1975 Suzuki GT550 - Sweet Two Stroke

SOLD - 1975 Suzuki GT550. Very nice bike in good running condition. Low mileage bike. Just serviced and ready for a new home.
www.WilliamsVintageCycle.com
Here is how Suzuki labeled the model years.
J = 1972 (first year for the GT550 in the USA ; only year for the front 4LS drum brake)
K = 1973 (first year for the single front disc brake)
L = 1974 (several changes including, carbs linked together, redesigned gauges, side covers, seat cover pattern, etc)
M = 1975 (basically same as the L model, except colors)
A = 1976 (some minor changes including squared GS style taillight)
B = 1977 (basically same as the A model, except blacked side covers to resemble new GS line; last year for the GT550 in the USA)

[@brodiejones2028]

One of the best looking bikes of the era

[@CarHB2]

De todas as épocas... continua linda. Uma moto atemporal. Um exemplar clássico.

[@bikerrider4845]

& the only "water buffalo" of it's time.

[@peter455sd]

Best 2 stroke street motorcycle ever made

[@jdholbrook33]

I was riding (90mph) on the back roads of north Arkansas on a GT550 when a huge bug hit my headlight just on the upper edge and splattered all over my face shield. I'll never forget that, scared the crap out of me. Sadly not long after that I burned a piston. Had it repaired but it never was the same again. Shortly after that I bought a new 1979 GS1000 for $2400. My uncle had the water cooled GT750. Another lovely two stroke. Yes, I too have a weak spot for two strokes.(Yamaha 80, Suzuki GT550 and Yamaha RD350)

[@richardcabitto5108]

WooHoo! Brings me back ! Owned two as a young teenager in the early eighties. Made one run and it was sweet too! My first ownership of bikes that kept me in it till now! Mainly dirt bike guy now. Cheers!

[@1ocean515]

Owned a ‘Red ‘74 GT550 back in ‘76-78. Great bike. Smooth, comfortable, and pretty quick for it’s day.

[@u2mister17]

Owned the first Red '74 GT550 I think in the city (February '74) beautiful bike. The Suzuki shop would send their customers over to my job site across the street to see her. I don't think they saw another 550 until May.

[@burgman7682]

What a beautiful bike I bet it's sold!

[@58markts]

Fantastic bike in its day. I owned one... Never had an issue with it. Fitted 3 into 1. Rejetted carbs. Quicker than a Z9 off the mark. That's a great example 👍

[@petergerritgroen3157]

Me too Netherlands 1978 Wat een tijd.

[@j-l8404]

Had a restored 75 GT250 my gf rode, her beginer bike. It had a higher top speed than my 04 KLR lol 😅

[@muhammedbahyeddin5083]

Selam dostum titreşim var mıydı acaba hatırlıyor musunuz

[@biker66ton]

I had one like this in blue. My first bike, it was in 1985, build year '76.

[@rosslangerak8361]

I had one of these in high school. I believe it was a 1972 model. Drum brakes all around. Fortunately, it was my second motorcycle, not my first. I live in Western Washington. On cold mornings, I would go out to the motorcycle about ten minutes before I wanted to leave, close the choke, and start the bike. By the time I was ready to go, the bike had stalled. I'd open the choke, start the bike, and ride away. The first time I replaced the tires, I chose the stickiest street tires with the most open tread I could find. Even with those tires, half throttle in the rain would spin the rear wheel. On dry pavement, I once made a left turn out of a side street while still in second gear. I thought I was in first, and accelerated like normal. I had no trouble recovering when the rear end swung around, but it was exciting. With all the things I did on that thing, I never felt like I was out of control. I still have a tendency to compare other motorcycles to that GT550. I guarantee you will never regret having one of these motorcycles.

[@shaneweightman]

One clean lovely bike can’t understand how people give a thumbs down , miserable gits ,,,,cheers Shane uk 🇬🇧

[@michaelarchangel1163]

The kind of people who'd need an intensive course to learn to ride a pogo stick, but still fail.

[@Johnketes54]

The 380 was supposed to be blindingly quick but fell short and the 750 brilliant top end but had cooling problems the 550 was the best balance

[@milmex317th]

This was the 1st motorcycle I owned. This bike is in excellent condition. Brings back some great memories

[@Johnketes54]

The first and where in the world were you?

