GPz550 update

Well, picked it up in Evesham, filled it up, and just got home on it.
And it's pretty much as described.

The engine's fine. It pulled up to 120, with me wearing bulky leather
jacket and oversuit, and toting a knapsack, so that's fine.

Cruised back on the M40 at an indicated 6000rpm/80mph, with the
occasional blast up to 90+ when overtaking. I forgot just how fast these
things are, for an old air-cooled SOB motor. It'll willingly cruise at
90+.

Filled up at home and blinked when I couldn't even get eight litres into
the tank. That's 59mpg. You what? I knew these things were
fuel-efficient, but that's pretty amazing, even so.

Front brake's binding, so after kicking the calipers to free it, I tried
to avoid using it. That'll need some attention to the caliper pistons
and/or sliders, but it's a job I've done a zillion times so no worries.

A lot of fasteners are corroded - that was visible from the pictures on
Ebay, but then it is 15 years old. No discernible play in the rear
suspension and the head races are fine. Handling feels a bit "edgy" in
the wet but then IMHO the GPZ550 always did, mainly because of the
highish bars making a bit front-end light.

Tyres, chain and brake pads seem to have plenty of life left in them and
there's a few months' T&T. For a 125mph sub-£600 hack (£577.29, to be
exact), it's rather fine. I'm pleased.

 

The Older Gentleman wrote:

Like I need to hear this. I've just spent ten minutes trawling ebay for a
GSX550...

 

Didn't think of that. Relied on the pix, description, and the seller's
feedback.

Thanks anyway.

 

What, worse than a CBX550 with comedy front disc?

I had a GSX550 about five or six years ago, and liked it. The clutch went
all girly around 6K and the plastics were old and brittle, but otherwise it
was fine, nice little bike. What's wrong with it?

 

I'd buy an old XJ600, like mine. Reliable as fook it is.

 

Utterly dire electrics. The charging system frequently and expensively
goes AWOL; quite often fritzing everything from alternator to battery
and all points in between.

The CDI blows as well, usually taking the rev counter with it.
Actually, the warning sign is odd rev counter behaviour, swiftly
followed by a lack of sparks.

And they're just a bit slow and flat - certainly compared to the GPz.
Comfy, mind, and nice handling if you can cope with the silly 16" front
wheel. I'd opt either for something older and shiter, like an XJ600
orGS550, or something whizzier like the GPz.

 

Agreed, I had one of them. Bloody money pit !

 

Utterly dire electrics. The charging system frequently and expensively
goes AWOL; quite often fritzing everything from alternator to battery and
all points in between.
Check

The CDI blows as well, usually taking the rev counter with it. Actually,
the warning sign is odd rev counter behaviour, swiftly followed by a lack
of sparks. Check


And they're just a bit slow and flat - certainly compared to the GPz.
Comfy, mind, and nice handling if you can cope with the silly 16" front[/QUOTE]

I shit my self with that front wheel on many occasion, it just does not
*feel* right

 

I had zero electrical problems with mine. The main problem was that I
swapped it for an R100/7 that did a big end within a couple of thousand
miles.

The 16" wheel really wasn't a problem. What I need to do is give myself a
sound slapping and stop thinking about '80s shitheaps.

 

platypus says...

<reaches for the every growing black book>

 

I wish I could stop thinking of things so modern, as well.

 

....but the moment you get a proper old bike you sell it. Not even keep
it for a bit to reinforce any prejudices you may have.

 

You're thinking of the Triumph, aren't you?

 

Yes, I know it wasn't old old but it's stuck in the 1950s.

 

I put it on my insurance and rode it for a bit.

The engine's fun in a steam-engine sort of way. The rest is just so
appallingly crude. Controls, brakes, switches, instruments, everything.

And in 1982 Kawasaki was building the first Uni-Trak GPz550. No wonder
Meriden went tits-up.

 

IMO the Co-op didn't stand a chance; the death knell had been dealt in
the 1960s.

The arrogance of assuming people would buy the same old shit was deeply
rooted. Any real R&D was too little too late and the attempts to jazz up
the line were nothing more than a change of feeding tube for the cabbage
in a coma.

 

That's a harsh thing to say about Hinckley's finest.

 

The Older Gentleman () wrote:
: Well, picked it up in Evesham, filled it up, and just got home on it.
: And it's pretty much as described.
: The engine's fine. It pulled up to 120, with me wearing bulky leather
: jacket and oversuit, and toting a knapsack, so that's fine.
: Cruised back on the M40 at an indicated 6000rpm/80mph, with the
: occasional blast up to 90+ when overtaking. I forgot just how fast these
: things are, for an old air-cooled SOB motor. It'll willingly cruise at
: 90+.

I had one of those ... 1984 A1 model, silver with red wheels. Nice bike.

Blair
'97 CBR600

 

Ooh, I always fancied one of those when I had the CBX. Don't suppose I
can HAGM if you've still got it for the next TOG tour?

--
Lesley
CBR600FW
SBS#11 (with oak-leaf cluster)
BOTAFOT#101A UKRMHRC#12
BONY#54P BOB#18
Real burds don't take hormones, they rage naturally

 

Sure