I Bought A GS And I Have No Idea What It Is

[Guest]

Hey friends!


So, like it says on the tin, I bought a sweet little GS basketcase a few months ago and I really don't know anything about it. It claims to be a 1983 GS550ES, a bike that I couldn't find out much about with cursory Googling. It's someone else's project but it's all there as far as I can tell. I gave $300 for it. Biggest problem I see so far is that the front wheel doesn't hold air with a new tire so it might need replaced. Who can tell me more about this thing? It kinda seems to be a baby Katana? It's got some fancy suspension and brake parts that appear to be unobtanium. It's super rad and very 80s though, which is why I grabbed it (well, that and the price and it looked so sad in the seller's pictures sitting all alone in an empty garage). So, yeah, tell me all about it. Is it a tiny diamond in the rough or a nothing bike fit for the dustbin of history?

 

[rphillips]

Yr. model seems right, GS550E, the "ES" had a larger fairing. It has odd carbs, 2 2bbl, instead of the common 4 individual carbs. 6 spd trans. Looks like a very good project, looks orig., pipes look good, What does the inside of the fuel tank look like? Where's the carbs??? Soapy water on front wheel & tire, valve stem first., that is probably the least of the project. Parts should be available, you just may need to search a little to find them. Good luck

 

[Guest]

re the tire, wonder if there are other options in the size than the kenda, not-so-good reputation on those.... Cool lookin' bike!

 

[Cipher]

tis a thing of beauty! http://gsarchive.bwringer.com/mtsac/~cliff/storage/gs/GS550E-ES-L_1983.PDF Read that manual.
replace carb inlet o-rings. check valves and proceed to sportbike heaven.

get some carbs yikes

 

[Guest]

Hey, thanks! As for the carbs, they're in a box in the garage along with a bunch of the wiring harness and various bits and fasteners. Inside of the tank is super clean. And, yeah, those 2bbl carbs are weird but I'm into weird bike stuff. It's very original, straight, and clean. I need to get it on the lift but I'm in the middle of moving so it's not getting any attention anytime soon.

 

[Guest]

re the tire, wonder if there are other options in the size than the kenda, not-so-good reputation on those.... Cool lookin' bike!

I went with the Kenda because it was cheap and I could get it ASAP. The bike came without a front tire, of all things! I was wheeling it around on a jack at first. Once I really dig into it I'll put decent rubber on it.

 

[Guest]

tis a thing of beauty! http://gsarchive.bwringer.com/mtsac/~cliff/storage/gs/GS550E-ES-L_1983.PDF Read that manual.
replace carb inlet o-rings. check valves and proceed to sportbike heaven.

get some carbs yikes

oooOOOooo! Thanks for the heads up on that PDF, I'm gonna need that. Oh, it has carbs. Recently rebuilt carbs, too. They're in a box in the garage, though.

 

[fbody_mike]

I think the anti dive brake module is the only thing kinda hard to get on this model. Sometimes you can find parts in Europe by searching gsx550 , they had a good production run there too. Fun little bike with the 16 inch front wheel and small frame.

 

[dorkburger]

Nice find, especially since it looks to be complete. Finding matched bodywork is a task in itself, so you're already ahead. They are not necessarily colloctible / valuable, but very cool. I dig the colors.

Keep us in the loop when you get started on the rebuild.

 

[Nessism]

Number one headache with those 550's is ignitor failure, often caused by a charging system that's putting out too much voltage. As soon as you get the bike up and running be sure to check voltage across the battery and shut down if it's more than about 14.7 VDC.

Cycleoring.com for a kit. Don't buy aftermarket carb kits, and don't trust anyone that says "the carbs have been rebuild already."

Check the Newbie Mistakes link in my signature so you know a few things to look out for.

Good luck

 

[Guest]

Number one headache with those 550's is ignitor failure, often caused by a charging system that's putting out too much voltage. As soon as you get the bike up and running be sure to check voltage across the battery and shut down if it's more than about 14.7 VDC.

