Anyone have an opinion on a GS550

[BaltimoreGS]

Saw an old GS550 for sale on CL but don't know much about them, anyone here have any experiences with them? 

-Jessie

[step]

Yes.  I had an early 80's L model in the mid-90's.

I type 550 when I mean 500 all the time in the past couple days.

The old GS550L ran great.  Think maybe I had to do the charging system over, but it never really gave me a lot of trouble and I was really poor back then so that was a good thing.   My buddy also had one and we had a hell of a lot of fun with them.  IIRC, they are like a GSTwin, but with two more cylinders on the outside.  If you don't mind the dated styling, there is nothing to complain about.  Need to pay attention like with any used bike, but I think they were a decent design for a UJM.

I actually commuted really far on the thing and it never let em down.  It was my only transportation back then.

[BaltimoreGS]

No issues with the 2 carbs into 4 cylinders?  I heard the Nighthawk 550 had some issues with that.

-Jessie

[Big Rich]

There was a thread by Adidas called something like "this is so tempting". He was looking at a 550 in the beginning of the thread.

If you search around on the GSResources, I bet they have some creative solutions for any problems that bike may have.

[step]

I could be wrong, but I am under the strong impression that my old bike was 2 valve per cylinder and four carbs......

I rode the wheels off that thing and never had a problem except for the charging system.

[gsJack]

Parts fiche shows 4 carbs on 81-82 GS550L.

[gsJack]

No issues with the 2 carbs into 4 cylinders?  I heard the Nighthawk 550 had some issues with that.
-Jessie

I had a 85 CB650SC I traded in on my 97 GS and it had 4 carbs so another quick look at fiches to check 83 CB550SC shows 4 carbs also. 

[BaltimoreGS]

I'll have to do some research, I thought it had a 2 carb set up for some reason.  Haven't gone to look at it yet.

-Jessie

Edit:  This one is an '83

[gsJack]

I've got a 2 into 4 setup in the back of my mind for that era but can't recall it offhand, it's gonna bug me until I recall.  It's just passing 40F on the way up and sunny out so maybe a ride will clear my head.   

[BaltimoreGS]

Have a good ride Jack!  I'm trying to remember the Nighthawk I'm thinking of.  There was one that was just full of problems.  I thought it was a 2 into 4 carb set up but it may have actually been a twin cylinder.  The brain cells aren't as sharp as they used to be   

-Jessie

[gsJack]

Didn't think of it when I was riding Jessie, I was having too much fun.    So I looked thru some old buyer's guides and found the four cyl 84 GS550ESE had two two barrel Mikuni carbs.  I think that was the one I was thinking about earlier.  Sounds like something that might have some problems.  That was a sporty model with a half fairing.  It also had the 16" front tire they tried on sporty models for a while and decided was too small needed more gyro for stability as I recall.

[BaltimoreGS]

Talked to the guy on the phone and it turns out he listed it wrong on CL, it is a 1980.  Also got him talked down $150 so far   

-Jessie

[BaltimoreGS]

It now sits in one of my "future project" garages    It is 4 carbs on this year (1980).

-Jessie

[Big Rich]

Nice score! And it appears to have the original front tire too...... 

If you want to upgrade the front brakes, a slotted rotor from later models will bolt right on. Or just swap out the forks for a dual disc front end (since that wheel just has a dust cap covering the mounts for a second rotor).

[J_Walker]

I like the over all look, but those rims.. are very ugly to me.

[step]

That looks reallly really close to my old bike!

Hahhahaa.  Same wheels, but no ape hangers on mine 

Damn!! You go that for $150??  Nice job.