Kaizo Project

[DomsKat550]

Hi, I have posts on the GS owners thread about my 1982 Katana 550, from when I bought it to starting my conversion process. Here are pictures and info of the project, thanks for viewing

 

[DomsKat550]

Kaizo in Japanese means reconfigure and rebuild (From internet research)

 

[DomsKat550]

Disassembly starting

 

[DomsKat550]

1985 Tailight in 79 cowl

 

[DomsKat550]

Test fitting and modifications
Gas tank from an 82 GS650

 

[DomsKat550]

Bought a frame cut off section on eBay it had all the brackets and hinges etc that I needed. Mig welded them on, measure 20 times cut once!

 

[DomsKat550]

More frame mods-gorilla welds (ugly but strong)

 

[DomsKat550]

Wire wheeled and sanded frame
Primed with Eastwood Rust encapsulator
Painted with SEM gloss black enamel

 

[DomsKat550]

Painted wheels black but
masked off the thin raised sections, love the original Suzuki style rims- also this is a rim from T model 550. It’s 17” x2.5 instead of the Katana 18” x2.15. I put a 130-90 Bridgestone Battlax

 

[DomsKat550]

Here’s the difference, diameter just a little taller so highway revs should be a little less

 

[KiwiAlfa156]

Your bike, your choice, but I'm interested in the fact that you are -from what I can see- turning a GS550M Katana into a GS550E? The 550 Kat in what looks like original condition would be a rarer beast that any other GS550. So I guess I'm asking why?

 

[Vmass]

I was waiting to see if it was an early April Fool's joke!

 

[rphillips]

Probably most here are wondering... The GS550M got to be the most "rare" and "special" GS550 ever made.

 

[Rich82GS750TZ]

Curious why someone would do this.

 

[DomsKat550]

Have a nice life everyone!

 

[Rich82GS750TZ]

Dom, no one wants you to leave. We would just like some reasoning for taking a fully intact Katana and turning it into something lesser (by most opinions). These are just opinions.

 

[rphillips]

No Dom, don't take it the wrong way!!! Your bike, do what you want with it. I think we were thinking you are doing what you're doing to a pretty special and rare GS550M, we were thinking you may could have found a plain old run of the mill GS550, 550E, or 550L to do your mods to and end up with the same outcome, plus still have that original special and rare GS550M still in reasonably good condition. We're mostly Suzuki folks and like seeing the old stuff to be original, the more special and rare the more we feel that way. Good luck with your project and keep us updated.

 

[GS1150Pilot]

Definitely wonder why not trade this rare Kat for a bike that is more akin to the goal you have for it and use the more pedestrian bike as a canvas.

 

[KiwiAlfa156]

Hey Dom, I do really subscribe to "your bike, your choice". So no judgement, just curiosity.