I really enjoyed my 2 GT550s I had back in the 80's, really fun & comfy bike, reasonably quick too....but the fuel consumption was shocking, especially when caned. I never got more than about 35mpg out of mine & once got it below 17mpg (which resulted in borrowing pints of petrol to get home, thankfully I was with mates at the time).
What a fabulous video seeing the 2 bikes together, both fabulous Classics and listening to the bikes as well as you chatting away. I always kick myself, having parted with a previously owned a GT550A in 1978 and H2750C in 2000. I suppose the only consolation is that I have experienced both with memories now that I will always have 🙂
Two lovely bikes 👍👍 An added soft spot on Phil’s 550 is the Kingston upon Hull registration, my home city, I wonder if it came from Miles motorcycle shop back in the day? Still on the go today.
I bought my GT550a/B twin disc SRIS (Suzuki Recycled Injection System) model, back in 1987 for £167 from a breakers yard with 3 months MOT & road tax still on it. The first two weeks of ownership I was looking for a fuel leak, which transpired to be the engine!! Being used to a 1979 CZ350, which corner at any speed like they're on rails, the GT550's drunk carthorse on rollerblades handling was a bit of a shock. I installed a Dresda box swing arm, which slightly improved the handling & eliminated the slow motion weave, when cruising above 60 MPH on straight roads. In Feb 2020 I was diagnosed with Parkinson's, so in August 2021 I sold the bike, which had been laid up since 1991, on to become somebody else's beloved money pit, along with spare engines, spares, etc.. I hope that SHO999P (SHOP 999) will one day be returned to the road, by someone.
I actually bought a black 76 GT550 back in 1983 for only £100 and it was totally original and had two good tyres on it. The bike was a bit tatty, but I rubbed the tank down. put primer on it. then a couple of top coats on in black, and used gold pin stripes, and it began to look quite smart. I also replaced the seat cover, as it was split in a few places. Gave it a good tidy and polish, and apart from it needing a new centre stand, the old one had no foot lever, making it a pig to lift on to it. But, having said that, I ended up with quite a tidy bike. Just one thing, these bikes with plastic speedo and tacho lennses tend to mist up with time. I found using T-Cut, and gently rubbing the lenses in circular motions with a soft cloth, and applying a coat of liquid wax between applications, and buffing them up, worked a treat for me, just keep repeating until they become clear again. Just a tip that I found worked for me.
Nearly bought a GT550B back in the day and in many ways I wish I had, as they are a great looking machine and very pleasant to ride from what I have read. Speaking of NOS exhausts, I have a set for my S3 that I plan to use if the ones on my bike won’t re-chrome well enough that I was fortunate to pick up from someone before prices went stratospheric. Thanks for uploading this video, it is always nice to see some well cared for classic two strokes.
Really? It looked far better in red. Far better. And for six and a half grand it should be "nicely restored", too lol! It's interesting, I'm probably same age as you lads, but I couldn't go back on the nostalgia train; I love my 2020 Ducati too much. I just came back to two wheels after 40 plus years, and ABS and cornering ABS, Brembo radial brakes, electric tech and superb handling are eye openers compared to my old Z650. It was an amazing machine for it's time, but even then, when pushed hard it had it's limitations. That said, I don't like the new retro Z650, which they put a twin in instead of an inline four. Good for you lads, though, keeping these old machines of my youth on the road. Good investments, too.
I made a print screen from the candy-red video yesterday. Amazing! That's going to be my color. For sure. Thanks for the name! 👍
Still love that suzuki in red thx for sharing bye the way your kawasaki looks awesome cheers
I really enjoyed my 2 GT550s I had back in the 80's, really fun & comfy bike, reasonably quick too....but the fuel consumption was shocking, especially when caned. I never got more than about 35mpg out of mine & once got it below 17mpg (which resulted in borrowing pints of petrol to get home, thankfully I was with mates at the time).
