Suzuki GS550E circa 1980-1

[Suntan Sid]

I promised "nowhere.elysium" that I'd post up some photos of my old GS550E. After scratching around I found the one's I was looking for.
I don't want to hi-jack Nowhere's thread so here it is in all it's glory.
These photo were taken in 1984 & 85, so the bike would be 4 or 5 years old.
I can't remember where I bought this bike from, probably a private sale locally, to be honest I can't even remember what colour it was before I sprayed it white.

It was all sprayed up with rattle cans, in the front room, no room in the garage, it was full of my dad's MG BGT!

This is my younger bruv, sitting on it, by the look on his face he was probably thinking "Why am I building an RD 200 and BSA Starfire from two boxes of bits when I could be riding this"

https://i645.photobucket.com/albums/uu172/Troodos-Pool-Guy/GS55003.jpg

The mists of time have fogged my memory so I can't really remember what model it was, "EN" springs to mind, without a good googling I don't know.
I definitely added the the cockpit fairing, plastic mudguard, rear sets and the cut down seat. The engine bars were already on it as was the Piper 4-1 exhaust. Note the "Avon Road Runner" tyres, gold Hammerite forks and blue Hammerite wheels!

https://i645.photobucket.com/albums/uu172/Troodos-Pool-Guy/GS55001.jpg

Here she is parked up at Aintree, by the looks of it, please note the rears sets and more gold Hammerite! Foam grips, do they still make them?

https://i645.photobucket.com/albums/uu172/Troodos-Pool-Guy/GS55000.jpg

I spy me, in the reflection of the rocker cover, taking a photo of the very shiny crankcase, no power tools where used just Autosol and a cloth. More gold Hammerite FFS!

https://i645.photobucket.com/albums/uu172/Troodos-Pool-Guy/GS55002.jpg

Here she is pre TT 1985, I got rid of the Piper 4-1, (it was knackered inside it used to spit out chunks of baffle when it was in a bad mood), and went for a "Sebring" 4-1, made a real nice noise with that on.
For the car spotters amongst you the blue car in the background is a Vauxhall Magnum, the white one's a Marina, not one of BL's finest it has to said.

https://i645.photobucket.com/albums/uu172/Troodos-Pool-Guy/GS55004.jpg

So in the I.O.M, the sun is shining, and a few flies died.

https://i645.photobucket.com/albums/uu172/Troodos-Pool-Guy/GS55005.jpg

Me, 27 years ago, not a grey hair in sight FFS , at Hillberry campsite, 1985 I.O.M. TT, from memory I don't think it rained that year.

https://i645.photobucket.com/albums/uu172/Troodos-Pool-Guy/GS55006.jpg

I sold my 250 LC to buy this, mainly to accomodate my GF of the time.
It was a barge in comparison, but it was a bit more comforatble for longer distances.
My mates and I did Aintree, Three Sisters, Oulton Park, North Wales, forest of Bowland, Rivington Barn that sort thing and a one off forray down to Silverstone for the bike GP.

I can't remember anything major going wrong with it, the only thing that springs to mind was the clutch would start grumbling if you got stuck in traffic on a hot day.

I'm amazed it's so clean, I can't remember being that enthused about washing and waxing!

There was a feature in one of the bike magazines last summer comparing three 550's of the era and suzi came out on top, so it can't have been that much of a slug.

Fark, where did those 27 years go!
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"Everybody needs money, that's why they call it money!"

[P.]

That is oldschool!

You still look the same

[Suntan Sid]

[nowhere.elysium]

Nice. I'm particularly liking the leather jacket and brogues PPE that you've got going on

At this rate, my master plan of turning a corner of BCF into oldskoolsuzuki mk. 2 will come to fruition by the end of the week...
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'10 SV650SF, '83 GS650GT (it lives!), Questionable DIY dash project, 3D Printer project, Lasercutter project

[Suntan Sid]

[Moxey]

Very nice looking bike, got me itching for another air cooled 4cyl Suzi all of a sudden (funnily enough my Bandit 600 had been attacked by a man with a brush and tin of hammerite must be a recurring theme).

The GS500E I now have I sold my CBR 400 for, was to better accommodate a now ex gf is also more comfortable for longer distances but fek that I want my CBR back haha
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Current: 02 FZS 1000 & 51 Moto Guzzi California Some Bike Pics...
'I was too busy paying attention to pay attention'

[Suntan Sid]

I've been wracking my brain trying to remember what colour it was before I sprayed it. My mate had a blue one, I have photographic evidence of that, mine wasn't the same colour as his. I've got a feeling it was red, but as I came from the blue half of liverpool that was unacceptable! l
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"Everybody needs money, that's why they call it money!"

[Trenchfoot Tom]

Whoa, Suntan, that was a trip down memory lane, or the memory motorway considering how long ago that was.

Had me thinking what happened to mine and eventually I remembered it was nicked. I remember you spraying your GS and it impressed me enough for me to take a can or two to my LC...what a bollocks up that was especially when the orange faded to white on one side of the tank due to the sun. Probably what they invented laquers for which this soft sod couldn't be arsed using.

[Suntan Sid]

[mysterious_rider]

seriously cool stuff. Cheers.

[Trenchfoot Tom]

So what colour was mine before I sprayed it, you got any photos?[/quote]

Sid, I was counting on you taking all the photos of our mispent. I may have some but where the hell they are I have no idea but I'm with you I think it was red.

[Suntan Sid]

Yours was blue, I've got a photo of you standing next to it, proudly, displaying a speeding ticket, you won going through the Mersey tunnel!
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"Everybody needs money, that's why they call it money!"

[Trenchfoot Tom]

Yeah, I remember mine being blue I think I confused you by being a complete techno dick and not knowing how to use the 'quote' feature proper.

As for the speeding ticket you must be mistaken I have never broken the rules of the road as laid down by Her Majesty.

[Suntan Sid]