GT550

Got this 1977 GT550 about 11 years ago being sold locally by a chap only a few streets away.

Current Status :

Pictures below show the current status of the bike January 2024 post a full engine rebuild.

Twin brake setup added with new master cylinder, new cables all round, new Suzuki mirrors and new lock set. Also now fitted with accent ignition & new set of coils.

The aftermarket Master Cylinder works well with the twin suzuki calipers now fitted and is a major improvement over the standard setup. Riding position good and suspension great for the kinds of back roads around Essex.

Still got a few little niggles, like the Gear Indicator not working for #3, a small transmission oil leak, and rework the rear mudguard, but overall not bad after initial 50 miles OTR.

Bike back on bench to fit original pipes for few hundred while bedding in the rebuilt engine.

Early Doors :

Pictures below are of the bike when I first got it. All there but bits dented and worn out in places. Wrong top end (from early model) which didn't match the later carbs so someone had cut the fins to make them fit and used longer carb rubbers. Also kick start shaft was broken and various other bits which had had their day.

Initial work :

When I first got the bike it was running but in need to some major TLC. First pass was to fix the more significant issues and then the main cosmetic bits and bobs.

Bike was stripped, major parts cleaned,fixed or replaced.Frame and all other major black parts powder coated by CTC in Maldon. Period CMA alloy wheels off the Suzuki GT750 refurbished and fitted with new tubes and tyres. Set of new Higgspeed expansions and the paintwork done by John at Boyztoyz in Brentwood. Lots and lots of other work and smaller parts fitted.

C&S, handlebars, grips,shocks, indicators, harness, headlight and numerous chrome bits and nuts/bolts/washers etc. replaced. Boyer Ignition fitted.

Bits not sorted at that stage being the engine, broken Kick start, stands...

MOT'd in June 2016 and went back on the road. MOTs in 2016 & 2017 but now listed as a Historic Vehicle so no longer required.

Covered around 800 miles after that first pass and have to say for my first GT550 it seemed pretty good but became ever more smokey with use and then simply wouldn't rev much above 5000. The dreaded seals had gone so the bike got parked up until I got the time to sort.

Bike went unused since 2018, stuck at the back of the garage while I did other things. Then in late 2022 I decided to get it sorted and found someone who with a freshly refurbished engine, who had a history of rebuilding these triples and did a deal. Not cheap, but given the hotchpotch of the engine I had with mismatched parts, kick start issues and crank work required then it was worth the investment and importantly quicker to get the bike back on the road.

New engine collected. Old engine taken out and rebuilt one fitted. Had to sort some of the Engine studs on the replacement and a few helicoils on the barrel exhaust ports. Replace the Brushes and housing on the charging side and some tweaks to the clutch.

Fitted an Accent Electronic Ignition unit as much easier to setup than points. Fresh oil and it fired right up.

Done about 50 miles in Jan 2023 and doing ok, but not taking much past 5000. Had put individual filters on each carb just to save having to refit the airbox each time I needed take the carbs off during the setup process, but have now fitted the genuine airbox.

Currently got a Transmission oil leak which needs fixing and bike is it's a little lumpy from 3.5K to 4.5K with the standard airbox so will revert to standard pipes to run in and then refit the Spannies as potentially may need to alter the carb settings.

	Updated Jan 2024
	Got this 1977 GT550 about 11 years ago being sold locally by a chap only a few streets away. Current Status : Pictures below show the current status of the bike January 2024 post a full engine rebuild. Twin brake setup added with new master cylinder, new cables all round, new Suzuki mirrors and new lock set. Also now fitted with accent ignition & new set of coils. The aftermarket Master Cylinder works well with the twin suzuki calipers now fitted and is a major improvement over the standard setup. Riding position good and suspension great for the kinds of back roads around Essex. Still got a few little niggles, like the Gear Indicator not working for #3, a small transmission oil leak, and rework the rear mudguard, but overall not bad after initial 50 miles OTR. Bike back on bench to fit original pipes for few hundred while bedding in the rebuilt engine. Early Doors : Pictures below are of the bike when I first got it. All there but bits dented and worn out in places. Wrong top end (from early model) which didn't match the later carbs so someone had cut the fins to make them fit and used longer carb rubbers. Also kick start shaft was broken and various other bits which had had their day. Initial work : When I first got the bike it was running but in need to some major TLC. First pass was to fix the more significant issues and then the main cosmetic bits and bobs. Bike was stripped, major parts cleaned,fixed or replaced.Frame and all other major black parts powder coated by CTC in Maldon. Period CMA alloy wheels off the Suzuki GT750 refurbished and fitted with new tubes and tyres. Set of new Higgspeed expansions and the paintwork done by John at Boyztoyz in Brentwood. Lots and lots of other work and smaller parts fitted. C&S, handlebars, grips,shocks, indicators, harness, headlight and numerous chrome bits and nuts/bolts/washers etc. replaced. Boyer Ignition fitted. Bits not sorted at that stage being the engine, broken Kick start, stands... MOT'd in June 2016 and went back on the road. MOTs in 2016 & 2017 but now listed as a Historic Vehicle so no longer required. Covered around 800 miles after that first pass and have to say for my first GT550 it seemed pretty good but became ever more smokey with use and then simply wouldn't rev much above 5000. The dreaded seals had gone so the bike got parked up until I got the time to sort. Bike went unused since 2018, stuck at the back of the garage while I did other things. Then in late 2022 I decided to get it sorted and found someone who with a freshly refurbished engine, who had a history of rebuilding these triples and did a deal. Not cheap, but given the hotchpotch of the engine I had with mismatched parts, kick start issues and crank work required then it was worth the investment and importantly quicker to get the bike back on the road. New engine collected. Old engine taken out and rebuilt one fitted. Had to sort some of the Engine studs on the replacement and a few helicoils on the barrel exhaust ports. Replace the Brushes and housing on the charging side and some tweaks to the clutch. Fitted an Accent Electronic Ignition unit as much easier to setup than points. Fresh oil and it fired right up. Done about 50 miles in Jan 2023 and doing ok, but not taking much past 5000. Had put individual filters on each carb just to save having to refit the airbox each time I needed take the carbs off during the setup process, but have now fitted the genuine airbox. Currently got a Transmission oil leak which needs fixing and bike is it's a little lumpy from 3.5K to 4.5K with the standard airbox so will revert to standard pipes to run in and then refit the Spannies as potentially may need to alter the carb settings. .