1975 Suzuki GT550 Post Restoration Startup

[@888jackflash]

Well done. Those of us who undertake such insane projects KNOW the challenges

[@michaelbooth2333]

I had a GT 550 identical to yours I had the three expansion chambers then bought a 3 into 1 Piper expansion chamber the sound of it was incredible you wanted ear plugs if you where going any distance never gave me any trouble at all had a GT 380 before it then I bought a Kawasaki H2 750 the last big two stroke I had was a RG 500 gamma it was a Heron Suzuki replica of Barry Sheene's GP bike used to turn heads and gather an audience when I parked it I wish I could have kept them all amazing machines be worth a few quid now.

[@dayvw1847]

Marvellous 😁👍. I too had a gt380 many years back and also put some spannies on it. That's probably what made me think I'll do the same with the 550 (l'm also a tad larger now so thought the 380 would be a bit small, and the fact that when I started looking, I couldn't find a 380 that needed restoring for love or money!! A few years on and the last time I rode the 550 it was still running nicely. I haven't been able to use it for a few months now as in May 2021 I had a brain hemorrhage and now have epilepsy (but I believe the meds are right now as I haven't had another seizure for a whole 3 months). Just another 9 months to go before I get my license back (if no more seizures for a year ... so counting down the days till September 13th🤞). Anyway, good to hear that you had a Kawasaki h2 750. Wow, bet that was a handful 😳. And a heron Suzuki Sheene replica!!! Double wow!!!. I have just bought a Kawasaki z1000 for restoring. It was a 1980 police bike, so had the mark II engine, but my plan is to get it back to a mark I (albeit with the, I think, lovely cast wheels). Progress is not swift, but as I'm off work at the moment due to my 'event' .. and likely to retire, I have loads of time at the moment !! Anyway, sorry to go on, but my wife always says it's good to share, so I have 😎. All the best, Dave

[@alanreilly9056]

Dear Sir, great Job, I live in Australia and I am 64 years old. I nearly bought one of these back in the day, but ended up with a brand new Honda 750/4

[@david_sdiego]

Nice job. You've got a treasure there. I would have never sold my GT-750 had I known they were going extinct.

[@danieldecker8434]

I had the same model bougt new in 1976 in Seirra Vista AZ. Was a good area for riding. Drove cross country to Fayetville NC but sold it there. Nice to see and hear one again. Nice Job.

[@davejones6733]

I had the same bike with the same stinger exhaust! I wish i never sold it!

[@n2dabloo]

Very nice resto and sound. I appreciate your hard work in bringing back a wonderful bike.

[@dayvw1847]

+n2dabloo Many thanks for your kind comment. She's still running nicely with no issues - so far ... :)

[@cecilwilson5442]

Especially like the expansion pipes,, as period most standard pipes were changed,, my z900a4 had loads of mods in the early miid 80s bikes sounding great,, happy memories ☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️from Northern Ireland 👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@keithgibson568]

Remember the days when you could pick the gt 550 & 750 up for a couple of hundred quid. No one wanted them back in the early to mid 80s so went for a song......

[@cavscout62]

Mechanical Music on the 2nd go round! Was overwhelming your mic! Great Job!

[@neiljonielunas5069]

I had this same bike in the late 70’s. It was a fast machine. I like the exhaust.

[@ddudioo]

I had one of these for about 10 years...sure do miss it :'(

[@uzpuz]

an era when bikes were all different

[@DirkWrightxyz]

It looked to be in great shape before you restored it. Looks fantastic now.

[@JerryWDaviscom]

That bike sounds great. A friend of mine bought one of those when I was a kid.

[@dayvw1847]

Thanks Jerry. Looking forward for some relief from this rain and spring to get here properly to get out there again!

[@tubewayarmy2]

The two stroke triple of that time just sound better than anything. Starting up to go for a ride makes the hairs stand up on the back of your neck. Great times.

