Just picked up a 78 GS550

[chasecmiller]

Scored a lucky deal on a GS550 for $200 including a ton of extra parts for some other bikes.

The bike came completely disassembled, so this should be pretty fun. The kid I bought it from had chopped the back. Planning on chopping it more and giving it to a friend in the long run. I wish that my GS750L came with spoke wheels! This one hasn't started in probably 5 years according to what I was told.

Well, spent an little time on it today, got the engine mounted and electronics set back up. Have to grab another battery and find out who borrowed my charger. Have to do the carbs of course, needs a rear tire and some expected parts.

Hopefully have it running by this time tomorrow, get the engine and frame powder coated next week before my friend does a job on the tank.

Anyone else in the Denver area?

Well, here is the first current state:

 

[detorn]

hello and welcome. can I ask what's your time frame and budget? do you know if the engine even turns?

good luck. can't wait to see what you do with it. I'm usually not a fan of cutting up bikes, but since you're technically saving it from someone else's cut up 2 negative equal a positive. that makes sense right?

 

[chasecmiller]

Current state of affairs

Current state of affairs

Well, I hit it with the cutting wheel and welder to make a hard tail. Had some scrap 7/8's sitting around for the new bars. I rusted the outside of the tank by putting a piece of steel wool in a mason jar with water until it broke down (a couple of days). Rubbed it all over and it fell to pieces, so I just dumped some vinegar on it. I didn't have a wiring harness, I had two that were in pieces, so I put one together from scratch and moved the electronics and battery to a small ammo can on the back of the bike. Cut the exhaust, going to put lollipop style baffles inside to take the noise down a bit. I had a headlight bucket sitting around from a 1940s something tractor that I am going to use.

I wanted the wiring to be visible, but tidy. So, I ran it along the bottom triangle to the power box and used copper loops in hope that they will suffer weather fatigue. I ran all of the wires except the power to the starter and the ground through paracord wrapping to make them look age appropriate. The headlight isn't done that way since I still have to to tie it in. Need to make a bracket for that. Not 100% sure on what to do yet.

The starter went out, so I'll be putting in a replacement on Tuesday. Other than that, it still has quite a bit of work, but going to try and ride this a lot this month.

 

[biglady112]

I just got my 550 running. Sat for nearly 20 years. It is my first motorcycle. I live in downtown Denver. Would not mind meeting up sometime.