GT550

[bandit1200]

Hi All

The GT550 was manufactured in August 1974, so I guess that does make it a 75 model?
There is a close up of the frame no. in one of the photos.

[oldjapanesebikes]

There is a good frame number chart on Jarmo's site - the url is:

http://www.suzukicycles.org/photos/iden ... x-wide.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Buffalo-guy]

The mags in question strike me as being a Shelby-Dowde(?) product. It's the only one that comes to mind. Being a Rick Brett deal would explain the pile of Kaw triples on the trailer in one of those pics. I could be out to lunch on that one, but I've just had lunch, so I must be right. Cheers.
Fred

[bandit1200]

There is a good frame number chart on Jarmo's site - the url is:

http://www.suzukicycles.org/photos/iden ... x-wide.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

That makes this one a GT550M? so earlier post was right. Cheers.

[oldjapanesebikes]

That makes this one a GT550M? so earlier post was right. Cheers.

Yep !

And this is a good site to bookmark for vintage wheels - lots of photos ! I'm thinking those wheels on the GT550 you are considering are Henry Abe's

[bandit1200]

That makes this one a GT550M? so earlier post was right. Cheers.

Yep !

And this is a good site to bookmark for vintage wheels - lots of photos ! I'm thinking those wheels on the GT550 you are considering are Henry Abe's

Again you appear to be right! They are Henry Abes! I might have a chat with Mr Brett about this bike. I am becoming intrigued!

[jabcb]

Oldjapanesebikes, definitely looks like you're right.

Here is an ad on a Honda forum for Henry Abe wheels off a 1975 CB400F:
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=83461.0

Henry Abe was a Japanese company that was renamed the Daytona Corporation.
Their "Seven Star" wheel dates back to 1975.
http://daytona-global.com/company/histo ... ytona.html

[H2RICK]

Right....Henry Abe.....and they're usually identified by "HA" cast into them. Thanks for figuring that out, guys.

[bandit1200]

Any guidelines on a price I should be looking at if I buy this bike?
Rick Brett says it has been laid up for a little while so it will need a good looking at.
Rick has quoted £1850.

Any thoughts?

[H2RICK]

Unfortunately, you guys in the UK get bent over badly on prices of old bikes. GBP 1850 equals about US$3000 or thereabouts.
A bike like that (actual running condition unknown) in Canada would probably go for US$1500 - $2000 in this economy. Since you can't hear it run, the price would probably end up on the low end of that spread i.e ~GBP 950 or so.
If it doesn't run, you are basically buying a parts bike, IMO, no matter who you're buying it from or what they tell you about the condition of the bike.
It may very well turn out to be a simple job to get it running properly....OR it may turn out to be a money pit. At this time you have NO way of knowing which it will be.

Rick Brett says it has been laid up for a little while so it will need a good looking at.

Rick is a great guy....but obviously he doesn't think the bike is worth putting any time into it to get it running....or else he'd have already done so and advertised it as a good runner.
If it was currently running and in good order then the asking price is on the high end but is not ridiculously high.

My .02 worth.....