Suzuki GT550 L 1974 Lost cause

Photos and progress of your restorations, even bikes you had but no longer own.

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Hush
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Suzuki 2-Strokes: 74 GT550 L 73 GT250K

Re: Suzuki GT550 L 1974 Lost cause

Post by Hush »

Well it lives, after I have no idea how many years lying in not particularly good storage and with only $11,000 NZ spent so far lol. :D A few teething issues but the timing is so spot on it will start on the kick starter and run on just one cylinder, either center or Right but not Left, that is where my issue lies right now! I can't do too much until I have the correct tank for it which wont be until next month. The seat came out pretty nice even though the upholstery shop got the pattern wrong for the year (74) but for now it is a seat and I have bigger things to sort. Correct guard fitted and looks so much better.
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cobraace
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Re: Suzuki GT550 L 1974 Lost cause

Post by cobraace »

Looking good you are persistent :clap:
Hush
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Suzuki 2-Strokes: 74 GT550 L 73 GT250K

Re: Suzuki GT550 L 1974 Lost cause

Post by Hush »

Nice Aussie chap sent me his points plate complete off his good running 550 as he had fitted electronic ignition, fitted them and the bike now runs beautifully. Tuning is a touch off but it is as close as a backyard numpty like me can get so will have a friend who lives for two strokes to tune it in for me. Awaiting tank to be painted plus a few other bits'n bobs like the seat chrome surround, tank decals, fuel tap rebuild kit and the correct cover for the seat. I thought I could live with the 72/73 cover the upholstery shop fitted but nah, I will change it for the correct 74L pattern one.
Hush
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Suzuki 2-Strokes: 74 GT550 L 73 GT250K

Re: Suzuki GT550 L 1974 Lost cause

Post by Hush »

smaller 3.jpg
So onward with the sad tale of the "lost cause", The L/H outer pipe had some damage that had annoyed me for some time so I bit the bullet and bought a reasonable one from the US for $138 Kiwi, unfortunately the seller did not clean it up and it was deemed "prohibited goods" by the freight forwarding company I use, luckily the GT550 world is full of amazingly generous people and it wasn't long before I was chatting to a chap I had bought some GT550 parts off and he said "just send it to me Rick and I'll clean it up and get it sent to you". So $138 for the pipe, then $83 to send it back across the US to Jim and then whatever it costs to get it back to me here in Godzone. I also wasn't that happy with the 72 style cover the upholstery company had fitted to the seat so I purchased the correct 74 cover and taking a huge leap of faith I took the seat apart and did the recover job myself. I had bought the chrome seat surround which I finally figured out how to fit, I was well pleased with how it looked when finished. The tank decals turned up finally just in time as my son had started the painting on the tank and side covers. Apologies to the rivet counters but I couldn't purchase the correct colour for the paint and getting desperate to get the bike on the road for the summer I just picked out a nice green I liked and that is what is going on it. I still need to get the bike road legal with Warrant of Fitness (WOF) VIN and road registration.
side3.jpg
side5.jpg
smaller 3.jpg
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Last edited by Hush on Wed Nov 04, 2020 3:02 am, edited 3 times in total.
GTandcbr
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Re: Suzuki GT550 L 1974 Lost cause

Post by GTandcbr »

Good progress. I commend your persistance sir! I can tell you it will be worth it in the end. The first time you take it for a good ride you will see what at great bike they are :D
As for the colour, its your bike paint it as you like!
98 carb Blackbird and GT550j
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Lorenzo
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Re: Suzuki GT550 L 1974 Lost cause

Post by Lorenzo »

After having red so far, a question: are you shure you gonna set for the paint color or you're trying ti convince yourself?
I know It should be one of the easiest thing, popping up tto a color shop and ask for a "color code 215, color number: 2834" 750cc will do nicely, tank you...
Save from being stared at like a martian by the person over the counter...
Following greedily.
Hush
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Suzuki 2-Strokes: 74 GT550 L 73 GT250K