[@sicks6six]

I worked with a kid who had one from new, he had made up a 3 into 2 micron system, A small round cylinder junction box hidden under the engine with high upswept mircon pipes, it sounded like a modern moto-cross bike, he also ran it with air the box removed and K&N filters, made the bike look more balanced and slimmer,

[@interman7715]

Superb mate ,I'm green with envy 😊

[@dayvw1847]

Thanks pal 👍😁

[@eddiecaplan1908]

Beatiful restoration, and love the pipes!!, i can still remember the tiny microns on mine😀

[@dayvw1847]

Thank you Eddie 👍

[@grahamjohnpreston]

Stunning.....Nice job!! 😉

[@seahippies]

Great job...From the once owner of GT550 cafe racer..The Kawasaki 500 triple blew them out of the water as I found out at the street drags : )

[@gregorymasincup7540]

Where can I get one of these bikes it brought back some very old memories please do tell me

[@dayvw1847]

Hi. I just found it on eBay!

[@gregorymasincup7540]

@@dayvw1847 will you find me one and restore it I'll pay good money

[@gregorymasincup7540]

Stock

[@dayvw1847]

@@gregorymasincup7540 I'm afraid I have just suffered a stroke!

[@gregorymasincup7540]

@@dayvw1847 awwww I'm so sorry to hear that I do hope you recover from this terrible news real soon

[@767dag]

Well done , beautiful

[@MrAmodeous]

Wow, that brings back memories. I had one of those in high school. Same color and everything. Loved that little bike. So much fun to ride😁

[@dayvw1847]

Excellent. I only had the smaller (380) back in the day - but feels the same as I am a little bigger now and so the bike has grown with me :).

[@middley1964]

Very nice brings it all back ! That sound is amazing !

[@dayvw1847]

Thanks ... did you get to the ride past video ... the sound on that is really lovely even though I say so myself. On these dark wet / cold evenings I'll have a sneaky listen to remind me :)

[@middley1964]

yes Davy I did and it was sweet mate :)

[@curtishelton2866]

Also the smell of that oil burning....the 70s were great....really a great looking bike....

[@alanhodgson5742]

Very nice! Another GT550 saved.

[@ariari4133]

Respect

[@garyh4826]

Ace thanks

[@SilvioAscencio393]

Good job, congratulations!

[@spurgear4]

That sounds crisp. Nice job.

[@philnox7734]

I used to have one loved it it was green they look so much better with standard exhaust love suzuki two strokes my gt750 water cooled that i had the best ever i heve t500j now

[@pavanatanaya]

That's a nice chain saw you got there

[@briantitchener4829]

Yeah. far better than those 4-stroke lawnmowers.

[@bikerman6907]

Amazing job, beautiful bike!👍👌😎

[@dayvw1847]

Thanks .. your appreciation much appreciated 😀

[@rodneysmith5514]

Lovely Bike 🏍 & a just reward for all your hard work & the others mentioned in this Video Enjoy every minute whilst your riding 🤛it & also whilst it’s stood in your garage or anywhere outside👌👏👏😉👍

[@ironcast]

I never had the opportunity to ride one of the Suzuki triples and wish that I had. I have tried the Kawasaki triples but they were a much less refined animal. I am really thrilled that I had the chance to live through the era of 2 stroke street bikes. I had a 1969 Yamaha 250 DS6-C and a 1970 Suzuki T350 Rebel. Then in the 90's I got to relive my youth when I restored a 1979 Yamaha RD400 Daytona Special. I rode that as my only street bike for the one entire season and then sold it the following year. Oh I am age 66 now and still have 6 motorcycles but no longer are any of them 2 strokes.

[@dayvw1847]

I'm a bit younger than you (not much). I bought a '76 400-4 from a guy well into his seventies who was regularly riding a Hayabusa ... so plenty of years to go yet :)

[@supersoul4541]

Stunning

[@mrceleb2006]

8:13 - I really love it when someone honks the horn on a motorcycle like this!

