First bike - '77 GS550

[hotrodalex]

Hi all,

Picked up this mint 550 back in April. It's only got 8,000 miles on it and rides perfectly. I took the MSF and got my endorsement and have ridden about 500 miles so far. Starting to look into mods now. I plan on going the cafe/brat route. I've got lots of experience working on classic cars, so bikes are new yet familiar to me. I'm not going to do anything too crazy, but I'd like to shed a bit of weight and simplify as much as possible.

-Alex

 

[GSXR7ED]

Oh, dang!

That's a cool little bike...with spokes...single front disc... rear disc as well or shoes?

I'd ride it as is but it's your bike. Post moar pics.


Ed

 

[steve murdoch]

Welcome to the site, Alex.
Seeing as you have worked on vintage cars a lot of the same rules may apply.
Keep the nice stock parts such as the tank, exhaust, and wheels away from the modifications. They can be resold for good money for owners wanting a stock look.

 

[dorkburger]

Welcome, your bike looks great as is.

The background of your attached pic made me sigh....
I have a 66 ElCamino that is likely to be sold shortly......

 

[hotrodalex]

Oh, dang!

That's a cool little bike...with spokes...single front disc... rear disc as well or shoes?

I'd ride it as is but it's your bike. Post moar pics.


Ed

Thanks, it does indeed have a rear drum.

Here's a rearview pic:

Welcome to the site, Alex.
Seeing as you have worked on vintage cars a lot of the same rules may apply.
Keep the nice stock parts such as the tank, exhaust, and wheels away from the modifications. They can be resold for good money for owners wanting a stock look.

Oh for sure. I'm planning on keeping the stock tank and paint job, wheels, etc. I'm torn about the exhaust. I'd like a 4-1 header to reduce weight and get a better sound, but the twin pipes do look good and are in great condition.

Welcome, your bike looks great as is.

The background of your attached pic made me sigh....
I have a 66 ElCamino that is likely to be sold shortly......

That's my daily driver! Just got a new engine, a 355 cu in 400 hp beast.

 

[Nessism]

You have a perfectly nice bike there. No good will come from hacking it up. As a new rider you should be focusing on learning how to ride safely, not on destroying the bike.

 

[cowboyup3371]

I won't say they don't make a 4 into 1 for the 550 but I have never seen one from my looks on the Internet since buying mine in 2010

 

[dorkburger]

That's my daily driver! Just got a new engine, a 355 cu in 400 hp beast.[/QUOTE]

Awesome! Mine has been parked since an accident in '99, just before marriage, home ownership, and kids came along. With some sadness, I have come to the conclusion that its time to let someone else have some fun with it. The reality that im never going to get around to it has set in. My GS has been a fun stand in in its absence. I had a ton of fun with it. In its final iteration, it had a 454, and a 4 speed. Did 2 Power Tours and many day / weekend trips, local bombing around, etc with it.

Bringing it back to cycles, we even picked up my cousins GS 1100 with it....

 

[Redman]

Good that you took the MSF course.

Sure looks like a nice fine example of a stock 550, real nice (with a modified seat and shorter lower bars).

Good that you recognize the value of the stock original paint parts.

Can not really tell from that particular photo, but maybe the rear frame / tail has already been hacked.

.