Re: Suzuki GT550 L 1974 Lost cause

Post by Hush »

Being in New Zealand has plusses and minuses, right now we have no Covid in society so life is pretty normal, the negative is being able to pop over the the next village where some amazing guru does chrome work or fettles carbs lol. We have a population of 5 million, that is a small city in any other country. The correct paint was found in the UK but they wouldn't ship it due to it's explosive nature. I have been working on this machine for just over 12 months now, I started with a good front wheel and a frame, the rest I have had to purchase or been given from all around the world, the GT550 family is international, I guess we just want to save these smelly rattlers. Anyhow I need this bike on the road for this summer so it is gonna be green! The initial colour is on the tank, my son removed the first lot as he is a bit OCD and repainted it, there are 5 coats of clears going on and the tank decals will go on somewhere in there.
My GT550 tank.jpg
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Hush
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Suzuki 2-Strokes: 74 GT550 L 73 GT250K

Re: Suzuki GT550 L 1974 Lost cause

Post by Hush »

I really like the look of this bike, it is just a random photo off the net (possibly a US bike as it has red rear indicators) If I can get that colour effect I will be pleased.
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Lorenzo
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Re: Suzuki GT550 L 1974 Lost cause

Post by Lorenzo »

When I repainted my RG, I went to a shop which boasted a refractomether, and ask them to detect the orange; they said : "OK, how much do you need of it'? I said about 125cc {it was only for the stripes, but I also needed the rest...}) they played the can:t be bothered tune. So I went to another shop and asked " that, that and also that". The result suites me and the censor in myself, and everyone is happy.
But, being the "me" I am, I did not like the transparent (of a renowned air-pens brands cause I thought it came out too yellowish, so, I am so ding piece to piece in and reapplying a solid polyurethane one.
If I might give a suggestion, do not paint the clear over the decals but offer them to the last coat of clear, so in case you decide to make a correction, you do not have to remove them and reapply the base coat, because of the little step they created.
Anyway, color is good!
Hops, I did not spot your latest pic while editing...
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Lorenzo
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Re: Suzuki GT550 L 1974 Lost cause

Post by Lorenzo »

Simply stunning!
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Alan H
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Re: Suzuki GT550 L 1974 Lost cause

Post by Alan H »

Another 550 lives! Best of luck with the riding now.
Think of how stupid the average person is, then realise that half of them are more stupid than that.
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jabcb
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Re: Suzuki GT550 L 1974 Lost cause

Post by jabcb »

Sweet. Congrats on a job well done. :up:
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
Hush
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Posts: 73
Joined: Mon Jun 29, 2020 11:31 pm
Country: New Zealand
Suzuki 2-Strokes: 74 GT550 L 73 GT250K

Re: Suzuki GT550 L 1974 Lost cause

Post by Hush »

Jezz I wish you guys would read the words and not just look at the pictures lol :lol: Anyhow that lovely green 550 in the last photo isn't mine but I do intend to match it in a couple of weeks so lets see how I get to compare. :up:
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Lorenzo
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Re: Suzuki GT550 L 1974 Lost cause

Post by Lorenzo »

:) It took me ten minutes to post my message before the last, having to fight with correctors, tiny pitch black keys interfaces and the likes, that, when I saw the photo, I thought "jeez this guy is quick..." :lol:
So my humble suggestions still apply.
Speaking 'bout pics, you Sir cannot just get away with "my son painted the tank..." ;
there are many a way to paint a something, starting with what color of primer, which basecoat (if any) and which transparent, and the # of hands applied...
One doesn't just pick a can and apply color, or rather, that's the short climax of a long prepping job.
So you wanna be more verbose with your images...
Hush
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Suzuki 2-Strokes: 74 GT550 L 73 GT250K

Re: Suzuki GT550 L 1974 Lost cause

Post by Hush »

Yeah I guess so, my son who is now a Police Officer started his working life as a car painter and he is so particular I expect a good result. As I said, I now have to live up to that beautiful bike picture I stole as a muse. :oops: :oops:
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