1972 GT550 cafe build - new topic

Retro, Wild, Cafe, etc. The stuff only your imagination can come up with.

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texranger
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Re: 1972 GT550 cafe build - new topic

Post by texranger »

Stunning...love the color! Great job
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jabcb
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Re: 1972 GT550 cafe build - new topic

Post by jabcb »

Some carb adjustments & now idling nicely. Itching to get the side stand finished so I can go for the first test ride.
BAS (Bike Acquisition Syndrome) - too many bikes but have room for more

Suzuki:
GT750 2x75
GT550 72 & 75
GT380 72
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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 »

jabcb wrote: Fri Apr 09, 2021 1:22 pm Itching to get the side stand finished so I can go for the first test ride.
Make sure it's 'up' before you set off!!! :shock: :lol:
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: 1972 GT550 cafe build - new topic

Post by jabcb »

Test fit of modified side stand — looking good. Should have the bike on the road soon.
Imagecafe-GT550-1886 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 »

Side stand finished.
Imagecafe-GT550-1913 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 »

Looking good. :D
Imagecafe-GT550-1917 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
Zunspec4
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Re: 1972 GT550 cafe build - new topic

Post by Zunspec4 »

WOW 8) 8) 8) 8) jabcb. Seriously sweet machine :up: :up: :up:

Cheers Geoff
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jabcb
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Re: 1972 GT550 cafe build - new topic

Post by jabcb »

Thanks. But, rats.

Petcock leaks around a drip every 10 ~ 15 seconds. It’s a reconditioned petcock that I bought from somebody a few years ago.
Plus float bowl gaskets weep a bit — perhaps because of the leaking petcock.

Wanted to have it ready for a local show next weekend. So I’m looking into doing a manual conversion of an old petcock.
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 »

Difficult to use an inline tap unless you use a later single pipe version and a 3 way 'T' piece to feed the 3 carbs.
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: 1972 GT550 cafe build - new topic

Post by jabcb »

I’m converting an old GT-series 3-outlet petcock to manual.
Pretty straight forward: block off the two passages to the vacuum value with set screws + JBWeld, and flip the lever mechanism around. This gives you off (lever down), on (lever forward) & reserve (lever 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
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Alan H
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Re: 1972 GT550 cafe build - new topic

Post by Alan H »

If you can, post pics of the 'mods' to the tap and I'll 'sticky' the thread for others to easily find.
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: 1972 GT550 cafe build - new topic

Post by jabcb »

Petcock mod worked great. Will post a separate topic detailing the mods.

First ride — started & ran perfectly. But mother nature noticed a spiffy new cafe build on its first ride & the results are:
Imagecafe-GT550-1925 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 »

Oh, soggy heck (or similar). But on the upside, that gold looks well when wet.
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: 1972 GT550 cafe build - new topic

Post by jabcb »

Preferred the maximum-coolness look of a 3-into-1 + the 4LS.

Couldn’t go with the Jemco 3-into-1 like I have on the gray GT750. Jemco is back in business but they no longer make the 3-into-1s.
Higgspeed started making them. Here is a test fit:
Imagecafe-GT550-2245 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 »

A 3-1 does sound nice, and shouldn't make a blind bit of difference top end wise as the weight loss is significant.
Think of how stupid the average person is, then realise that half of them are more stupid than that.
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