81 GPz550 / ELR

HaHa , yeah Christmas............I dont even want to think about winter .

I'm desperately trying to beat the cold weather with my paint work. This week I got all the small parts (in one of the previous pictures) done, I also got the lower fork legs and rotor centers painted. The swingarm is looking much better too after a couple hours with sandpaper and scotchbrite.

UPS was here !

..and another trip to my local media blaster. Hope my Gun Kote shows up tomorrow. Also waiting for brake lines and a bunch of stainless hardware from Z1 Ent.

Nice project !
I love the 550GPZ. It's the sister bike to my 82 550LTD in my avatar.
I scrapped mine together out of 3 bikes and painted it. I rode it for 6 years then completely redid it.
Several people asked me why I would put so much work and money into the bike.
That bike is quick and easy around the city, a dream on the back roads and it gets 55mpg hauling my 6'2" 230 pound ass around.

One thing I would is drop the forks and inch above the top of the triple tree. That will give a big improvement in handling and make it more stable on the highway.

just checked the pic again and saw you already did that.

Thanks !

The 550's are great bikes, I agree. I've had a few, the first was an '81 A model, which I bought in '85.

As far as the fork height is concerned, I think that the forks on your LTD are about an inch longer than the std model, so your change probably got you near the standard bike's geometry.
The forks on my bike are actually from a KZ1000, I've also raised the rear a bit, and swapped the 19" front wheel for an 18", so I'm not sure where I'll end up with my fork position.

....sitting on it's own wheels/tires/suspension for the first time!

I'm glad that I was able to beat the cold weather and get pretty much all of the paint work done before winter.

Getting the paint done before winter is a big thing.

I just started building a 82 kz1100a2 and I'm going to have a problem getting my body parts painted before winter. I should be able to get the frame done though.
My problem is I heat my shop with kerosene and that will cause base clear to orange peel. I'm either going to have to find a place with electric heat or wait till spring.

Mike, how do you find the time? I can barely get up the time to check the oil and fill the tires. :blush:

Looks awesome!

True Lou, I have been spending a lot of time, you've got a couple completed project bikes under your belt, so as you know, you just get it done. I'm ready to back off a bit now that I've got the weather sensitive stuff mostly done. I've probably spent about 100 hrs on it over the last month. Another hundred or so over the winter and I should be just about done.

It's hard to believe it's been 3 1/2 mos since I posted about this. Winter sucks !!

I've made a small bit of progress. I got an '82 GPz750 front fender, the 550 fender that is pictured is for offset axle forks and doesnt really fit the straight legs forks that I used. I've also gotten the carbs ultrasonically cleaned, and I found a nearly NOS '81 GPz550 seat.

I'm still hoping to have this bike roadworthy by the beginning of riding season (5/1), so I've got to get back in gear and start getting things done. I still have to make or modify the mounting bracket for the headlight, fairing, and instruments. they will all be somewhat different from stock 550 parts because I'm using KZ1000 Police triple clamps/forks. I also have to do the wiring, which entails fitting a ZR550 wiring harness and associated electrical componentry into the spaces that are available on the GPz chassis. I'm using an '82 GPz550 electronic instrument cluster, so that will have to be pinned out and mated to the ZR harness also.
Also, I still need to get new chain/sprockets, cables, and a gel battery (not taking any chances with my paintwork)

mjg15 wrote:

Thanks for the encouragement. I want to finish it by spring, which is realistic even at a moderate pace. The frame alterations and some machining to correct some axle/wheel fitting issues are the only things that will be handled by others. Once I get past those hurdles I will be able to work at my own pace. I have all the major parts on hand. I have to order the small stuff like steering and wheel bearings, brake lines, chain/sprockets, cables, tires etc.(ouch..., thats about a grand or so )

Macdroid, you are right about the 550's getting little love, they seem to be the unwanted step-children of the KZ line around here .

I'll post updates as they happen.

i actually like the lines of the 550s better than the kz650,same thing with honda night hawk with the sport fairing.
reminds me of a baby z1r i guess! :laugh:

did you need to change any mounts to make the motor fit?