The GS 550 started production in 1977, to compete with the 4-stroke Honda 550F Super Sport. Up to that point, Susuki was known only for 2 strokes.
We found it under a carport where it had sat for years. It would not start, but only had 5000 miles on the odometer!
After a good cleaning, we sprayed out the carbs and got it started! It was super fun to ride around listening to the factory stereo.
So much fun, but Mandy hated the windjammer and it did make it heavy, so it will need to go...and we sold it? Yes someone bought it!
We removed the Windjammer and found this super sexy beast under that ugly hat. The seat was super comfy and what a blast to just cruise... I loved it
Mandy learned to ride on this GS 550L after we changed the seat out to a Cafe' style which was lower...but the bike was still too heavy.
Quick carb rebuild and the GS 550L was humming like a sewing machine. What a great bike.
Next was preliminary fit of the new Cafe' seat. It is an upswept tail on the seat, so we will need to cut the frame and add an upswept frame hoop.
Nothing is specifically made for Cafe' Bikes, so a lot of fabrication is needed on the seat. We pulled apart the seat to cut and mold the frame.
Mark and cut the frame, this was so satisfying.
Welding in the frame hoop, and then cutting and welding the gussets to fill the oval frame supports that we cut out (see below the hoop).
Rebuilding the seat and seat frame with the new mods done to fit flat on the GS 550L frame.
We wanted to keep the chrome fender from the original bike, but want to bob it some so it doesn't stick out. Mandy figuring that out.
Then up to me to fabricate the new bobbed fender to fit the stock supports in the frame and look stock.
Not done yet, but that seat and hoop look great. New lower bars and now wiring the tail light. Want to see a video of this on our YT channel?
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