78 GS550 Cafe (First Project Bike)

[JakeML]

After selling my R6 I've decided to try and do a cafe build instead of buying something new. I was able to pick up a 78 GS550E on CL for $200 a few months ago. The PO used it as a daily rider but had the chain slip and didn't want to fix it after that. It did some damage to the swingarm and bent the clutch push rod which cause A LOT of oil to cover the motor. My plan was to fix the clutch push rod and change all seals and gaskets in the motor and tranny looking for any other damage. Then another 78 GS550E popped up on CL which I also got for $200. This was a bike which was abandoned at a near by shop after its PO got the news it needed new brakes (lines and calipers leaking) and the carbs were all out of wack. This second bike has only 13000 miles vs the 32000 on the first one. So I now plan on doing the engine swap (can't title the second) with the first set of carbs. The only problem is I've only been home for three weeks, which was the holidays, in the past 6 months. But plan on being back home in March to start the project. I'll post a few pictures from when I was home later today or tomorrow.

 

[tkent02]

Cool, I have some 550 parts if you need anything, also near Denver. I am putting together a couple 550s too, as soon as I get this 1000 off my table.

 

[brslk]

Doing the same thing with the same bike. I'll be checking out your thread often.

Bruce.

 

[JakeML]

First bike with tank and fairings off

 

[JakeML]

First bike almost fully disassembled

 

[JakeML]

The second (parts) bike. Also can anyone tell me why it only lets me attach one picture at a time? This would be much faster if I could attach all pictures at once.

 

[Tim Tom]

If you use a hosting site like photobucket and upload your pictures there you can simply paste the img code into your posts and put up to ten pictures in a thread.