Bought a 2nd GPZ 550 today

I had posted an ad on CL for my side covers for my GPZ, and this guy emails me, asking if I'd be interested in his bike...a GPZ 550 (not sure about the year)
I looked at the pic and I'm thinking "why did I not hear about THIS bike before I bought the John Deer GPZ

I think It looks pretty good!!


anyways, after a few emails back and forth, finds out he wants to sell it to buy an AR-15!!
what a coincidence...LOL
of course I start telling him about us owning a gun shop, specialized in custom AR, etc..
so long story short, bike needs carbs clean, has clean title and it will be deliver this Saturday, trading straight across for an AR. Basically we will have about $500 out of pocket for the bike

so now, we have my 1983 GPZ 550, hubby's 1980 KZ750LTD (twin version) and now this one

the plan is to finish the bobber project with the 750, which is already almost done, sell it and keep just the 2 GPZ.
In the event that one of the GPZ ends up not running to good, one will become the "part" bike and the KZ will not get sold...right away...lol

hubby and I are just copy cats like that...we both drive 1989 Toyota trucks, I have the 4Runner and he has the PU version :silly: and oh, we also have the same tattoo!!:woohoo:

well, we did not get the bike today, delivery has been postponed until wednesday :dry:
I HATE waiting!

That looks like a '81 Gpz550 engine in possibly a '82 model chassis. I know what you mean about waiting. I hate it too!

WOW! When things work out, they really work out. Sounds like a heck of a deal and another good project. And that whole, "Patience is a virtue" thing... I'm pretty sure it is, and I know I need more of it, but sometimes I feel like God can be just a wee bit generous in His doling out the opportunities for me to grow mine. grrrrrr

As GPZ550D1 said, looks like 81 kz550 D1 motor and carbs on 82/83 kz550 H chassis.

Can't identify the headlight, though. Looks like someone swapped in some new coils or new coil wires, since they are a little long and loopy.

But yes, that project looks a little closer to ridable, than the John Deer.

ok, so this bike isn't a GPZ? it's just the KZ550?
I want to make sure if I need some parts.

and the John Deer AKA mission impossible bike, is still apart in totes but we got some work done so it's moving along

I bought that shadow chrome kit for my wheels...mmmeehhhh...did not like the results so the wheels are gonna go white!

The frame is a 1982 or 1983 KZ550H1 or H2 which is also called an 1982 or 1983 gpz550.

The engine and carbs are from a 1981 KZ550D1 which is also called a 1981 gpz550.

KZ550xx is the factory designation. Gpz550 is the marketing name.

Later, starting in 1984, the factory designated ZX550A1 A2 A3 ... took over the gpz550 marketing name.

There is also the standard KZ550A, but that is not a gpz, and should not be confused with the ZX550A, which is a gpz.

Most Kawasaki models of that era have both the factory designation, and the marketing name. Sometimes the factory name is the marketing name, like in early the KZ650's etc. Some factory designations will have different marketing names in different countries. For example, in the U.S., we got the KZ650B and KZ650C, which was simply called a "KZ650". But in Europe, they got the same bikes, but they were called the "Z650". (They dropped the "K" because "KZ" was a Nazi designation for concentration camps.)

Both of your frames are KZ550H model gpz550's. Since you will need to know, the KZ550H models used TK brand TK-26 carbs. The 1981 KZ550D engine uses TK brand TK-22 carbs. The carbs are very different from each other and almost no parts interchange on the carbs.

Here's a link to my TK-22 website:
home.comcast.net/~loudgpz/GPZweb/TK22mainPage/TK22mainPage.html

Also, you may want to join the gpz550 forum.
www.nwsca.com/scripts/gpz_forum_2005/log...p?target=default.asp

oh my...
I'm confused, I will need to read this a few times...lol

similar to the ninja 500...previous to 1997 (I think) they were NOT ninjas, but EX500...LOL
the 1st gen is what they are called usually

so, what you are saying is that my 2 bikes arent the same? other than the year?

so I have a 1983 GPZ550 and this one is...?

kscanuck785 wrote: so, what you are saying is that my 2 bikes arent the same? other than the year?

so I have a 1983 GPZ550 and this one is...?

They were originally, basically the same. But, now the engine and carbs on the black bike are different from what they orignally were. Someone got rid of the original motor, carbs, and airbox, and put in a motor and carbs from an earlier year. They also appear to have slightly modified the chassis at the back end and put on a different headlight in front. They also, obviously, removed the front fairing.

Your green bike is a 1983 KZ550H2 which has the marketing name "GPZ550".

The black bike is either a 1982 KZ550H1 or 1983 KZ550H2. I can't tell which from the photo. Your title should say what it is. However, the engine and carbs in the black bike are from a 1981 KZ550D1. All of the above have the marketing name of "GPZ550".

ok, thanks!! that does make it clearer

so the black bike was delivered yesterday.

the seat is pretty much the only thing on it that I care for...lol
the cafe handlebars are way too low, get in the tank if you do a tight turn plus they make for a very uncomfortable ride IMO, and that's coming from someone who rode ninjas..lol
there are no turn signals on it nor a speedometer...

the good? it runs so the hubby took it for a very short ride down the street.

conclusion:
I'm still going with my other GPZ since this one although better looking at 1st glance, does need work almost as much as mine...