gs550 noob question

[rwc1313]

Alright, I just bought a gs550 for very cheap and am turning it into a bobber. Im new to this forum but I have been a part of the volkswagen vwvortex forum for a while and I know how chewed out people can get for stupid questions, so im sorry. I just have a couple questions about the bike.

First is what are the rear shocks diameter, Im looking to lower the back alittle and am interested in drop shocks but I dont know how to go about it.
Second, does anyone know the tire specs, I need to replace both tires (looking into some fat white walls)
Third is about the header tubing. I personally hate the twin mufflers sticking out the back, reminds me of a space ship. I was considering cutting them down after inspection and putting baffles on the metal that connects the two headers on both sides. Orrrrr, n00b question, sorry, could I simply cut down the mufflers to wear I feel and have a "inspection worthy" muffler setup until I get my 4 into 1. I think the header diameter is 1 1/4 but I could be wayyyyy off.

Thanks for bearing with me, I might figure this out on my own but Im tired after working o it all day and wanted to see if anyone could answer these questions for me, thanks!

[BassCliff]

Greetings and Salutations!!

Hi Mr. rwc1313,

I think there's a manual on my site which might answer a lot of your questions. Knowing the year of your bike would help us be more specific. In the meantime, let me dump a TON if information on you and share some GS lovin'.

I just stopped by to welcome you to the forum in my own, special way.

If there's anything you'd like to know about the Suzuki GS model bikes, and most others actually, you've come to the right place. There's a lot of knowledge and experience here in the community. Come on in and let me say "HOoooowwwDY!"....

Here is your very own magical, mystical, mythical, mind-expanding "mega-welcome". Please take notice of the "Top 10 Common Issues", "Top 15 Tips For GS Happiness", the Carb Rebuild Series, and the Stator Papers. All of these tasks must be addressed in order to have a safe, reliable machine. Now let me roll out the welcome mat for you...



Please click here for your mega-welcome, chock full of tips, suggestions, links to vendors, and other information. Then feel free to visit my little BikeCliff website where I've been collecting the wisdom of this generous community. Don't forget, we like pictures! Not you, your bike!

Thanks for joining us. Keep us informed.

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[1_v8_merc]

People aren't like that here, they actually help each other out!

But, I know there are some companies that make different length shocks for the rear. If you look on bikebandit.com or denniskirk.com, they might show what the "stock" size for your rear shocks are....as well as have aftermarket ones.

For the exhaust, you're talking about moving the baffles forward closer towards the front of the bike( or underneath)?

Not sure if that's what your talking about, but, I guess if you have a welder handy, you could do anything....

[tkent02]

Third is about the header tubing. I personally hate the twin mufflers sticking out the back, reminds me of a space ship.

Space ships don't have mufflers.

[rwc1313]

its a 1979 gs 550, and the baffles would be more towards the front of the bike, I just dont like the long mufflers. Ill look on that site for the showcks. And thanks for the info anout space ships, I could have sworn they had them though.

[mike_of_bbg]

Put the bike up on the center stand so there's no weight on the rear wheel. Then measure bolt-bolt the shocks. My 82 GS550L was about 12-3/8". I know Progressive sells their twelve series shocks in 11.5".

[Big T]

For fat tires, you'll need wider wheels

You'll have to rejet the carbs if you chop off the mufflers

[rwc1313]

yea im pretty sure the shocks on this are 12 1/2 or 3/4, and I going to do the whole carb today, it was the first thing I took out when I got it in my garage. Thanks so far with the info guys

[Steve]

yea im pretty sure the shocks on this are 12 1/2 or 3/4, and I going to do the whole carb today, it was the first thing I took out when I got it in my garage. Thanks so far with the info guys

Don't want to burst your bubble, but there is no way you can do "the whole carb" today.

If you strip them down today, you will get #1 into the dip, then strip the rest (but keep them in order).
Tomorrow, you will take #1 out, put #2 in.
The next day you will take #2 out, put #3 in.
The next day, you will take #3 out, put #4 in.
Finally, FOUR DAYS FROM NOW, you will take #4 out, put the rack together, set your floats, do a bench sync and get them back on the bike.

Of course, this assumes that you will be rinsing the carbs in hot water when they come out of the dip, then poking a copper wire through the holes in all the brass jets, then blowing them out with carb cleaner spray and compressed air.

THERE ARE NO SHORTCUTS. If you don't follow the complete procedure, please don't come back here to complain about how your carbs still are not working right.

.