GPZ550 Carbs on KZ550

Do the 26mm GPZ550 carbs for the KZ550? If so is it worth it?

Define "worth it".

Nessism wrote: Define "worth it".

Is it worth "Upgrading" and dealing with whatever needs to be done for an undisclosed amount of power gain?

Wildman1024 wrote:

Nessism wrote: Define "worth it".

Is it worth "Upgrading" and dealing with whatever needs to be done for an undisclosed amount of power gain?

I'd say no. It's an old vintage bike, it will never be fast. Most important thing on these bikes (my opinion) is for them to be trouble free and non temperamental.

Nessism wrote:

Wildman1024 wrote:

Nessism wrote: Define "worth it".

Is it worth "Upgrading" and dealing with whatever needs to be done for an undisclosed amount of power gain?

I'd say no. It's an old vintage bike, it will never be fast. Most important thing on these bikes (my opinion) is for them to be trouble free and non temperamental.

Well I'm not really looking to make it "fast". It just kinda runs like crap now and I gotta pull the carbs off anyways so thought it might be a nice upgrade.

Wildman1024 wrote: Do the 26mm GPZ550 carbs for the KZ550? If so is it worth it?

IIRC the GPzs have other mods (e.g. cams) to go along with the larger carbs. With the standard KZ head and cams, not only will you probably not reap any benefit on the top end, you'll probably lose some grunt on the bottom end.

Having said that, you can probably get it to work. If you're doing it to learn / as a for-the-heck-of-it project, then that's great. If you want to improve a daily rider, you'll get a better result from fixing your existing carbs. Good luck!

TK26mm are CV carbs, your 81 kz550 uses slide carbs, You would need to chaange the head too if you wanted to use the Cv carbs.

Tyrell Corp wrote: TK26mm are CV carbs, your 81 kz550 uses slide carbs, You would need to chaange the head too if you wanted to use the Cv carbs.

Exactly.
The intake carb holders have the mounting bolts set wider on the TK26 carbs, and the intake port is smaller on your engine anyway.

Your Tk22 carbs are going to be much easier and cheaper to tune correctly, and the 81 gpz550 uses those same carbs (with different main jet).

If you haven't already, you can check out the TK22 website link in my signature. It might help get you get them sorted out. (In particular, you may want to check the section about choke flaps).

If you don't already have a manual, there are several in the links. They will help in case the problem turns out to be something other than carbs. If you start to suspect valve adjustments, read the valve train warning before opening the valve cover.

Thanks for the help guys. I'll just go through the carbs I have. Put 123 miles on the bike tonight and it runs great once warm. It's just the getting it warm part that sucks.