[@Team-fabulous]

I had one back in the day, lovely restoration but where is the lovely big GT grab rail!?!?

[@dayvw1847]

Thanks .. and yep ... note to self .. really must get a grab rail .. :).

[@jefferyobryan6351]

Wow I didn't even know Suzuki made a gt550, I've seen the gt350 and 750, but never a 550

[@dayvw1847]

Ah yes. A lot rarer than the other models that you mention, but Indeed 👍

[@thebones]

I owned one for about a year, loved the bike overall until it snapped the centre con-rod! Looks very elegant in the black and gold livery, mine was red and gold but I'd have preferred the black and gold, if I could have found one at the time.

[@robertandreason3218]

I have a 74 t500l where did you get your exhaust?

[@robbrown6495]

I had a GT 500- I think it was P reg. I bought it with K&Ns and expansion pipes on it but hadn't been jetted. It took me a couple of blown middle pistons to figure that out. Whats the weird noise when you're revving it?

[@dayvw1847]

I had a 380 that I put expansion pipes on and neglected to upjet it in late 70s. I also put a hole in a piston 🙄. I still have that very piston. Just to remind me! Weird noise?

[@robbrown6495]

@@dayvw1847 - sorry mate - bit of a stutter on my part there - obviously it was a GT 550. I went to the local bike shop to get a piston and the guy said "K&Ns and expansion pipes?", "Yep" "You need to rejet it, otherwise you'll jut do the same again", and he sold me pistons - one for the fix and 2 spares. I was in the airforce and remember blowing another piston on the way to work and fixing the bike by the side of the road.

[@dayvw1847]

@@robbrown6495 I assumed you meant a 550 😀. My 380 was also a p reg. With these pipes the manufacturer, Dave, says that rejetting is not necessary if you don't swap out the standard air box, but I did go up by 10% on main jets just to be on the safe side. Ok perhaps it may be a tad rich at full throttle, but I'd rather be safe than ... !

[@jeffmullinix7916]

That looks like a vary good start . It look like a good thorough clean up would bring it back to almost new . About a week or two just to clean it . Then start on what it would take to run like new . It dont look like it would take a ton of money to do that .

[@splatharackal1337]

Did it have twin front discs brake originally ,,?

[@dayvw1847]

No .. just one .. but I think they shared the 750 (aka 'kettle') forks that did .

[@CZ350tuner]

I used to ride my twin front disc Canadian / US model 1977 GT550B (styled like a GS550) from Poole to Dorchester everyday for my commute in 1990. It would drink 4 gallons out and 4 gallons back home. 8 gallons a day in all. I used to manage 18 MPG @ 45 - 50 MPH and 9 MPG around town. I've actually managed to empty a full 4 gallon tank in 4 miles once. They are a bastard to push!! It managed to pull a 9.91 quarter at Santa Pod raceway in 1989. I still have the bike, 3 x engines, etc. but haven't ridden it since 1991. My 25 year old wants me to restore it. I have too many other bike projects at the moment. Not really a practical everyday bike. They handle like a drunk carthorse on rollerblades but the accelleration makes up for that. Not for the tight of wallet or of poor spincter control when ridden fast.....

[@dayvw1847]

Andy Reid Blimey .. I knew they were thirsty - but that sounds extreme! I had a 380 back in the day - I loved it and I went for a 550 as I'm a tad heavier these days! It wont be used everyday - just for fun. Get your 25 year old to restore - I have really enjoyed it - it's great also to know the bike intimately.

[@CZ350tuner]

DayvW My brother had the GT 380 M which I had to tune up. I fitted Serval expansion pipes, changed the carb needles and guides for 550 ones, jetted up from 80 to 120 on the main jet and fitted K&N pod filters. It actually managed 120 MPH in a race versus a Honda NSR 400 in 1987 and could manage 65 MPG @ 50 MPH cruising with good bottom end and midrange torque, something it lacked in stock set up. It was black and like new even after 44,000 miles. My brother sold it to a guy for £80 in 1990 who triked it..... What a waste.

