Just snagged up my 2nd '83 suzuki!

[Big Rich]

I have / had a couple GR's, but never a 550. So for comparisons, I may be a little biased.

The single most important thing to know when getting a GR is the engine condition. While it was sold in the USA for about a year and a half, it was sold elsewhere around the world until 1989 or so. Engine parts can be.... elusive sometimes. Everything else on the bike can be easily replaced either from another model or sometimes on ebay.

Congrats on the recent purchase! Barnbiketom recently acquired a GR and he told me it is one of the best bikes he has ridden. Motorcyclist magazine voted the GR as the "best buy of the year" in 1983 btw.

 

[Jedz123]

I've had both a GS550 and a GR650. The GR650 has more off the line go but the inline 4 has more top end pull and loves to scream past that redline... Also the GR650 gearing is ridiculously high. Sprockets are very hard to find so hope you like a high revved twin at anything over 60mph. The 550 is smoother and I'd say faster. Better aftermarket support and sprockets variations are more abundant with the 550. IF given a choice again I'd take a 550 over the 650 twin. IT just wasn't what I needed or wanted in a bike.

I'm sitting on a bunch of GR parts right now, a complete motor too which ran and held idle before I parted the bike out. NO leaks, no smoke. So if you need some parts let me know.

Good luck with it.

 

[castheandra]

@ jedz123 thanks a lot! I'm hoping I dont have to swap any parts this season BUT when the time comes I will give you a shout indeed!

 

[castheandra]

A scrapyard with 1000 bikes? So you've been to Woody's have you?
I was there about 5 years ago. What a mess. Regardless, we had a blast rutting through the junk.
Congrats on the new ride.

haha, yeah it was woody's! He was pretty excited about the fact I was searching for 83 550L parts! Place is a total maze of bikes but I found what I needed

 

[castheandra]

I have / had a couple GR's, but never a 550. So for comparisons, I may be a little biased.

The single most important thing to know when getting a GR is the engine condition. While it was sold in the USA for about a year and a half, it was sold elsewhere around the world until 1989 or so. Engine parts can be.... elusive sometimes. Everything else on the bike can be easily replaced either from another model or sometimes on ebay.

Congrats on the recent purchase! Barnbiketom recently acquired a GR and he told me it is one of the best bikes he has ridden. Motorcyclist magazine voted the GR as the "best buy of the year" in 1983 btw.

my 550 is a GS-L model, not a GR. Everything I've read about the 83gr650 has been pretty awesome, can't wait to get it home and see how I like it!