GPZ550, is it a good bike? need advice ASAP

lugoismad · Nova Slayer Joined: 15 Jul 2007 Karma :

I posted an ad for my bike online, because I want to get something bigger.

I have a guy that wants to trade me for a Kawasaki GPZ550.
I'm sure this is a pretty even trade.

He said it needs a few small things done, the most major of which is new coils. He has replacement coils for it, and he said they just need to be changed to get it back into riding condition. He said he can start it up and run it for me, however it doesn't idle or rev very well because of the bad coils.

How hard are coils to change? Do I have to take apart the engine, or is it like changing out an alternator on a car? I don't know much about mechanics on bikes at all.

He said he could bring it down one morning this week, and we'd swap bikes and go to the title office to change hands on the titles.

Anything else I should know on this bike?

Lanny · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 23 Jul 2007 Karma :

Had one of those a few years ago - Unlikely to be the ignition coils (if that`s what you mean) - More likely to be the pickup coils -

Easy change.

Timing cover is on right-hand side of bike (looking from the back)
Undo 2 bolts on cover - Pick ups are in there - Hope this helps
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Robby · Dirty Old Man Joined: 16 May 2002 Karma :

Changing coils on GPZ550 is simple. You take off the fuel tank, unbolt the old ones and bolt in the new ones. The electrical connectors just pop in.

Its so easy, that it makes you wonder why he hasn't done it himself - its a 20 minute job for a complete amatuer. This suggests the problem is deeper than dodgy coils.

Other than that, GPZ550s are ok. Nothing special about them, they rot away as old cheaper kawasakis tend to, but I assume you're in America, and in the south rust is less of an issue. What is it being swapped for?

lugoismad · Nova Slayer Joined: 15 Jul 2007 Karma :

lugoismad · Nova Slayer Joined: 15 Jul 2007 Karma :

qthetape · Nova Slayer Joined: 05 Jul 2007 Karma :

check the compression if you can

personally unless your looking for a project
i wouldnt touch it with a barge pole - dodgy electrics on an old bike coming into winter
maybe see if hell add a bus pass to the deal.
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found something better to do with my time

lugoismad · Nova Slayer Joined: 15 Jul 2007 Karma :

qthetape · Nova Slayer Joined: 05 Jul 2007 Karma :

Big Pete · Spanner Monkey Joined: 18 Jul 2004 Karma :

Be warned, the box won't go into 2nd unless the motor is turning - its a Kwak thing. fire it up and check the pipes to see which ones get hot, ideally take it for a quick spin around the block. If part of the ignition system has gone down 2 of the pipes will be noticeably cooler than the others, which will tell you which pickup/coil has died.
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