[@milmex317th]

@@Johnketes54 fort Reilly Kansas. Purchase from Wisdom Suzuki Manhattan Kansas.

[@haero58fotografie]

PERFECT ! 👍☺ It was my first bike. In 1978 I bought it second hand with a Reimo 3-1 exhaust pipe. The sound was like a screaming kitchen maid / sreaming devil, lovely sound. After a year I sold it for a new Honda CB 750 K7 which I still have. 15 years ago I bought also a second hand (as if it came just from the factory) Suzuki GT 750 (1976) in gold colour wich I also still have.

[@Johnketes54]

What did you think of that 3 into one exhaust

[@guitfdlr]

I had one of these bikes. I loved it.

[@ambroseceschin1518]

Me too, went on to a Gt750 water buffalo,then the gs750 all great bikes

[@miketalbot3248]

Excellent GT550 in great condition. Sounds amazing. 👍

[@CZ350tuner]

I had a 1976 twin disc GT550 from 1987 until last month, when I sold it on to somebody who wanted to restore it & put it back onto the road. I had a pile of spares and could of made more money parting it out, but I would rather not murder a bike for profit, which is what a parting a complete bike is technically doing. The left & right spark plug gap is 0.25", whilst the centre spark plug gap is 0.27" (in the workshop manual). Setting the centre spark plug to 0.25" will cause some overheating issues. The OEM rotor timing guide indicator cannot be believed unless personally set up with a timing or dial guage. I installed a Dresda box section swinging arm in mine, back in 1989, to cure the infamous "Slow motion weave" and some of the "Drunk carthorse on rollerblades" fast cornering issues.

[@CapnSchep]

A buddy of mine had one of these back in the late 70’s and early 80’s, I rode as a passenger a few times .. Yours is in incredibly excellent condition ..!

[@MBIKES21]

Great bikes.

[@rubengerardo2658]

Beautiful bike congratulations!!!🏁🇺🇾

[@drewmiller3462]

I had the exact bike in high school. After high school I drive it across the country.

[@scottw550]

I had a 69 Suzuki 80, 70 Suzuki 250 single, 70 Honda 175 twin, 72 Suzuki Titan 500 twin, 82 Suzuki 750 4, and a 77 Benelli 750 sei. Always wanted a Suzuki GT380, GT550 or GT750 I now have an 80 Honda CBX.

[@matthewbrown2037]

A lovely clean bike from my favorite era of motorcycles. I'd never even heard of the Suzuki GT550 until I saw this. Without seeing them, you'd assume that it shared an engine with the GT750, with them both being two stroke triples, and from the same era,. So I was surprised to see this was air cooled, rather than liquid.

[@fuglbird]

The GT380 was air cooled as well. I had the GT550 back in the late seventies. My neighbor had the "water buffalo", the GT750. Great bikes. I switched mine for a Moto Guzzi California 850. Much better for my back on long trips.

[@johnbarker6703]

Takes me back to my younger days, had all three of these triples and the 550 was my favourite.

[@Johnketes54]

All three go on enlightened me

[@johnbarker6703]

@@Johnketes54 three triples made by Suzuki. 380, 550 and 750.

[@Ferg-1958]

Hi from the Uk I used to have one of these and I loved it. So good to see it and hear it again 👍

[@stormytempest3907]

Loved these bikes, strange range, GT 185, GT 250, GT 380, GT550, and of coarse GT 750... Had an X7.....that's another story.😀

[@woodyamsterdam]

Bought one new back in 1973 in purple. Great memories of this bike, especially when I had put a 3 in 1 open expansion exhaust on it. My arrival was announced from 2 blocks away…😂 I still miss it.

[@goldilocks913]

I could go to sleep listening to that beautiful tickover burbling away

[@michaelhawthorne8696]

Ahhhh the Suzuki RAM AIR system..... I had the baby brother of this bike...the 250 Loved it !!! I was in the process of sourcing the gear change indicator that the 550 and the kettle had...It would have fitted perfectly on my 250 gearbox but I had to sell it before I completed that task. I now have ( 32 years later ) a Suzuki Bandit 600 (W Reg 2000) I still have the need to indicate the gear, so I'm in the process of sorting that out. Dam Suzuki !!!!, sort yourselves out, indicate the gears !!!