[@dayvw1847]

Andy Reid Oh .. that was a waste .. sounds excellent .. fast when you wanted it, yet usable. Perfect.

[@heretohear8662]

Great resto!!!

[@dayvw1847]

Many thanks :-)

[@BossaNossa1]

Fascinating start, "electric" What year and model had the electric/start..?

[@dayvw1847]

All the GT550s had electric start.

[@TheBarberOfGentlemen]

where did u buy those chambers i got a suzuki750Gat 1975LeMans

[@TheBarberOfGentlemen]

Gt 750*

[@dayvw1847]

They're higgspeed pipes. You'll find their website, based in UK.

[@richardgower5396]

very nice restoration!...I have a 1976 gt550 in red metallic color...did you do all your own engine work? I need to find someone to rebuild my carbs since they have been sitting for about 5 years...anyway beautiful bike!

[@dayvw1847]

+Richard Gower Many thanks. I did. Well - I took it all apart, had the crank rebuilt, had the barrels re-coated (they were Nikasil coated - so couldn't simply be re-bored), and had the crank cases and barrels vapour cleaned - then put it back together again. I took the carbs apart and cleaned them using a soda blaster for the most part -and carb cleaner (and some lemon juice in hot water!) - replaced the jets and one needle (I was lucky to find one on ebay to replace a very corroded needle). As I took i all apart I took loads of pics - and used those and a parts list to get it all back together again. And loads of support from some great guys on www.kettleclinic.co.uk (there is a sub-forum for the smaller bikes like the 380/550s). My advice - have a go yourself. I really enjoyed it - and its soo satisfying when it works! And - touch wood - keeps working. Step 1 - register with that forum - there is loads of stuff on there to help.

[@stevethecross2727]

This was my first bike and I suggest it's not a good choice if you are not mechanically inclined.

[@dayvw1847]

Luckily, I am 😎👍

[@draintheswamp232]

Is it salvaged title?

[@mr.rm250rodneylynn8]

Nice job! 👍 but did u forget to fill the 2 stroke oil tank there's supposed to be nice blue smoke everywhere! LOL!

[@syszzzz]

Great job!!! Congrats!

[@Scootertuner1000]

What size is your back tire? I bought a 110/19 R18 and it looks smaller than yours.

[@dayvw1847]

Hi .. it's 4.00 X 18.

[@JDB5824RG]

Beauty 👍🏻 where did you find a set of those pipes

[@dayvw1847]

Thanks JB. They're higgspeed pipes. Google the name and find his site. A beautiful sound that my rubbish video can hardly do justice to 😁

[@Four2stroke]

@@dayvw1847 Best pipes ever for 2-strokes. I love your bike man!

[@shaneroser3797]

Hahaha the microphone on the camera can’t handle the db the old girl is pumping out

[@ToDi-qg5cb]

IT looks better than New

[@supersportimpalass]

Are those Bassani pipes?. The whole bike looks and sounds wonderful! Edit: I see someone built them. Very nice.

[@dayvw1847]

Hi. They are higgspeed pipes, www.higgspeed.com, based in UK. Many thanks for your kind comments. Not had a chance to take it out this year ☹️, but come a lifting of lockdown ... 👍

[@1ocean515]

I owned of of these in the late 70’s. Took my girlfriend out on dates on it. Married that girl. Come January 2022, we’ll be married 43 years. Must have been the GT 550…….

[@TheFokker03]

pipes are...?I had early microns on my GT250,god they were loud

[@keithgibson568]

Remember one of my mates had a GT250 X7 with micron chambers it was LOUD even compared to my Z750E with a harris works pipe with a straight through silencer !

