what carbs are these? 1983 gpz550

Stock tk22's should be black so what are on this bike? I'm looking at buying this bike this weekend. It'll be my first bike! I ride my father-inlaw's Honda vtx for the time being, but I think I finally found the bike I want.

Also I know this is the carbs section but anything specific I should check for when I see this bike on Saturday?

A 1983 GPZ550 is actually a KZ550H2. (1982 is a KZ550H1.) They came with Teikei TK26 CV carbs. The TK22 slide carbs are used on the 1981 KZ550D1 Gpz550, and KZ550A and KZ550C models.

This site is having issues with links and photos right now so I can't look at your photo. There are various versions of the TK26 CV carbs used on several KZ550 models. It's possible someone replaced the carbs with a silver version from another model, or maybe someone just stripped the black paint off.

One area to look for rust is in the rear suspension, particularly where the rear shock and suspension components mount to the frame under the bike. They have a record of breaking there if they get rusty.

I think I chose the right option to post the pic directly. The reason I ask about the carbs specifically is the seller told me he is the second owner and the carbs are stock.

Those look like the TK26 CV's that came with the bike, but the black paint is gone. So they are either the stock carbs with paint strippedoff,or they are the carbs from a KZ550M or KZ550F.

The later 1984 ZX550A1 and 1985 ZX550A2 used a very similar carb, the TK27 CV.

Obviously someone has done some modifying on that carb to get ti to run with pod filters. At the very least, it is rejetted if it is running correctly, and it may have a Dynojet kit with needles in it.

If you want the manuals, I believe the base manual and supplements for that bike are linked in my signature.

According to the seller it is rejetted and running well. I asked as soon as I saw pods.

I've been perusing your links actual recently. I plan on riding it Saturday morning (it's about an hour away) and I will check the bike over for rust, check out the chain, the brake pads and rotors etc. Other than what you mentioned any common issues or maintenance I should ask about? Like I said, this is my first bike purchase so as open as I am to a project, I want a project that starts off strong.

Tusch wrote: According to the seller it is rejetted and running well. I asked as soon as I saw pods.

I've been perusing your links actual recently. I plan on riding it Saturday morning (it's about an hour away) and I will check the bike over for rust, check out the chain, the brake pads and rotors etc. Other than what you mentioned any common issues or maintenance I should ask about? Like I said, this is my first bike purchase so as open as I am to a project, I want a project that starts off strong.

Don't believe anything the po says. People forget, don't know, or flat out lie. Make sure the bike is stone cold when you get there to check it. If it's warmed up, you'll have no idea how it behaves at startup or what he has to do to get it started. If you don't know much about bikes, pod filters w CV carbs can be a pain - a bike may run great at certain rpms, but not so good at others.

In the mean time I would check the diagrams, Z1Enterprises, &/or ebbaayy to see if a used airbox & new ducts are available. So, if you end up having issues, you'll know how much trouble it might be to get it back to stock.

If the bike is running well (and starting easily, as Martin mentioned), then most of the common issues are probably taken care of such as float valves, petcock, charging system, etc.

The TK carbs, CV and manual-slide, seem to work out ok with pods for whatever reason. Probably because Dynojet has already done the research into a good combination of jets and needles, and that is what most people used to get them running on pods (or copied the jetting that came in the kits).

I would check the fork seals. Make sure the rear shock isnt blown out. Look for oil around the head gasket.

Well I bought it! Got him to drop in price some more, needs rear turns, a side cover and some minor dings and scratches but it runs great. Tons of fun, feels so small (in size not power) Feels like I can just flick it around. Particularly because I'm used to riding my father in law's vtx.

Wow, that looks to be in really nice shape. That paint just jumps out at you. :woohoo:

By the way, just a warning... the 82 and 83 models had slightly different paint schemes. Your right side cover is an 82. The 83's had a much larger black area that went over the Gpz550 logo. They are so similar, that pwople often swap side covers between the years. If you do a google search you will find a lot of mix-n-match side covers. The tank and tail on the 82 are silver over black, but opposite on the 83. Both years have silver over black on the side cover, but 83 had a large black area. Only 1983 had stripes on the front fairing (black over silver), so that is usually the easiest way to identify an 83.

Wow good catch lou, thanks. I already put 100 miles on her today getting her home and then having some fun on the roads by my house. RPMs are fun :woohoo: