1972 GT550 cafe build - new topic

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jabcb
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1972 GT550 cafe build - new topic

Post by jabcb »

Starting new topic because the Photobucket policy changes trashed my old topic.

Lost free storage for my 1972 GT550 & decided to do a cafe build.

Pic from when I got the bike.
Imagecafe-GT550-1 by jabcb, on Flickr

Closeup of that wonderful fairing.
Imagecafe-GT550-2 by jabcb, on Flickr

Project is waiting for GT250 motor rebuild to be finished. So its a good time to make some decision.

Had title problems but that is now resolved & I have a PA license plate.
BAS (Bike Acquisition Syndrome) - too many bikes but have room for more

Suzuki:
GT750 2x75
GT550 72 & 75
GT380 72
T500 69 project & 73 project
T350 69 & 71
Honda 85 CB650SC & 86 CB700SC
09 Triumph Bonneville SE
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jabcb
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Re: 1972 GT550 cafe build - new topic

Post by jabcb »

Started working on the project.
Imagecafe-GT550-0326 by jabcb, on Flickr

Did a spiffy job at polishing the brake drums. (We cheated & had forum member Sandman do the work.)
Imagecafe-GT550_6763 by jabcb, on Flickr
BAS (Bike Acquisition Syndrome) - too many bikes but have room for more

Suzuki:
GT750 2x75
GT550 72 & 75
GT380 72
T500 69 project & 73 project
T350 69 & 71
Honda 85 CB650SC & 86 CB700SC
09 Triumph Bonneville SE
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jabcb
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Re: 1972 GT550 cafe build - new topic

Post by jabcb »

The GT380 project was bigger than anticipated, so I put GT550 build on hold until the GT250 & GT380 were done.
Both are done, so we are back at the GT550 build.
BAS (Bike Acquisition Syndrome) - too many bikes but have room for more

Suzuki:
GT750 2x75
GT550 72 & 75
GT380 72
T500 69 project & 73 project
T350 69 & 71
Honda 85 CB650SC & 86 CB700SC
09 Triumph Bonneville SE
sportston
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Re: 1972 GT550 cafe build - new topic

Post by sportston »

Glad you ditched the fairing! :clap:
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jabcb
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Re: 1972 GT550 cafe build - new topic

Post by jabcb »

The fugly fairing is still available for free if anyone is interested.
BAS (Bike Acquisition Syndrome) - too many bikes but have room for more

Suzuki:
GT750 2x75
GT550 72 & 75
GT380 72
T500 69 project & 73 project
T350 69 & 71
Honda 85 CB650SC & 86 CB700SC
09 Triumph Bonneville SE
sportston
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Posts: 1119
Joined: Wed Jul 10, 2013 12:04 pm
Country: England, UK
Suzuki 2-Strokes: FZ50, GP100, RG125 Gamma, GT380, Bandit 1200S

Re: 1972 GT550 cafe build - new topic

Post by sportston »

jabcb wrote:The fugly fairing is still available for free if anyone is interested.
Lol. If its free you never know, you might find someone who will take it off your hands. It might suit a 1970s highway cruiser fan. It reminds me of CHIPs.
dollydog
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Re: 1972 GT550 cafe build - new topic

Post by dollydog »

reminds me of the old AA man's bike in the 50's and 60's :D
Image
cheers, dd.
GTS250 road registered. TS250 engine, Ramair frame.
GT250 big bang road registered. Both pistons fire the same time. USD forks.
GT285 road registered. Overbored - 58mm and TS125 +2 pistons fitted.
GT10 road registered. '65 T10 engine, GT250 frame.
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jabcb
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Re: 1972 GT550 cafe build - new topic

Post by jabcb »

That sidecar looks like the compartment might have enough room to hide two small clowns.
BAS (Bike Acquisition Syndrome) - too many bikes but have room for more

Suzuki:
GT750 2x75
GT550 72 & 75
GT380 72
T500 69 project & 73 project
T350 69 & 71
Honda 85 CB650SC & 86 CB700SC
09 Triumph Bonneville SE
dollydog
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Country: england
Suzuki 2-Strokes: several gt250 ramairs

Re: 1972 GT550 cafe build - new topic

Post by dollydog »

just a bloody big toolbox mate :D
cheers, dd.
GTS250 road registered. TS250 engine, Ramair frame.
GT250 big bang road registered. Both pistons fire the same time. USD forks.
GT285 road registered. Overbored - 58mm and TS125 +2 pistons fitted.
GT10 road registered. '65 T10 engine, GT250 frame.
sportston
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Re: 1972 GT550 cafe build - new topic

Post by sportston »

dollydog wrote:just a bloody big toolbox mate :D
cheers, dd.
I thought it was coffin! I thought that was for carrying off members that didn't make it to collect their ten year chip?
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jabcb
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Re: 1972 GT550 cafe build - new topic

Post by jabcb »

Forks looking spiffy after a lot of hard work. (We cheated and had forum member Sandman do the work.)
Imagecafe-GT550-8147 by jabcb, on Flickr
BAS (Bike Acquisition Syndrome) - too many bikes but have room for more

Suzuki:
GT750 2x75
GT550 72 & 75
GT380 72
T500 69 project & 73 project
T350 69 & 71
Honda 85 CB650SC & 86 CB700SC
09 Triumph Bonneville SE
sportston
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Posts: 1119
Joined: Wed Jul 10, 2013 12:04 pm
Country: England, UK
Suzuki 2-Strokes: FZ50, GP100, RG125 Gamma, GT380, Bandit 1200S

Re: 1972 GT550 cafe build - new topic

Post by sportston »

fork legs brushed then clear lacquered? Looks very nice!
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jabcb
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Re: 1972 GT550 cafe build - new topic

Post by jabcb »

Clear powder coated. Sandman also did the forks + motor covers on the GT250 cafe built.
BAS (Bike Acquisition Syndrome) - too many bikes but have room for more

Suzuki:
GT750 2x75
GT550 72 & 75
GT380 72
T500 69 project & 73 project
T350 69 & 71
Honda 85 CB650SC & 86 CB700SC
09 Triumph Bonneville SE
User avatar
jabcb
Moto GP
Posts: 4240
Joined: Mon Dec 13, 2010 4:32 pm
Country: USA
Suzuki 2-Strokes: 69 T350 thru 75 GT750
Location: southwestern Pennsylvania

Re: 1972 GT550 cafe build - new topic

Post by jabcb »

Rats. Per the service manual the fork spring is tapered because of the oil passages. Looks like fork improvements are limited to oil viscosity & sag adjustment.
ImageGT550-ServiceManual-ForkSpring by jabcb, on Flickr

Started tearing into the motor. A PO had labeled the cylinders when they had the top end off.
Had some metal bits underneath the clutch from the infamous exploding early starter clutches. Luckily I scored a complete late-model clutch + starter clutch assembly on eBay a few years ago.
Imagecafe-GT550-531609024 by jabcb, on Flickr
BAS (Bike Acquisition Syndrome) - too many bikes but have room for more

Suzuki:
GT750 2x75
GT550 72 & 75
GT380 72
T500 69 project & 73 project
T350 69 & 71
Honda 85 CB650SC & 86 CB700SC
09 Triumph Bonneville SE
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Alan H
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Re: 1972 GT550 cafe build - new topic

Post by Alan H »

Looking good now that fugly fairing is off!
Good news about the replacement clutch too.
Think of how stupid the average person is, then realise that half of them are more stupid than that.
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