78 550/650 project swingarm swap info needed

[Guest]

So I want to do the 550/650 project build this winter. Along with this build I want to do several upgrades, with one being a swing arm swap. This is something new for me as I have never done this particular mod before so please bare with me if I ask dumb questions. My questions are these:

I have read here that a GS500 swing arm is a good swap. They seem to be all over eBay and pretty inexpensive too. However, I do believe that some are steel and some are aluminum...?.. Can anyone tell me which years are steel and which are aluminum? I ask this because I have not decided yet to stay with the standard 2 shock rear or go to a single mono shock. I have a welder I can use in case I want to stay with 2 rear shocks who can weld tabs on a steel swing arm for me, but he's not very experienced in welding aluminum. If I get a steel swing arm I can take my time to decide which way I want to go. If I go aluminum, then I'll have to find another welder somewhere. Or be forced to go to a mono shock setup.

And any "must know information" on doing this swap would be greatly appreciated. Along with any links to good threads where someone has already done this. Again, this will be on a 78 GS550. If anyone has a "cheap" swing arm that would work, just lying around they don't need... I can do Paypal.

Thanks in advance

[Guest]

Still looking for a little help on figuring which swing arm will work best for my 550 frame. I did see in another 550/650 build thread that a GS1100 swing arm was used but I didn't see what year it was from. Anybody....?

[GSX1000E]

The GS550 that you have has a narrow swing arm section where the pivot bolt goes through it.
Perhaps no one knows of another that would/will fit? I don't remember if I still have a GS650E frame around to measure or I would.
I could measure a later model '83-'85 mono-shock swinger and see if it could be modified to fit if no one else has any ideas.

[Guest]

Thanks GSX1000E, I would appreciate the effort if you could find the time.

I sent a PM to boontonmike and asked him what year the swing arm was he put on his 550. He said he used a GS1100E but I haven't gotten a reply yet. I have read where someone on this site said a GS500 swing arm would work but I couldn't find that thread again. I'm still hoping someone who's done this will jump in with the info. Thanks again and if you want to measure up the one you have, I would appreciate it.

[Guest]

Ok, I guess I'll try one more time. If anyone has any info on a good swing arm swap for a 1978 GS550, let me know.

I thought someone here once said a GS500 swing arm would work but I can't confirm it. These seem to be abundant on eBay for pretty cheap. The 1100 swing arms are not cheap. So I'm hoping the GS500 would work. Thanks everyone.

[Guest]

Still hoping someone has some info on this. Any help would be appreciated.

[Chuck78]

early GS 750 swing arms should be a direct swap, but the later 750 and all bikes bigger than 850 will use a 16mm+ pivot bolt, the 750 and **I believe** all smaller bikes use a 14.

[wegs426]

I was planning on using a 2002 gs500e swingarm for my gs650e build. The pivot diameter is the same as the 650/550 and the width is maybe 2mm narrower.