Cycleoring.com for a kit. Don't buy aftermarket carb kits, and don't trust anyone that says "the carbs have been rebuild already."

Check the Newbie Mistakes link in my signature so you know a few things to look out for.

Good luck

Oh, of course. Whether or not he says they're rebuilt I'm taking them apart and inspecting them. This ain't my first rodeo.

 

[fbody_mike]

https://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?253843-83-87-gs550e-sh775

From recent events I'd suggest just doing the sh775 modification as soon as you can, the risk of killing the expensive ignitor isn't worth it. Check out the link ro get some ideas of where to put it.

 

[Redman]

https://www.suzukicycles.org/All-Suzuki/all_suzuki_models.html



[TABLE="class: standard, width: 450"]
[TR]
[TD]GSX 550 E 1983
Overall Length: 2,125 mm (83.7 in)
Overall Width: 710 mm (28.0 in)
Overall Height:
Seat Height: 780 mm (30.7 in)
Wheelbase: 1,430 mm (56.3 in)
Ground Clearance: 150 mm (5.9 in)
Dry Weight: 192 kg (423 lbs)
Engine type: Air-cooled 572 cc inline-4, DOHC, 16 valves. 64 hp (46.4 kW)/ 10,000 rpm, 49 Nm (5.0 kg-m)/ 8,000 rpm.

Click on the image for larger format.





[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]GSX 550 ES 1983
Overall Length: 2,125 mm (83.7 in)
Overall Width: 710 mm (28.0 in)
Overall Height: 1,110 mm (43.7 in)
Seat Height: 780 mm (30.7 in)
Wheelbase: 1,430 mm (56.3 in)
Ground Clearance: 150 mm (5.9 in)
Dry Weight: 195 kg (429 lbs)
Engine type: Air-cooled 572 cc inline-4, DOHC, 16 valves. 64 hp (46.4 kW)/ 10,000 rpm, 49 Nm (5.0 kg-m)/ 8,000 rpm.

Click on the image for larger format.[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]




Keep in mind, this is a british site, so you see the eurpoean color scheme, and model called GSX

 

[Carter Turk]

I had an 84 550ES blu/wh color scheme.
I was a fun little zippy bike. Bought a second one from an ex Wmrra racer, as the first one came free from a friend in boxes with destroyed cam journals.
The racer motor came with Mega Cycle cams, which made the powerband above 6 grand really entertaining.

 

[GSXR7ED]

Great lookin' bike for $300!

Keep us posted on your progress with all the necessary maintenance.

Ed

 

[Guest]

https://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?253843-83-87-gs550e-sh775

From recent events I'd suggest just doing the sh775 modification as soon as you can, the risk of killing the expensive ignitor isn't worth it. Check out the link ro get some ideas of where to put it.

Huh! Thanks for the heads up on that. I'll definitely look into it. God only knows if the current ignitor works since, you know previous owners. I'll find out soon enough, I reckon.

 

[Steve]

I went with the Kenda because it was cheap and I could get it ASAP. ... Once I really dig into it I'll put decent rubber on it.

Personally, I would replace them BEFORE "digging into it", just to make sure it doesn't slip on the garage floor when you are pushing it around. :-\\\

Yeah, there is virtually NO love for Kenda tires here. I don't know if Shinko has a front tire in your size, but they have a reputation that is a LOT better. Other tires have a bit longer life, but the Shinkos are decent tires.

.

 

[Buffalo Bill]

I went with the Kenda because it was cheap and I could get it ASAP. The bike came without a front tire, of all things! I was wheeling it around on a jack at first. Once I really dig into it I'll put decent rubber on it.

Pirelli Sport Demons, have your sizes available front and rear.

 

[Rob S.]

Pirelli Sport Demons...

Here, here!

 

[fbody_mike]

Yes, I run the sport demons on my 85 gs550e too. Great tire for the twisties.