What a fabulous video seeing the 2 bikes together, both fabulous Classics and listening to the bikes as well as you chatting away. I always kick myself, having parted with a previously owned a GT550A in 1978 and H2750C in 2000. I suppose the only consolation is that I have experienced both with memories now that I will always have 🙂
Two lovely bikes 👍👍 An added soft spot on Phil’s 550 is the Kingston upon Hull registration, my home city, I wonder if it came from Miles motorcycle shop back in the day? Still on the go today.
I bought my GT550a/B twin disc SRIS (Suzuki Recycled Injection System) model, back in 1987 for £167 from a breakers yard with 3 months MOT & road tax still on it. The first two weeks of ownership I was looking for a fuel leak, which transpired to be the engine!!
Being used to a 1979 CZ350, which corner at any speed like they're on rails, the GT550's drunk carthorse on rollerblades handling was a bit of a shock. I installed a Dresda box swing arm, which slightly improved the handling & eliminated the slow motion weave, when cruising above 60 MPH on straight roads.
In Feb 2020 I was diagnosed with Parkinson's, so in August 2021 I sold the bike, which had been laid up since 1991, on to become somebody else's beloved money pit, along with spare engines, spares, etc..
I hope that SHO999P (SHOP 999) will one day be returned to the road, by someone.
I actually bought a black 76 GT550 back in 1983 for only £100 and it was totally
original and had two good tyres on it. The bike was a bit tatty, but I rubbed the
tank down. put primer on it. then a couple of top coats on in black, and used gold
pin stripes, and it began to look quite smart. I also replaced the seat cover, as it
was split in a few places. Gave it a good tidy and polish, and apart from it needing
a new centre stand, the old one had no foot lever, making it a pig to lift on to it.
But, having said that, I ended up with quite a tidy bike. Just one thing, these bikes
with plastic speedo and tacho lennses tend to mist up with time. I found using
T-Cut, and gently rubbing the lenses in circular motions with a soft cloth, and
applying a coat of liquid wax between applications, and buffing them up, worked
a treat for me, just keep repeating until they become clear again. Just a tip that
I found worked for me.
Thanks for that and an Interesting story 🙂
Two fantastic bikes.
Nearly bought a GT550B back in the day and in many ways I wish I had, as they are a great looking machine and very pleasant to ride from what I have read. Speaking of NOS exhausts, I have a set for my S3 that I plan to use if the ones on my bike won’t re-chrome well enough that I was fortunate to pick up from someone before prices went stratospheric. Thanks for uploading this video, it is always nice to see some well cared for classic two strokes.
That KH really does make the most amazing sound…❤
🙂 it is nice isn't it 👍
It does indeed. I had the 250 and I kept it mint and sold it for £300! Aaarghh!!
I always thought of the Suzuki triples as “the thinking man’s two-strokes”. Very nice bikes - both of them.
Well maintained. You're being cherished.👍
Beautiful pair of Real Motorcycles.
I love both paint sets, but the stripes are I think for the GT380A. The red GT550A tank has the correct stripe patterns.
You have to love 60s two strokes ,great bikes ,home via Totternhoe eh. Great video .
Yes I guess you're right, the Kawasaki H1 came out in 1969.. although mine is a 1971, it's fun to ride.
I've done 2 videos on that one too 🙂
I have the same suzuki, complete, i parked it ten years ago working. You can buy it fot 4000
I thought the 550 looked good in red, but it’s epic in black!
Hi, enjoyed that a lot, do you ever open the Kwack up a bit, to clear her throat ?
Not very often 🙂
Cool men 😁
Really? It looked far better in red. Far better. And for six and a half grand it should be "nicely restored", too lol!
It's interesting, I'm probably same age as you lads, but I couldn't go back on the nostalgia train; I love my 2020 Ducati too much. I just came back to two wheels after 40 plus years, and ABS and cornering ABS, Brembo radial brakes, electric tech and superb handling are eye openers compared to my old Z650. It was an amazing machine for it's time, but even then, when pushed hard it had it's limitations. That said, I don't like the new retro Z650, which they put a twin in instead of an inline four. Good for you lads, though, keeping these old machines of my youth on the road. Good investments, too.
👌👍