New member and proud new owner of a 1981 GS550T

[AKC75]

Hey everybody! After a long, long break from motorcycle ownership. 18 years to be exact. I have recently purchased this gem! When I had originally started my search, I was actually looking to buy an old KZ because I had owned a 76' KZ650SR as my last bike and loved it. That bike made me fall in love with these old rice burners. I love the simplicity and styling.

When I came across this GS550T. It was such a clean daily rider I could not pass it up. The guy I bought it from bought it in Colorado, then drove it to Austin, TX. And had been driving it back and forth to San Antonio.

I came across this site while doing research on this model bike. And the information here has been very helpful!

I grew up riding motorcycles, mostly dirt bikes. And had a couple street bikes in my early 20's. One being the KZ, which sadly got totaled when I was living in Houston with my sister. After that, I have not owned a bike since. Until now at 39 years old. I wanted a nice mid sized bike geared more toward in town riding and brief stints on the highway. This Bike fits the bill perfectly!

Enough talk! Pics!
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[cowboyup3371]

Wow, that looks fantastic. Welcome to the site from another 550T owner

 

[AKC75]

Thanks Cowboy! I already had to perform my first clutch cable replacement. Haha! I plan on acquiring spare parts and cables, nuts and bolts over time so as things wear out I'll have them on hand. I'll being changing the brake pads and changing the oil to Rotella 15W40m this week.

All in all this bike runs pretty darn good. It pulls well and idles around 1k. It starts right up even after being outside in 30 degree moist air.

 

[Nessism]

Nice looking bike. Be sure to check the Newbie Mistakes thread linked in my signature so you can know what to look out for.

 

[steve murdoch]

Excellent intro.
Nice looking bike and imho a good size for a re-introduction to riding.

 

[AKC75]

Nice looking bike. Be sure to check the Newbie Mistakes thread linked in my signature so you can know what to look out for.

Thanks Nessism! As a matter of fact I have gone through that post. So thank you for the very important info. That's how I found out about using She'll Rotella oil in my bike!

I have gone through quite a few threads here while doing my research. And what a wealth of info here. Awesome site you have here!

 

[AKC75]

Excellent intro.
Nice looking bike and imho a good size for a re-introduction to riding.

Thanks Steve! At first I was not even sure I'd remember how to ride! Haha!

But I took right back to it like I had never stopped.

 

[mikerophone]

Welcome, and nice looking bike, like it a lot! Way to go getting the (full sized) pics up right away. Lot's of folks talk too much and don't show us the goods, and then they take a while to figure out the whole photobucket thing and can only post 1 small pic per post.

I dig your blacked out header and pipe, any idea if those are the stock bars?

 

[AKC75]

Welcome, and nice looking bike, like it a lot! Way to go getting the (full sized) pics up right away. Lot's of folks talk too much and don't show us the goods, and then they take a while to figure out the whole photobucket thing and can only post 1 small pic per post.

I dig your blacked out header and pipe, any idea if those are the stock bars?

Thanks Mike! Yea man, I'm no stranger to forums. I belong to a couple others as well.

As for the bars. They are super clean. They look oem but certainly do not look 34 years old. A lot of stuff on this bike does not look 34 years old. But as we know, old bikes are going to need things and stuff is going to break.

My goal was to try and get a running bike that needed as little as possible.

So far so good!

 

[Rob S.]

Talk about clean!

How many miles on her?

 

[AKC75]

Talk about clean!

How many miles on her?

24,350 on the OD.

 

[eil]

Welcome! That is one fine-looking T. I haven't seen a GS with the rear turn signals relocated to the brake light bracket before but I kinda like it.