72 Suzuki GT550.exhaust

[wavehog33]

I an in need of the center cylinder exhaust for a 72 Suzuki GT550. The part numbers are different through the years, why will a 73-76 inner exhaust not work with the 72? Thank you!!

[Alan H]

No joining pieces on the later exhausts in the UK. Like the bike in the top right corner of the page.
But the frames change and exhaust hangers were different too.

[wavehog33]

No joining pieces on the later exhausts in the UK. Like the bike in the top right corner of the page.
But the frames change and exhaust hangers were different too.

Are the center cyl, inner pipes, exchangeable??

[Alan H]

Deends where you are I suppose.

[jabcb]

Suzuki changed the GT550 frame mounts for the mufflers. You can see the difference if you look at frames on eBay.

The GT380 & GT750 frame changes are big enough difference that Higgspeed has different pipes for J/K & L-B models.
Higgspeed has only one version of pipes for the GT550.

I’m not sure, but I think the GT550 J/K & L-B frame mounts for the mufflers are pretty much in the same location.
(Bracket looks different but bolt for muffler in pretty much the same location.)
Higgspeed might be able to confirm this.

Even if the frame mount wasn’t moved, there might be some other difference.

[wavehog33]

Suzuki changed the GT550 frame mounts for the mufflers. You can see the difference if you look at frames on eBay.

The GT380 & GT750 frame changes are big enough difference that Higgspeed has different pipes for J/K & L-B models.
Higgspeed has only one version of pipes for the GT550.

I’m not sure, but I think the GT550 J/K & L-B frame mounts for the mufflers are pretty much in the same location.
(Bracket looks different but bolt for muffler in pretty much the same location.)
Higgspeed might be able to confirm this.

Even if the frame mount wasn’t moved, there might be some other difference.

Thanks Bob, so are the j and K the same? I see EBAY listings with 73-77 and 72 separate???

[jabcb]

I have reproduction printed parts manual for (1) 72-75 & (2) 73-77. Got both manuals via eBay.

Just looking at the inner RH muffler.
Per the 72-75 manual:
J/K: 14303-34000 to 14303-34001
L/M: 14303-34001

Per the 73-77 manual:
K: 14303-34002
L: 14303-34002
M/A: 14303-34611
B: 14303-34621

Just looking at the outer RH muffler.
Per the 72-75 manual:
J/K: 14301-34000 to 14301-34001
L: 14301-34001 to 14301-34002
M: 14301-34002

Per the 73-77 manual:
K: 14301-34003
L: 14301-34003
M/A/B: 14301-34611

Just looking at the center Y-pipe.
Per the 72-75 manual:
J/K: 14170-34000 to 14170-34001
L: 14170-34001 to 14170-34002
M: 14170-34002

Per the 73-77 manual:
K: 14170-34000 to 14170-34001
L: 14170-34002 from 14170-34001
M/A/B: 14170-34610

Just looking at the spring that holds the couplers together.
Per the 72-75 manual:
J/K: no spring
L/M: 09443-11002

Per the 73-77 manual:
K: no spring
L: 09443-11002
M/A/B: no spring

Just looking at the center stand.
Per the 72-75 manual:
J/K/L/M: 42100-31000

Per the 73-77 manual:
K/M/A/B: 42100-31000

Just looking at the side stand.
Per the 72-75 manual:
J/K/L/M: 42310-31900 from 42310-31000

Per the 73-77 manual:
K/M/A/B: 42310-31000

Just looking at the frame.
Per the 72-75 manual:
J/K: 41100-34000
L/M: 41100-34100

Per the 73-77 manual:
K: 41100-34000
L/M/A: 41100-34100
B: 41100-34101

Took a look at the online parts manual as well. It looks to be closer to the printed 72-75 manual than the printed 73-77 manual.
I suspect that the 73-77 manual changes are a bit screwy because they dropped the couplers for later models in Europe, but kept them for all years in the US.

I think comparing the GT550 parts # mess to the GT750 provides some useful insight. For the GT750 outer RH muffler:
GT750K: 14301-31000
GT750L: 14301-31200 for the frame/cornering clearance mods
GT750M/A/B: 14301-31620 for the no-coupler mods

My guess is that the US GT550 mufflers are backward compatible. The later mufflers had the spring mount & the early ones didn’t.
The GT550 mufflers don’t have a major-mod part # change corresponding to the frame redesign. (Such as -34002 to -34202)
The GT550 mufflers with the -34611s are likely the European version without the couplers.