[@Atexeira9774]

beautiful motorcycle nothing to envy to a vehicle of today congratulations is magnificent the state in which it is. 

[@geofffd1]

Lovely bike, but I prefered my original GT 380 after buying the GT 550. Only five gears instead of six from memory and no real added performance plus it seemed to be higher off the ground and not as easy to handle....All of these Suzuki 2 strokes were ultra reliable and great fun and to me very good lookng bikes.

[@jamiegreenwood7996]

380 was a way better bike 550 odd one out

[@fabiostrain3946]

Ho girato mezza Italia con lei e senza mai un problema❤

[@skipcampbell4328]

I'll take it! I will come by tomorrow and pick it up!

[@MrDickBills]

That brings back memories. Lovely sound, and a light to tell you have an indicator on, but not which one.

[@Johnketes54]

Hahaha ya but you could see from your seating position

[@glenminnick3724]

Love the old street legal 2 strokes. I had a yamaha 250 twin in 1970. Later had a 370 bultaco! All cool stuff. I was riding a 500 triumph trophy in 1975. Good times, but the new bikes are much better!

[@CapnSchep]

I had a 1973 Triumph Trophy Trail ..!

[@edtriana6250]

The Suzuki GT 550 was my first road bike....I took it in trade in 1977 on a new bike I sold. Mine was a 1975 too but it had a sage green tank and side covers. Wish I still had it!....it was so smooth!...smoother than the 1976 CB 750 I replaced it with. Only thing it needed on a regular basis was new baffles for the exhaust pipes as their retention screw would loosen up and you would lose them on the highway. No biggy at the time because I was employed at a Suzuki bike shop.

[@OscarLodge]

Great stuff.... I have the exact same bike - 1979 with 5.300 miles on the clock...

[@alan9758]

I had the gt250, 380, 550, and kettle 750 great in the day classic

[@petergerritgroen3157]

Ok me to, start with the 125 T 20. Greetings from Holland

[@cavscout62]

Beautiful GT550; I wish I owned one of each in this line. GT 380-GT 550 and Water Buffalo.

[@raymondo162]

250cc also

[@johnmartin6854]

My first bike was a GT380 pineapple yellow 6speed wish I still had it but its just another on the list.

[@bgilbert5643]

Had a 72/550 and a 74 250 cant beat that sound.

[@pccrikadilansari955]

SUZUKI MADE IN JAPAN 🇯🇵 THE BEST MOTOCYCLES 👍💪👏💓

[@philnotley5138]

These really were a nice bike the trick with all these two strokes was electronic ignition conversion it turned them into an ultra quick reliable fun machine

[@Johnketes54]

But the electronic merely replaced the points which was in a hot position and short lived later bikes positioned under the saddle

[@stephenpublicover8818]

hey man,i know a guy in 83, i rode his 77 gt 550 it was worn,but all there! still great 2-stroke bike!

[@peterwilson8039]

I rode one back in the day. It was a rather tame, very civilized bike, not to be confused with the rowdy, wheelie-happy RD-350s and the Kawasaki 350 and 400 triples it was competing with.

[@mattdomenic4814]

Suzuki bikes from this era were so well engineered and of high quality materials. What a great sound too!

[@Johnketes54]

I deliberately searched GT550 just to hear the sound again just suddenly thought KZbin might have a GT550 and wow that gorgeous sound again another gorgeous sound search Terminator 4 motorcycles four stroke but wow the sound

[@markarmentrout1630]

Had that bike back in High School… loved it

[@yocuz111]

First real bike. Loved it.

[@TheJimboness09]

Bagaimana bisa motor seumur 47thn ini bgitu mulus bersih dan masih orisinil.. sebuah harta karun istimewa .. 👍👍

[@boatlover2296]

One of the most beautiful and thrilling to ride motorcycles of all time

[@TheTriplelman]

Sweet, looks alot like my classic Honda CB500 same color and layout- enjoyed it in college

[@X3bands]

Beautiful bike.

