GT years and letters

[Coyote]

OK. We are all familiar with J K L M A B. However while searching eBay, I frequently see reference to GT550 R J K L M A B. What does GT550R refer to? Has puzzled me for a long time so I figure it's time to ask.

[kettle kid]

The only R I have ever heard of, is the first Suzuki gt750j, and Suzuki was felling there way, and using up parts from other Suzuki, so the gt750j, and the same with names.. So T750R but not a 550R...

[Alan H]

My original 550 was a J bought in August 1972 - frame 10595/engine 10576 - and was one of the first registered in the UK.
According to the info I have had in the past, the 550 frame and engine numbers started at 10001, so whether there was a pre-production bike or bikes designated R, I have never heard of them.

[jabcb]

Have seen bit of conflicting info.
But I think the T750R was the model name used for the GT750 when Suzuki introduced the bike at the 1970 Toyko show.

R is the model year code for 1971.
In 1971 Suzuki sold the GT750 in Japan, so those bikes would be the GT750R.

Suzuki didn't use a model year code is 1970 & earlier years.
The 1970 lineup:

[jabcb]

And for a little more confusion…

Frame numbers for the export versions of the GT750:
http://www.oldjapanesebikes.com/GT750_f ... ide/page-5

Frame numbers for the Japanese-market GT750, which differs from the export numbering:
http://www.oldjapanesebikes.com/GT750_f ... /page-A511

[joolstacho]

And then again, there's the differences between GT500A & GT500B.
(I'm compiling a list which I'll add when its done).
Someone else may have done this but I haven't found it.

Jools

[oldjapanesebikes]

And then again, there's the differences between GT500A & GT500B.
(I'm compiling a list which I'll add when its done).
Someone else may have done this but I haven't found it.

Jools

Just the trim really - although I am also in the process of doing an in depth review of the differences as well for a section I'm adding to the T/GT Resource pages (see this page) . Perhaps we can compare notes at some point ! Also - have you gone through Murray's site ?

http://www.ozebook.com/compendium/t5002.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Alan H]

I remember when the Cobra first appeared in road tests 'back in the day'.
The only thing it couldn't pass was a petrol station!
I always did like the 500 in any of it's guises, - but too many 550s in the garage now (6 at the last count) to change to a twin - unless one comes up at a bargain price of course!!

[joolstacho]

And then again, there's the differences between GT500A & GT500B.
(I'm compiling a list which I'll add when its done).
Someone else may have done this but I haven't found it.

Jools

Just the trim really - although I am also in the process of doing an in depth review of the differences as well for a section I'm adding to the T/GT Resource pages (see this page) . Perhaps we can compare notes at some point ! Also - have you gone through Murray's site ?

http://www.ozebook.com/compendium/t5002.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Lets keep tabs on it Ian.
Most of the reference material I've found has been Cobra and Titan, not much on GT500.
My mate Mark (Jacko) also has aGT500, (immaculate his is), but also he's a bike mechanic and remembers them from the 70's when they were new. Between us we should be able to pin down the differences.