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83 GS550E to GS550ES conversion

  • Thread starter Thread starter Blueandorangefish
  • Start date Start date
B

Blueandorangefish

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Bought this bike last summer in somewhat rough shape. The paint was horrible and mechanically was okay, but not overly reliable. While it's far from perfect, I'm finally getting it closer to where I want it. I'll feel tons better once I figure out my electrical gremlin, but for now I'm pleased with the progress.

1983-Suzuki-1.jpg

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IMG_3368.jpg


GS550ES
 
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It certainly looks good in yellow! Any plans for the wheels?
Good luck,
Ed
 
Eventually I want to powdercoat the wheels. I'm thinking black spokes and yellow on the edge of the rim. For now I'm just trying to get the horrid paint job cleaned off of the wheels and get them to bare metal. I'm still new enough at this that I haven't removed the wheels yet, which would make cleaning them up tons easier. But I'm a bit hesitant to on the off chance I mess something up since I don't know the proper technique. Can't afford to pay someone to do it though. I guess it'll just be time to adapt and overcome.
 
Looks good so far. I have an 83 GS550E and am still looking for those larger fairings. I would actually like to get my hands on the EF fairings, but can't find the damn things.
 
550ERAT said:
Looks good so far. I have an 83 GS550E and am still looking for those larger fairings. I would actually like to get my hands on the EF fairings, but can't find the damn things.
Click to expand...

As luck would have it, I have the lower EF fairing pieces. I was bidding on the whole thing on ebay but some chump swooped in with 10 seconds left and put in a super high bid on the cowling. As it turns out, the ES cowling is not compatible with the EF lower pieces. :?
 
550E frame compared to the GR650

550E frame compared to the GR650

Is it just me or does the GS550E frame looks like the GR650 Frame just rounded not squared.

Rich
 
Blueandorangefish said:
As luck would have it, I have the lower EF fairing pieces. I was bidding on the whole thing on ebay but some chump swooped in with 10 seconds left and put in a super high bid on the cowling. As it turns out, the ES cowling is not compatible with the EF lower pieces. :?
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Really? I though from how everything looked the ES and EF pieces would fit together. That sucks. When did you get them? And by the lower fairings, do you mean the ones that "wrap" around the engine?
 
550ERAT said:
Really? I though from how everything looked the ES and EF pieces would fit together. That sucks. When did you get them? And by the lower fairings, do you mean the ones that "wrap" around the engine?
Click to expand...

So, you know the stories some people have about being frustrated cause their bike won't start and after hours of troubleshooting realize the cutoff switch is off?

Well, your post got me to thinking so I did another test fit of the parts. As it turns out, they fit fairly well. My original test fits were very rough and left me with the impression that they wouldn't work. 8-[

Anyway, I'm left with having to fabricate mounting brackets. I've never been able to find a diagram showing how they were attached to the frame. Just another project to add to the list.
 
Pretty Shade O' Yaller

Pretty Shade O' Yaller

on that bike. The yellow accent on the wheels would look good. Any plans on accents, like thin striping or anything, like a second, complimentary shade?
 
Eventually. I would like to get everything painted and on the bike, along with getting the bike running first. Then I'll take some photos so I can test different secondary color designs.
 
That actually looks like it was originally an ES or EF that the PO removed the fairing on and put a headlight on. Probably because it was wrecked. But nice job restoring her to her glory. ](*,)What is it with you guys and yellow?:-D
 
I was told by the PO that it was pieced together from 3 boxes of parts by the PO to him.

I decided to do the wheels in black only.
IMG_3383.jpg


Buffed out the tank. Yes, there's crazy orange peel, but is was my first paint job ever and I did it super cheap (roller method).
IMG_3387.jpg

IMG_3389.jpg
 
I started getting the lower faring pieces painted today. Thankfully it was beautiful and 75 degrees outside so the painting went fairly well. I wet sanded w/ 300-some-odd grit then started rolling. Here is two coats so far.

IMG_3412.jpg

IMG_3413.jpg
 
So it rained all evening, which shot any chance I had of putting another coat of paint on my lower fairings. Instead, I thought I'd see how the whole thing is coming together. For me it's looking close to what I had originally intended, but I think I'd like to add some black striping to it to break up the sheer volume of yellow that assaults your eyes. Any of you painting/artistic guru's have any thoughts or ideas on what direction I should go?


IMG_3449.jpg




IMG_3451.jpg
 
Perhaps the raised and indented extrusions on the lower fairing (the one that looks like the indent on a Mustang and the other that surrounds the stator cover) would look good black? It would be enough to help break up the yellow....and some added black stripes throughout would look really nice.

I'm not good enough with computer graphics to actually put my thoughts down, but somebody out there with much better artistic ability than myself should be able to offer some advice.

Good luck, dude. By the way, you were absolutely right about one thing....that original paint job was hidious. Even if you were to leave it as-is, it's 1000 times better than it was.
 
I have to say, this bike has really turned into a lot of fun. I haven't gotten to ride it very much, but I'm really enjoying the process of the project.
 
Craiger said:
Perhaps the raised and indented extrusions on the lower fairing (the one that looks like the indent on a Mustang and the other that surrounds the stator cover) would look good black? It would be enough to help break up the yellow....and some added black stripes throughout would look really nice.
Click to expand...

I printed out a bunch of copies today and went to town with a sharpie. I agree that way of going looks the best. Otherwise, like it's been pointed out, it starts to resemble a bumble bee.

Craiger said:
I'm not good enough with computer graphics to actually put my thoughts down, but somebody out there with much better artistic ability than myself should be able to offer some advice.

Good luck, dude. By the way, you were absolutely right about one thing....that original paint job was hidious. Even if you were to leave it as-is, it's 1000 times better than it was.
Click to expand...

I had forgotten until tonight that the paint job was the MAJOR selling point from the guy I bought it from. He was very proud of it. I have to give him credit, though. The crazy stripes notwithstanding, the base silver on the tank was very well done. It was perfectly smooth and glossy with no orange peel. Lots better than I've done. However, everything else was pretty much a disaster. For $600 it was worth it, though.
 
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