GPz550 Brought back to life

Been lurking since I got the 550, but new to the forums, and a fairly new rider here. After spending my first season on a 2009 bike which needed nothing from me I decided it was time to ride "My own bike" and went looking for a project. I ended up (with some help from my friends) with 2. This thread is about my GPz.

I just wanted a place to track my progress and I am sure I will have some questions for you guys along the way.


Here goes my test pic and if it works will post the rest.

So a few pics to catch you guys up to where I am with the bike.

The Day I got her:

Where She was when I left the Garage yesterday:

All The minutia I've been able to remove so far

My favorite part was the color of the gas from my carbs, PO told me that he had put fresh gas in, she would start and run when I first got there, but ability to run quickly degraded. I'm guessing the dirty gas in the carbs probably had something to do with that. The color was nauseating to see running out of my bike, guessing the tank needs a serious cleaning and the carbs will be getting one as well when they are re-jetted.

Was gas brown in the 80s?

Got some more progress today, wheels, calipers and brake lines off. Braided Lines, new pads and rotors on order. Taking the wheels in for their new rubber.

The bike is actually in excellent shape considering it has taken some low speed falls and has been sitting in a barn since 95. Couldn't pass it up for $375 when I saw it though.

PO had done some front brake work and put a new battery in .. that is the only maintenance the bike has seen in 15 years.

The oil had degraded to the point that it poured out like water, the gas as you can see in the pics above was dark brown and full of sediment from tank rust.

Thankfully aside from needing a good degreasing; the frame is very clean and true as are all major components, wheels, brakes, and engine.

Overall a relaxing way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

great find looking forward to your build

Thanks Ram,
Work has kept me out of the garage these last couple weeks but ordered most of the needed parts and they are starting to roll in.

Just received this 4 into 1 exhaust; headers and can today, it was a fleabay find and the manufacturer is unknown can anyone shed some light?



Thats Poker in the background, a recently adopted rescue.. and quite a handful

It reminds me of the old Bassani systems I have seen pics of but could be Yoshi, Mac, or any number of others. It has been painted black, and I can't find any evidence of a manufacturer stamp or sticker anywhere.

New Jet kit and plug wires came today as well.

Felt like Christmas and I have many other packages coming this week, apologies on the photo quality but working with my droid for pictures, don't have my camera today

I'm still checking the mail everyday. for about 3 months it was a daily suprise felt like a kid again. rescued a Rot last fall He manages to knockover about everything I do lol Keep it comming

wow...good progress...those are rippers...set up right one of the best small gpz of any yr....nothing by todays standards like my bikes...but on a backroad...those are too much fun and faster than anything around mot days.....niice bike...nice pipe

That exhaust is a MAC pipe.

Thanks for the encouragement guys. I'm not looking for a super bike by any means as I said fairly new to riding. Just from the test ride I will say she should be plenty to keep me occupied for at least a while. As my skills grow, I have a feeling so will my bikes. Also working on an old GN400 that doesn't want to spark so a handful of new electronics enroute for that one.

@ Baldy thanks for the info; I have to ask how you ID the exhaust as a Mac? After my post I began inspecting and noticed where the headers join the 2.5" pipe the inside is not as clean as I would like or expect which also made me lean towards Mac, wondering what tipped you off though.

Such a beautiful day today, wish I had a bike running, all the more encouragement to get wrenching; tires got delivered while I was typing this, heading over to the garage now to see what I can get done.

cool bike, looking forward to watching your build

Nice find! Looks like a fun little project. I'm finishing up my 750 cafe myself, and will be watching this build too

Just a quick update.
Things I got done:
1. Tank is free of gas, petcock etc.. is removed
-Thankfully not as much rust inside as I expected to see
-Looking for a Radiator shop that will clean and prep tank
2. Frame is totally stripped down except the engine which I'm waiting on a second set of hands to remove.
3. Found a surprise in the gas tank in the form of a Turkey Baster, well at least the funnel portion of one, I'm guessing that doesn't come stock on these.

Things I realized I need and will be shopping for:

1. New Ignition switch
2. and realized today I forgot to order a seat... kind of a critical component

Forgot the camera and the phone .. more pics to come soon, would like to see the frame, tank and engine blasted and painted by end of next week, we'll see if work allows.

Off to dinner I'm starving... think the restaurant will mind me smelling like a gas tank?