Japanese bikes that I will hit up for a set, but will need to tell him what to look for.
Later,
Kenny

[Guest]

After 80 GS650s and GS550s except when the 550s started using the simese carbs.
If they are wrong they will be too long. Measure from 1-4 outside intake boots and bring a set of calipers to measure ID (inside diameter) of intake side of the carbs which will be 32mm.