[@kiwi-on-a-bike660]

Had a Gt 380, did many road trips on it.

[@BruceWNelsonMangyFetlocks]

I had the red version. Sharp bike and really fun to ride. So cool to see one so well preserved.

[@ridemgis]

Had a 380 in the early 80s. Not sure what year. My dad decided the timing needed advancing. He went a little too far with it and burned a hole through the top of the middle piston a short time later! No worries though, he picked me up with a trailer and put a new piston in. We also pulled wads of oil soaked fiberglass out of the mufflers to let it breathe better.

[@bsastarfire250]

me too, great engine , brakes a .nd handling ssoso

[@couchrider6228]

I owned one of these years ago . Had some really good times riding this bike , never had any problems out of it . Have some fond memories of those times.

[@Muddywatersist]

Loved my 1975 GT550

[@j.w.3345]

I had a GT380, then a GT550 just like this. Great bikes!

[@wanchaicowboy]

That's in better condition than the one I owned in 1980.

[@terrycarter4459]

I owned one of these the the piston bores were chrome, which was a huge problem when things went wrong. It was an animal to ride the acceleration was a wow lol

[@Johnketes54]

Hahahahahaha a wild pony in the UK

[@jaymclanigan]

No chrome bores on Suzuki, I worked as a factory trained Suzuki tech early 70s till mid 80s.Bored and honed hundreds if not thousands of these. My personal 550 ran .5mm over weisco pistons, ocelot expansion chambers and uni foam air filters. Still wasn't as fast as the Kawasakis, but ALOT MORE RELIABLE.

[@MrDickBills]

Took mine to Santa Pod 40 odd years ago. Queued forever for a run. was put against a Ducati 900SS. Had to use my choke as the engine was cold. Me and the Ducati both wheelspun off of the line (something my bike never did on the road). I just pointed it where I wanted to go and kept the throttle full open. The Ducati rider backed off for a second and I left him behind. Just as we went through the finish he passed me. I did the 1/4 in 14.3 seconds at 93mph. That is pedestrian these days, but there were loads of modified GS550's there and none of them beat my time.

[@philnotley5138]

These really were a good bike

[@gcprost]

Lovely! I always have had a soft spot for the Titan 500 twin. I have a friend that has a mint 750 water cooled triple.

[@wolfgangsimon1509]

The GT500 IMHO is the most beautiful bike of all time. Meanwhile riding a 1700 VMax as daily bike but the GT500 is the most beautiful. This 550 is in very great condition, also a beautiful bike but the ram air system disturbs the optic, that's why I prefer the GT500. But sure enough, the 550 is faster.

[@alexanderguesthistorical7842]

I had a GT550, but it was a Kawasaki GT550 (KZ550G1). Both brilliant bikes. Love em!

[@websurfer1585]

Really lovely bike!

[@G56AG]

I had a 1972 GT550, nice bike, one thing that really impressed me is that it didn't smoke at all. It had a recall on the carbs, dealer loaned me his personal GT750 to ride till the new parts came in, smart for him because a few months later I traded mt GT550 in on a GT750.

[@bobtheblindbedroomguitaris8742]