[@giampieroprevidi6575]

Very very 👍👍👍👏👏👏

[@christianmerl2059]

well done!!

[@dayvw1847]

Thanks Christian.

[@SinnerSince1962]

What pipes are those?

[@dayvw1847]

They're Higgspeeds ...www.higgspeed.com/

[@dr.scottcrullphd9133]

This was the first MC I ever bought - hated the left-side kick!

[@claudeenaude5373]

hi,where do you live?iam a gt550 user too(watch my yt chanel)my cylinders works very well...over 200kmh--is no problem. but now they must be refreshed! which guy makes new pistons? this is it an scem 4 tranfer ports,right? have you an adress for me or other information? thanks a lot. cheers

[@dayvw1847]

Hi. I'm based in UK. Regarding your cylinders what you need to do depends on whether they are iron bores (that can be re-bored) or chromed (which need to be re-coated). Find a forum that specializes in GT550s - they are very very useful.

[@pioAdrenalina]

I sooooo wished I could get mine any time soon, but they're insane expensive in Brazil :(

[@jeffmullinix7916]

At 3;00 It's not just missing on three it's partly missing on another cylinder .

[@keithgibson568]

Probably just starting to oil up a plug on the left hand cylinder. All the suzi triples used to do that if left on the side stand for a few days due to the petrol in the crankcase evaporating leaving 2 stroke oil to find the lowest point when on the side stand, that was the left pot crankcase. A good old fashioned thrash soon cleared it out 😈

[@jeffmullinix7916]

At the end it sounds good but I would think it can sound better . That just takes a little tuning with time . Vary nice though .

[@dayvw1847]

Thanks. About 5 mins in you can see a link to another video in top right hand corner. Click that - you'll see her running after all sorted. Think you'll like it :)

[@edwinstorz702]

SO FREAKING COOL.................

[@glen6945]

damn that purring -like a cat

[@glen6945]

damn great job -fk-you got class

[@TheTkirk]

NICE!!!!

[@garyslack6449]

I prefer original,the exhast system doesn't match the 3 into 4. Well mine is rusty in the shed now I loved that old bike,I think it even has a digital readout for the gear number,I wish I had that on my Zzr,never sure what gear I'm in. It was a brilliant idea in them days.

[@glen6945]

damn thats ace

[@glen6945]

fkin class-be safe driving -your beast

[@Winnecaferacer]

😃👍das ist eine super Auspuffanlage 😃👍Ja ja der Zweitaktmotor 👍👍

[@dayvw1847]

+Winne Maas Glad you like it :)

[@missingremote4388]

I had one of these in 1986. It broke down ⬇️ Then, pushed 2 miles to car wrecking yard

[@briantitchener4829]

You obviously didn't maintain it properly then.

[@dufus7396]

My favourite bike engine ..smooth acceleration with predictable engine braking..its only nemisis lousy fuel economy

[@harahetano]

今や製造出来ない2スト👍

[@glen6945]

ACE

[@mattygames1369]

I just got an old gt 550 from a clear out yard sale for 50$ XD

[@missingremote4388]

I paid the same for mine in the year1986. Only $50 Wisconsin America

[@chrisandjaneonnarrowboatpo3917]

A great video. I have joined your channel. Please return the favour many thanks chris 😊 😊 😊 😊

[@davexjs5889]

Bike on the road would be nice fantastic thank you

[@dayvw1847]

It is, see the link towards end of video. Thanks.

[@davexjs5889]

Just watched thank you brilliant restoration the 70 s was bike mayhem 2 stoke 4 stroke etc wish i could go back.

[@dayvw1847]

@@davexjs5889 Thanks Dave.

[@ariari4133]

2 tackt, stroke 100%

[@AbandonEarth911]

Yabba dabba Doo.

[@alanvt1]

Rev the bike FFS!

[@RedneckArgentino]

Oh man... Suzuki makes the ugliest taillights ever