83 GPZ 550 Tank Swap

did a search, and I couldn't quite find all the info I needed.
I've got an 83 GPZ 550.
My tank is pretty rusted, and there's a hole behind the emblem area. I have a shop taking a look to see if they can weld it, but at that cost I might as well hunt for a new tank.

The GPZ 550 tanks are pretty hard to come by in good condition, even on fleabay, at not a crazy price.

Questions: Does a KZ550 tank swap directly on?
Do any other tanks easily swap on with little modification required?
ZRX1200R tank?

Has anyone tried any of this?
I JUST WANT TO RIDE THIS BIKE OMG. Our winters here suck and I want to get some miles in before the snow takes hold of us.

okay pics
"good" side
bad side

As far as I have known/heard/read, the only tank that fits the H Model GPz550 is the H Model GPz550. If you can't find a tank, or repair yours, I'd start looking for a parts bike with a good tank on it.

Seeing the insane prices on ebay for rusty, dented tanks keeps me thinking of ways to make a tank. So far, no luck.

I hope this helps - $1,200 for what looks to be a good tank and many other good parts!

baltimore.craigslist.org/mcy/6154450306.html

-John

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CoreyClough wrote: As far as I have known/heard/read, the only tank that fits the H Model GPz550 is the H Model GPz550. If you can't find a tank, or repair yours, I'd start looking for a parts bike with a good tank on it.

it sounds like the kz550A and the KZ550H1 and H2 (the gpz550 first and second gen both the unitrack and the dual susp model) all have interchangeable tanks.

this guy did the swap on his:






so there's a couple on ebay that are nice.
the first one is a CANADIAN model. the owner is in MA and insists that the canadian model is different because a guy with a kz550 tried to put it on his bike and it didn't fit. (it's a "z550" tank but it looks to me identical to the gpz tank except it has a fuel level gauge)

is there any difference between these?

You need an 82 or 83 tank for that bike

got an 82 tank (coffin shaped, no curvy turn down part) and it does fit. A few wires seem to be in the way (coil packs maybe too) for a dead on perfect fit but it does go on and look nice.

What does the 81/82 look like with the tank off? any differences in the front of the frame I should be aware of?

also... Check it out!

so JFarhanbod on here and DTT forums had an 84 he slapped this gen tank on. Mine is an 83 so the brackets that hold the ignition coil packs are slightly in the way. I whacked them down with a BFHammer and am gonna grind them off and remount the coils, or possibly update to newer more compact ignition coils and a new ignition system for mo' powa? Dunno yet.

I'm debating on keeping the wiring harness of hack and chop it to bits and somehow tuck the harness into the frame tube.

the tank does fit nicely though, but it's going to be even more work to get the bits and pieces tucked into an accessory tray under the seat pan.

I've got stuff to rebuild the stock susp, but I'm considering doing a gsxr front end over the winter here in upstate NY.

I need to either borrow a welder, or get someone experienced to do that rear hoop. That's a current hold up.


for reference, though, it's a 1982 KZ550 tank. Found it from an auction in california. no rust cancer. The inside is clean just a teeny bit of superficial rust. Gonna POR coat the tank on the inside once I clean it out nice and good.

Thats an 81 tank . Same as the two above . The one in the bottom pic is a 81 too even though they say in the add that its an 82 .

Looks good on there though . Frames different on the 81 They had shocks instead of mono shock .

If you need a pic of the 81 frame with the tank off let me know .

Looks like its coming along great

That tank does look good on that frame. It seems to slope forward a bit which looks nice. This might leave a few extra ounces of gas in the tank when you are low so watch the reserve closely... get gas sooner rather than later.

The Kz550A standard tanks, and the 81 Kz550D Gpz tanks look to be the same on the outside, but they are not all the same underneath. In addition to some having the fuel gauge sender, some of them, including the gpz tank, have more clearance for coils underneath. The sheet metal has two larger arches molded in. The earliest ones don't seem to always have that. They will all clear the coils, but I think they added more room for air to get to the coils. I don't think it will matter for you, as even the ones with more clearance probably would still require moving the coils or using smaller coils.

As a side note, the early ones without the extra clearance probably hold more fuel.

Good luck on the build.