TOPIC:

Hi All,
The 550 is nearly 'done' with new paint, brakes, carb rebuild & thorough cleaning. Now I am getting anal... Looking for 'original' mirrors (might find these) and grips (photos that show style would be great, don't expect to find these.). I want to make it look original as possible except for the pipe and filters.

I think it runs good but hard to tell if the power is good. Previous recent bikes were Triumph 955, GS1150, Guzzi LeMans etc, lots of torque and power. Really have to twist it to get much but it seems smooth. Once all the little bits of junk that are clogging
my idle jets get flushed through it should be good.

One concern is a slapping noise at idle. Sounds like it it could be a timing chain or tensioners or both, motor has 38K never been opened. Is this normal? I heard timing chains are NLA, true?

TIA,
Bill

Lost the bike photo attachments...

wow, nice, love those 81's GPz, best bike in the world in my opinion.

If you were comparing to old school bikes, cb750, even z900 then they 550 is punching well over it's weight.

Guzzi Le Mans, 1150 Suzuki, Triumph 955 is a bridge too far, the deal with these is you need to thrash the nuts off them...that what like about them.

Rattle when idling nothing to worry about, they all do that, usually clutch basket rattle. Camchain rattle has a distinctive sound at about 4k rpm, totally different noise.

Mirrors easy enough, original grips might take some searching for. Some of the accessory part numbers on that are the same on the early 650 / 900 models.

If you need a camchain there is/was one NOS kawasaki on ebay uk recently - i had the primary chain for £20

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The genuine, original grips can be found. The problem is the insane prices being asked. Like so many new old stock Kawasaki parts, the price has escalated beyond reason. Here are a couple examples. Ed

LEFT GRIP - (46075-1001)


THROTTLE GRIP - (46019-1004)

Carbs out of sync will make that kind of noise. Have you adjusted the valves? Sync the carbs?
Steve

I will have to start scouring for mirrors & grips. If anyone has an OEM mirror they can photograph please post it. If I can't find one I can look for something close.

The slapping noise only happens below 1500 rpm at idle, probably more like 1000 rpm. This thing has no torque, I am used to putting around town on torque so I kinda have to change a couple of decades of habit. It seems to be geared tall, rev it and it just keeps going & going. It was a conscience decision to step down to a smaller bike. At 55 years old and not much riding in the last decade due to family responsibilities I have to impose some sanity on myself. I have this problem where if the bike is claimed to go 160mph I am damn well gonna find out. So the '81 550gpz seemed a great combination of vintage cool, collectibility, strong underdog performance, old school looks, all the stuff that trips my trigger. So far so good.

Other than the carb rebuild with dynojet kit I have not done anything to the tune except change one plug. I knew the bike was a good runner as I knew the PO and rode with him. I am guessing that the 4000-5000 rpm requirement for around town is normal unless someone tells me otherwise. It will do it but does not seem to like 3000-4000 around town. Also, for me except possible for the GT380 & RD350 (& the delorto fed guzzi I suppose) I owned this is my only non CV style carb bike so I am getting used to having to pay more attention to the throttle.

I was looking for a CB900F (or 750) when I found this gpz. The cb's are really nice handling smooth bikes, I've had two 900Fs. But I am not disappointed at all. But I may want to go just a bit larger. I may not be that old yet...

Bill

Beautiful bike Mate. I wouldn't be to bothered about original grips. Ride that bike like it was designed for. Id like to get mine to that state in the near future

Noise is probably the primary chain. They clunk, especially if the carbs aren't well synched. Be very sure that the seal between the manifolds and the head are good. These weren't as powerful at low rpms as some bikes that you mention, but they aren't exactly gutless either. If jetting, synch and valve adjustment are all good, it should be pretty solid. An easy and inexpensive option to increase low rpm power is to swap in the "A" model cam, which is from the standard KZ550. This will improve power below 7k quite a bit. Reinstalling the airbox may help low end too.

Grips and mirrors will be hard to find new. I have a stock, unaltered '81, but I'm 3000 miles from it currently, so can't take pics

Noise is probably the primary chain. They clunk, especially if the carbs aren't well synched

I replaced my primary chain with new but still had the 'clunk' , the way to tell is the old original ones are marked tsubakimoto where the newer kawasaki ones have different marking on them...I can't remember exactly the difference but it is there. Glad to say as well as it is really difficult to assess wear when the chain is fitted, comparing new for old shows a very slight elongation.

Primary chains get noisier but only heard of them letting go a couple of times one link on the gpz550 forum and the racer was doing 80hp plus high compression on top fuel, another time
(maybe pub talk) it smashed the crankcases to bits.

Tyrell Corp wrote: Noise is probably the primary chain. They clunk, especially if the carbs aren't well synched

I replaced my primary chain with new but still had the 'clunk' , the way to tell is the old original ones are marked tsubakimoto where the newer kawasaki ones have different marking on them...I can't remember exactly the difference but it is there. Glad to say as well as it is really difficult to assess wear when the chain is fitted, comparing new for old shows a very slight elongation.

Primary chains get noisier but only heard of them letting go a couple of times one link on the gpz550 forum and the racer was doing 80hp plus high compression on top fuel, another time
(maybe pub talk) it smashed the crankcases to bits.

The noise comes from the chain, but is caused by bad carb synch. Chain is OK, it just tattles on tune of carbs

Definitely synch the carbs . Ill get a pic of the mirrors and post it for you tomorrow. Mirrors are still available Pricy but .www.partzilla.com/parts/search/Kawasaki/...HANDLEBAR/parts.html