This just came up in my feed pretty amazing for me cuz I owned one of these it was my second motorcycle. My first motorcycle I bought in 1976 it was a Yamaha ym1305-305 CC's it was basically a clone of the Honda 305 dream. Literally almost exactly the same. Big bike for the size of its engine I'll tell you that I remember. My second motorcycle which I bought earlier 1978 was the Suzuki gt550 it was in black. Mine didn't have the alligator boots on the front shocks it was just the regular you know you can see the tubing which I actually like I like chrome. I rode this bike like nobody's business who up in New York City moved to Rhode Island I purchased the bike in Rhode Island from a motorcycle dealer right on the Massachusetts Rhode Island border it was actually a Suzuki dealer. And that I bought that bike like I said an early '78 I can't tell you how many times I took that back on round trips to New York City but 180 miles from Providence to where I lived in New York city. I did this rain and shine all the time through literally Torrance of rain for 180 miles an hour 180 miles to beautiful sunny days. I've never once didn't run. Never once this bike ran all the time without any problems. I even took that bike in 1978 to the Laconia Loudon bike week in New hampshire. Wasn't many two-stroke Suzuki's up there I'll tell you that. Lot of big harleys. But nonetheless took that bike up there on an extended trip because Vermont tour through New Hampshire went up to the Canadian border in Maine came back down along the coast back through Vermont and then back down Massachusetts you know down to Rhode Island again no problems again. I did lose my side cover took it off to adjust something put it back on didn't get it on right I guess and that was the end of that cover. Difference was that was a plastic cover on my ym1 the side covers for steel where they want metal. But yeah great bike when you started it up oh boy did that bring back memories I could literally remember the sound of that bike. And back then that's all you had with LED the batteries. So you know you had to deal with the corrosion unless you were pathologically Craig you know I got a pathological clean thing going on and you took care of that on the like extremely rare asks extremely often basis to make sure it didn't fit. But yeah you know you could just go to Suzuki and get the CCI oil, or you could just go to your local automotive store and pick up a good two-stroke oil. You know different times. Gas dirt cheap and the bike got pretty good mileage for a two-stroke. Thanks for posting this even though I know you were selling it. It was really really cool to see my old bike but to listen to it I should say I went blind in an early age and had to stop riding motorcycles in the very beginning of the mid-90s in my early 30s. I did go on to riding Harley's two bikes actually one more bike after that after that I did go on I had one other bike after this my last one of my last job and his bike so why I'm sorry in excess Yamaha 650 Yamaha XX 650. I modified the hell out of that. Put advance in headers on it Corbin seat really kind of ridiculous stuff to put on a bike like that but that's what I did. And the next bike after that wasn't 81 Harley Sturgis which was brand new and I got us a gift from my uncle. For my 22nd birthday not a bad gift right. Boy that bike was beautiful and that was the beginning of my love for American Harley-Davidsons Elena's short book hea. Very long comment but that's kind of what I do I'm addicted to commenting. LOL anyway thanks again for posting this sincerely yours, Bob the blind bedroom guitarist. I won the PS I won the what they're getting for these now what a Suzuki gt550 in good condition in I'm sorry in 2021 is worth?

[@donaldwainwright]

All amazing bikes from my teenage years but I preferred the gt 380

[@Johnketes54]

Why?

[@petervdveenmuis]

I owned the GT 750. But the GT 550 was an awesome bike too!

[@kasperkjrsgaard1447]

Handles like a bag of jelly but the engine is ultra sweet. Nice clean GT 550. 😊👌

[@robertparisi8016]

I remember them well, Kawasaki had the machine, Suzuki had the gt 380 and 750, engine was sweet, handling was horrendous, high speed wobble, terrible turning, but styling was fantastic, bought a 4 stroke honda cb 750 in 76, gorgeous red, also terrible handling, but that was the era, motorcycle s have come so far with performance and handling, those days r gone but I'll always remember

[@kevinlong2074]

Hard to believe the condition it's in nice

[@petegalloway2466]

Wow! I had one of those bad mothers in the 80s. It got a seize on pot three, if I remember right it was the auto lube that fed 1-2-3 so 3 did t get enough 2stroke. The good auld days 😊 I can almost smell the 2 stroke 😁

[@carlkasements]

A,beautiful 😊super, sounding excellent 😅shape,bike 👌

[@ianbrown5486]

So many people love these bikes including me all gt suzuki bikes sill want one lucky man

[@simonsonjh]

I bought a new Suzuki GT380 in 1975. Rode it for a couple of years until I bought a 1977 BMW R100/7.

[@jeffbanfieldsflwr3537]

Jesus, i want all of these bikes.

[@mdiz4564]

Stunning and sounds fantastic too!😁

[@ulrichstraehle8129]

Exact this Motorbike was the first one , I bought , when I got 18 Y‘s , only good memories of it

[@rochellestanley9532]

Very cool bike 💎

[@andypandywalters]

Lovely example

[@davidvanbrunt4233]

I have this motor sitting under my work bench...

[@alexsteel5959]

It’s a beauty! 😎👍

[@thomasmusso1147]

Had one .. loved it!

