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What do I have?? Good and bad

  • Thread starter Thread starter donkris
  • Start date Start date
D

donkris

Guest
Hey folks
I have a question on model designations. My bike is an 81 GS550T. Can anybody tell me about the "T" and what's the difference between my bike and the others, like the "E" for instance. It seems like 81 was the only year for the "T". Sorry if it's a stupid question but this is my first bike and I'm just trying to learn as much as possible about it. Also any opinions on the good and bad aspects of this bike. Thanks.
 
it's suzuki's attempt at a cafe style bike, basically a E model got it on with a L model, and had the T. It has all the specs of a E and is sporty like the E but has the crome, rear fender, and smaller gas tank of the L.

It's a good bike and i like mine, One BTW if you are looking for specs you can use most of the 1980+ E specs to get things setup on it.
 
At least for the 750's, it doesn't have anywhere NEAR as small a tank as the L model.
 
The T stands for the year model.

1980-N
1981-T
1982-X
1983-D

Suzuki mad.
 
Suzuki mad said:
The T stands for the year model.

1980-N
1981-T
1982-X
1983-D

Suzuki mad.
Click to expand...

Your list is off a little.
1979= N
1980= T
1981= X
1982= Z
1983= D

The T, L, and E don't have anything to do with this list. They designate body style and are listed before the model year. ET, LN, TZ, etc.
 
Like those above, the T model was the basic GS. It didn't have quite as many features as an E.

Brad bt
 
Suzuki dropped the E model in the US for 1981 and offered either the T or the L. The tank is same as the L and only one disc brake up front (unlike some but not all E models which seem to have two). Not sure what features it's missing other than no fuel gauge. Oh, and it uses a 17" rear wheel which is unique to the 550 family.
 
The best I remember, the "T" models were the most economical models of the "GS" series. Used the same power plant & drivetrain, as the other models, but used single disc up front, & I think drum brakes in rear. Probably a few other minor, cheaper, details. Nothing to be deemed "BAD", but no special features either. Also the cafe styled were the "S" models, don't remember anything cafe about the "T".
 
Nessism said:
Suzuki dropped the E model in the US for 1981 and offered either the T or the L. The tank is same as the L and only one disc brake up front (unlike some but not all E models which seem to have two). Not sure what features it's missing other than no fuel gauge. Oh, and it uses a 17" rear wheel which is unique to the 550 family.
Click to expand...
My 80 550L has a disc brake and a 17 inch rear wheel.
 
my_gs550_w-mods.jpg

the only things i have changed on this are exhaust, bars, turn signals crash bars (now removed) and filters other then that this is what a stock gs550T looks like

I am tell you guys, you are mostly all wrong.

I have had a T for about 5 years now and a factory manuel covering all models, I have seen the ads for the T model in old playboys, Suzuki was going for a cafe look with it. The 79-80 GS 1000S was their sport model, back in the day cafes didn't have fairings they were naked. Sport bikes used what would be considered by todays standands cafe fairings.

The 550T (or gs550TX as called in the factory manuel) was only made in 81 it has a 4.5 gallon tank which is smaller then the E model, it has a single vented disk front brake ( no 550 ever had dual front brakes, the 650's did) it has a rear 17" wheel (which most gs's have) and a vented rear disk break, (the gs750 T had a rear drum break, which is very odd for it being a bigger bike) it is chain driven, uses the same carbs and engine as a 80+ gs550 (all models used the same motor)
it has standard under the fork axle forks, (L models ran leading axle forks and a slightly diffrent frame geometry) it has the same wheel base as a E model. it is the only 550 with a painted front fender, it also has no tail section but uses a painted rear fender from the L. It also runs a smaller chrome 7" or 6" head light as well.
 
Last edited:
jimcor said:
My 80 550L has a disc brake and a 17 inch rear wheel.
Click to expand...

I stand corrected. :oops:

Early L model 550's had 17" but by 1981 (the year of the T model) the L went to a 16" wheel.

The T model has high handlbars with angled back grips and a teardrop L series tank. Nothing "cafe" about that. In my mind the T clearly splits the difference between the L and the previous E model. Nice bike but not particularly sporty. If anything the T moved toward cruiser since Suzuki added chrome to the bike (chain guard, pegs, head lamp, etc.) just like the L model. The older sporty E used blacked out components - several of which were plastic (such as the chain guard and rear fender) unlike the T which has real metal there. :)

DSC01937.jpg
 
Last edited:
The 750T didn't use the L style gastank. It wasn't as big as the E but wasn't as small as the L either. Mine is over 4 gallons.

It did, however, have chrome front and rear fenders, the single front disc brake and rear drum. It also had a stepped seat and no oil temp gauge, but it did have the fuel gauge. Also, it had the TSCC engine from '82 and the '83 models used the excess '82 TSCC engines, except painted black. The rest of the GS 750 line in '83 used updated TSCC engines. Here's a pic of mine:

http://groups.msn.com/SuzukiGSGarage/unclemikesfirstbike.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=5559
 
Wow! You guys have all the answers. The pics that first timer and Nessism posted look exactly like mine, only much cleaner! Maybe some day I'll get it to look half that good. Thanks to everybody for all the info.

Hey Nessism, I noticed you said you removed your crash bars, if you still have them and want to sell them I'd be interested. Let me know.
 
donkris said:
Hey Nessism, I noticed you said you removed your crash bars, if you still have them and want to sell them I'd be interested. Let me know.
Click to expand...

Must have been First Timer who removed the bars, not me. I removed the backrest/luggag rack though so if you're interested...
 
To further confuse the subject I ride a 1980 GS1000G and the year code for it is T. It is not a T model, only the year. Not sure why the difference in designation between the different size bikes-this has puzzeled me for some time now.
 
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