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Mid 80s 550cc proto sport bikes

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    Mid 80s 550cc proto sport bikes

    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
    64
    Suzuki GS550
    21.88%
    14
    Suzuki GSX550
    6.25%
    4
    Honda CBX550
    3.13%
    2
    Honda VF500
    9.38%
    6
    Yamaha XJ550 Seca
    12.50%
    8
    Yamaha FJ600
    6.25%
    4
    Kawasaki GPz550
    40.63%
    26
    Kawasaki EX500
    0.00%
    0
    Last edited by Buffalo Bill; 03-05-2016, 12:55 PM.
    "Only fe' collected the old way, has any value." from His Majesty O'Keefe (1954 film)
    1982 GS1100G- road bike, body, seat and suspension modded
    1990 GSX750F-(1127cc '92 GSXR engine) track bike, much re-engineered
    1987 Honda CBR600F Hurricane; hooligan bike, restored

    #2
    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
    Last edited by Buffalo Bill; 03-05-2016, 01:10 PM.
    "Only fe' collected the old way, has any value." from His Majesty O'Keefe (1954 film)
    1982 GS1100G- road bike, body, seat and suspension modded
    1990 GSX750F-(1127cc '92 GSXR engine) track bike, much re-engineered
    1987 Honda CBR600F Hurricane; hooligan bike, restored

    Comment


      #3
      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

      Comment


        #4
        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...

        Comment


          #5
          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!
          Last edited by Nessism; 03-05-2016, 09:46 PM.
          Ed

          To measure is to know.

          Mikuni O-ring Kits For Sale...https://www.thegsresources.com/_foru...ts#post1703182

          Top Newbie Mistakes thread...http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...d.php?t=171846

          Carb rebuild tutorial...https://gsarchive.bwringer.com/mtsac...d_Tutorial.pdf

          KZ750E Rebuild Thread...http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...0-Resurrection

          Comment


            #6
            My favorite mid-80s 500cc sport bike was the RG500 Gamma. So much so that I still have it.

            Comment


              #7
              I've been looking at the VFs lately and the VF500 looks sweet.
              "Only fe' collected the old way, has any value." from His Majesty O'Keefe (1954 film)
              1982 GS1100G- road bike, body, seat and suspension modded
              1990 GSX750F-(1127cc '92 GSXR engine) track bike, much re-engineered
              1987 Honda CBR600F Hurricane; hooligan bike, restored

              Comment


                #8
                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.
                Ed

                To measure is to know.

                Mikuni O-ring Kits For Sale...https://www.thegsresources.com/_foru...ts#post1703182

                Top Newbie Mistakes thread...http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...d.php?t=171846

                Carb rebuild tutorial...https://gsarchive.bwringer.com/mtsac...d_Tutorial.pdf

                KZ750E Rebuild Thread...http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...0-Resurrection

                Comment


                  #9
                  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.
                  "Only fe' collected the old way, has any value." from His Majesty O'Keefe (1954 film)
                  1982 GS1100G- road bike, body, seat and suspension modded
                  1990 GSX750F-(1127cc '92 GSXR engine) track bike, much re-engineered
                  1987 Honda CBR600F Hurricane; hooligan bike, restored

                  Comment


                    #10
                    My Yamaha dealer had access to anything he wanted. His ride of choice was the Vision.

                    Comment


                      #11
                      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.


                      1982 GS1100 G converted by Motorcyclist magazine in 1986 to be a tribute to the Wes Cooley replica. 1982 Honda 900F. 1997 Yamaha VMax.
                      Also owned: 1973 Kawasaki Z1 900, 1972 Honda 750 K, 1976 Yamaha XS 650, 1980 Kawasaki KZ 1000 MKII, 1978 Kawasaki SR 650. Current cage is a 2001 Mustang Bullitt in Dark Highland Green. Bought new in Sept. 2001.

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Some AHRMA 550 and 650 vintage racers I saw

                        Nice bikes to own;
                        GPz550


                        Nice Seca 550 racer


                        Nice Seca 650 race bike
                        Last edited by Buffalo Bill; 06-08-2016, 07:32 AM.
                        "Only fe' collected the old way, has any value." from His Majesty O'Keefe (1954 film)
                        1982 GS1100G- road bike, body, seat and suspension modded
                        1990 GSX750F-(1127cc '92 GSXR engine) track bike, much re-engineered
                        1987 Honda CBR600F Hurricane; hooligan bike, restored

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Originally posted by Buffalo Bill View Post
                          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.
                          Current Rides: 82 GS1100E, 00 Triumph 955 Speed Triple, 03 Kawasaki ZRX1200, 01 Honda GL1800, '15 Kawasaki 1000 Versys
                          Past Rides: 72 Honda SL-125, Kawasaki KE-175, 77 GS750 with total yosh stage 1 kit, 79 GS1000s, 80 GS1000S, 82 GS750e,82 GS1000S, 84 VF500f, 86 FZR600, 95 Triumph Sprint 900,96 Triumph Sprint, 97 Triumph Sprint, 01 Kawasaki ZRX1200, 07 Triumph Tiger 1050, 01 Yam YFZ250F
                          Work in progress: 78 GS1000, unknown year GS1100ES

                          Comment


                            #14
                            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.
                            "Only fe' collected the old way, has any value." from His Majesty O'Keefe (1954 film)
                            1982 GS1100G- road bike, body, seat and suspension modded
                            1990 GSX750F-(1127cc '92 GSXR engine) track bike, much re-engineered
                            1987 Honda CBR600F Hurricane; hooligan bike, restored

                            Comment


                              #15
                              Recumbant Kawi EX500!!!!

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

                              "Only fe' collected the old way, has any value." from His Majesty O'Keefe (1954 film)
                              1982 GS1100G- road bike, body, seat and suspension modded
                              1990 GSX750F-(1127cc '92 GSXR engine) track bike, much re-engineered
                              1987 Honda CBR600F Hurricane; hooligan bike, restored

                              Comment

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