[@optimussubprime8982]

My friend had one and I had a 380. The 380 was a better bike but both are nice! My mates 550 had a drum brake on the front, looked cool:)

[@jamiegreenwood7996]

550 would burn up centre piston 380 way better

[@dianecarone2629]

I bought one new in mid '75 for $1195USD. Had till 1983. Great bike and very refined. Only went thru a quart of 2stroke oil in about 1100mi. I had a three into one pipe which dropped around 40lbs and made it sound like a rabid Ferrari. Best street bike I ever owned or rode. Dennis C.

[@montyzumazoom1337]

Rode one of those with a sidecar fitted, it was VERY interesting to drive!

[@artfantasies]

Wow, great condition for a bike from the mid 1970's ... had some CB 500 Four but never a Suzuki GT 380 or 550, what a pity.

[@duskintheforest584]

i'll always prefer these old standard configuration motorcycles. front and back tires same height, chrome fenders, a visible engine that looks baddass...basically an old school standard bike.

[@hermanman8235]

Sorry for my bad English.most bike nowadays got that bumpy mountain style seat that was good for the corner but evil for the Long haul ..that flat cushion is really a blessing almost forgotten nowadays.

[@duskintheforest584]

those style of seats are like your couch at home! plenty comfortable for touring.

[@duskintheforest584]

youre right about modern crotch rocket type sport bike seats. ok for racing, but suck for long rides

[@kuladeeluxe]

Soak the exhaust clamp in Evaporust and it will look new. Very nice GT550. I'd buy that.

[@user-xo7le5hq1b]

O my god the first bike i started on, i miss it. I wish i could find one out my way.

[@glec39]

My first bike. Bought one with 40,000 miles, it had 75,000 miles when I sold it. Great memories.

[@jamesvandemark2086]

Had one! a great bike!

[@smid2550]

It looks like a really nice one 👍

[@Leftycraig48]

Just a short piece of advice to help avoid the rust speckles in the fuel tank like in the video: AVOID ETHANOL LIKE THE PLAGUE! Ethanol attracts water which eventually settles near the bottom of the tank. Stick with non-ethanol gas and Sta-Bil 360 marine formula at a 1 ounce to 10 gallon ratio. It not only stabilizes the fuel but also protects the tank's interior from corrosion from water vapor. And keep the tank FULL during long term storage. The metal can't corrode if it's not exposed to air. (This is just a testimonial, not an ad or endorsement for Sta-Bil products).

[@vintagecycle316]

Excellent advice. But unfortunately all gas stations in this area have a minimum 10% ethanol blend. Ethanol free fuel is not even an option, unless you buy off-road racing fuel. We do use Star-Tron in all our fuel, which is advertised as an ethanol fuel stabilizer. Great tip for those that have the option. Ethanol is terrible stuff in vintage machines.

[@steaks652]

Reminds me of my GT 250 from 1980, it was blue, lovely bike.

[@dobermanpac1064]

Very nice find.

[@queenslander954]

Remember riding one , through the gears before red-line they were so so smooth.

[@user-gw7sh6mn5h]

Awesome bike

[@eliximenes8193]

Show de moto, já tive uma

[@mathikumar3204]

Nice bike

[@toddstaffen486]

My first bike. Distinct sound.

[@Nooziterp1]

8:30 - that unique sound of a Suzuki triple. Didn't see too many of these in the UK back in the day. People tended to either go for the GT380 or the GT500 twin. I recall a company called Dunstall did a lovely race-rep conversion.

[@tribsat100]

People bought the gt380 or gt750 because the gt550 was only £20 cheaper than the gt750..NOONE bought a gt500 they were naff😂.

[@BRI33NOR]

As a small town dealer I sold several Gt 500 Suzuki's. They were a totally unbreakable motor, never ever had to rebuild one. Biggest problem was vibration, footrests and handlebars made you numb after 50 miles or so. Actually quite a price difference between the standard GT55O and the water cooled Gt 750. Performance similar really but Gt750 much more civilised. I sold Kawasaki and Honda round about the same era for a few years. Basically less problems and less warranty work with the Suzuki make. All history now for me, good times though.

[@bdogjr7779]

Wow《☆》The chrome & aluminum is in better condition than my 2002 Hayabusa◇¿. I wish I still had my old RD350 Yamaha😎🎱☮🔊🖖👍