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GS550 hop up?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Anonymous
  • Start date Start date
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Anonymous

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hey all. sorry about all the post i have been making, but i find it pretty damn cool that there is a site and forum for GS owners. i've been a member all of a day in total, and i have already found it most useful.
looking to do some hop up work on my 550 in the near future. its a 78... what kind of mods can be done without decreasing reliability. i know the GSs are known for being solid machines, and i would like to keep it that way. i would like to get some more oomph from it. but i really like the size of the bike, smaller than the other GSs, and its chain drive, which i am a fan of. i might upgrade to a larger machine in the near future, but this is my main form of getting around, so i figure improve a bit on it first. any suggestions?
 
first timer said:
check your other posts

-ryan
Click to expand...

Your bike is sweet! I hope my 550T ends up looking half as good! I'd be interested in knowing what mods you did. Did you have to rejet your carbs when you put the pods on?
 
man, i wished mine looked so nice... it has about 42,000 miles on it or so... a little ratty looking from raod dirt, grime, and the seat has some cracks in it due to cold weather riding. but it's still mine!
 
Mine wasn't too bad for $250. It's looking a bit nekkid now while I clean it up. It's been sitting since 97.

550a.jpg


550b.jpg
 
cleaner than mine, and i paid 600 i think, if not 6, 650. put a good 2500 miles on it since i bought it... time to replace sprockets, chain and what not. also haev to replace a couple seals, as i just discovered an oil leak yesterday... pain in the ass to get that sidecover off.... all the bolts stripped....every one had to be removed w/ a chisel. i dont think that side covers been off more than three times, and this is the first since i had it. pretty good machines. they seem to last forever, but of course, i expect to have to give a little care for the machine, it deserves it, all its asked for is gas and a bit of oil here and there.
 
yeah, i emailed that link to myself... ha ha ha some pretty cool stuff in there. i like the 650 cc idea... i'll have to look into that a bit more.
 
you should try riding the bike for a year and see how you like it before you do any motor mods. the bike has pleanty of motor if you know how to use it and arn't scared of rpms. i can rip it up all day with my girlfriend on the back. the only reason i bought a 1000 was so i could have a big bigger bike so i can fit some removable saddlebags and my girlfriend on it for some long trips. the 550 just doesn't have enought room for 2 and bags. but it will keep up with most bikes on the road if you are a good rider.

for some quick power boosts you could change your gears to a 14tooth counter sprocket in the front and keep your 52 tooth in the back. using your same chain.

-ryan
 
I was thinking of putting pods on so I could get rid of my air box and put a reserve battery in that spot for when the charging system is being a butt! :twisted:
 
yeah, i know the little 550 can rip it up.... i just get a but paranoid letting the tach scroll upwards to 7000 rpm.... eventhough the redline is 9500. i have pulled hard into 80 mph on that thing. it can move... i was just hinking of finding ways to make it move a llittle easier.
 
If you want the bike to perform you can't be afraid of the revs, that's where the power is. If you want low rpm performance you need a bigger motor.
 
useing a reserve battery is a dumb idea just get the eletrical system fixed the first time and not waste your time with a addional battery.

-ryan
 
first timer said:
useing a reserve battery is a dumb idea just get the eletrical system fixed the first time and not waste your time with a addional battery.

-ryan
Click to expand...

Yeah, just use the space for a beer cooler! :D
 
first timer said:
useing a reserve battery is a dumb idea just get the eletrical system fixed the first time and not waste your time with a addional battery.

-ryan
Click to expand...

My wife says I'm full of dumb ideas! LOL
 
why mess up a bike that will not give you a noticable power gain even with some easy mods. Drop the countershaft sprocked by one tooth and you will get the oomph you want for less than $40. If you dont like the change then put the old sprocket back. PODS you are asking for it. Every one wants pods so ther bike looks cool. But if folks tell the truth, the only good running bikes with pods are bikes whose owners are vey patient, machine lovers who wont give up on carb tuning out of sheer bull headdedness. Very few were just lucky. After you get the 500 pods tuned properly the main power diference will be noisy intake.
 
You can't displace displacement. If your 550 is not fast enough buy a bigger one. You could modify it all day and my 650G would probably still be faster. At 27 years that bike is pretty old and tying to modify it will be more of a headache; rusty screws and worn parts get in the way of your performance goals. Try and pickup a early 80s 850 or a 1100 here for around 1500 - 2000 dollars and you'll be one step ahead . I would ride the 550 for a while and get experienced on it, if this is your first bike, before moving up to 100+ HP.

You will not get the money out of mods should you sell the bike , in fact it may turn buyers off to see the airbox off and a strange exhaust. People think lean running and burnt valves. I personally don't like to see aftermarket parts on a GS since I have no way of knowing if it was done right or not (and yes I know it is possible to tune them properly having done it myself).
 
The previous post was the best advice you could get.

That selling turn off is an excellent point. i never thought of it but ill say that when you bought the bile you were not looking for a street eater but a nice safe tame bike to get riding with. The I need more power syndrome is common with all size bikes after folks get used to them.

Does anyone know where i can buy a big bore kit for my 200cc honda. Il get it to 72 mph yet :lol:
 
I just want mine to look clean, start when I want it to and since I'm a novice, 35 mph feels pretty fast right now :D
 
yeah... that is some solid advice.. i really like the 550... it makes enough power to get around all i need.... in all honesty. i'm just one of those guys that loves to tinker with things and improve them if i can. i want to eventually makea cafe out of it (not a common bike to do a cafe chop on however) omar's has some stuff that should fit, and that side mount taillight is a pretty neat little item. i need to replace my seat in the near future anyhow. it has a buch of cracks from cold weather riding (talking frost and shit). i don't plan on selling it any time soon, as i am most attached to it. it is my first bike, and i am very comfortable with it... just wanting to give it some attention, and some upgrades. not all will be necessary i am sure.
 
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