Identify this Suzuki

[mash]

My Dad bought this bike around 1984 for $50 bucks. It was leaning up against the side of a friend's house lonely and abandoned for a BMW. I took my license test on this bike thus beginning my streetbike love affair. I think it is a 550cc, probably mid 70's model, but I am not sure. It had some good get up and go!

[Range]

looks like a GT around mid 70's

[HS2020]

Early Suzuki GS Model or a 70's Model Honda CB something.

[Range]

Early Suzuki GS Model or a 70's Model Honda CB something.

nope Jimmah....I am right...for a change

[StblJmpr]

Definitely a Suzuki. My old man had one around the time I was born.

[chinto]

It is a GT 550. I believe it is a 1973.

[StevieB]

Okay, I would have thought by now it would have been positively ID'd it, but I guess not.

Early Suzuki GT550, pic is a bit small, but that looks like drum brakes on the front, which would make it a early 72. If disc, late 72 thru 74. The drum brake models are sorta rare, and a bit more valuable if not switched over. Brake perf on both was nothing to shout about (actually, they both probably caused quite a bit of shouting- or screaming), so best to leave it original.

The early GT's were all three-cylinder, 2-stroke models. Available in air-cooled 185, 350, 550, and a water cooled 750. The air coolers were sport bikes of their day, and scalded-dog quick, due to their 2-stroke motors. The water-cooled 750 was more of a sport-tourer- actually, much like today's Katana, and has earned the nick names "Water buffalo" and "kettle."

I had a 750, for less than ayear- bought it cheap, got it running on all three cylinders, but the end of a relationship forced it's sale- at three times what I had in it. I was happy enough. I now have a 550, which sat for years and needs lots of mechanical work- one day, one day.

Do you or your dad still have the bike? There is a group of enthasuist for these old bikes, have a yahoo group, websites, etc.

[chinto]

Okay, I would have thought by now it would have been positively ID'd it, but I guess not.

I guess mine and Range's posts don't count...

The side covers on the 74 are different.

I checked on suzukicycles.org to look into the disk brake thing, and low and behold the same paint scheme is showing in 1972.



so there you have it, it is a 1972

[steves]

I like that paint scheme... it's slick!

[bruisa15]

have found the closest I could find "72 gt550 even the same paint style with the tank and no disc brakes hope that helps

http://media.fastclick.net/w/get.media?sid=12643&m=5&tp=6&url=http%3A//www.bikez.com/pictures/large.php%3Fimage%3Dhttp%3A//www.bikez.com/pictures/suzuki/1972/7926_0_1_4_gt%20550%20j_Submitted%20by%20anonymous%20user..jpg

[mash]

nope

Do you or your dad still have the bike? There is a group of enthasuist for these old bikes, have a yahoo group, websites, etc.[/quote

awesome guys! Dad could'nt remember either. He got the bike running with new plugs and a carb clean up and sold it for $500.00. I talked to him last night, he said he wished he would have kept it. Afterwords he bought a cb750 honda, a good bike but a little too much for him size wise.

Now he still has a Honda 350 1971 in the garage with abt the same color scheme. The tank is rusty on the inside and the tires dry rotted, otherwise with some carb cleaning I believe it would fire right up. I intend to get it going soon, as soon as I finish building a fence, remodeling my bathrooms, restoring my 67 camaro, (you get the picture)

[Range]

I love old bikes

[chinto]

I love old bikes

I'm with you on that one.

[mash]

my first owned bike

I love old bikes

I'm with you on that one.

Here is a pic from bikeZ that was like my very first owned bike, the CX500 1979. Water cooled, direct drive, smooth riding machine. Mine had a windshield and saddle bags and was HEAVY if you had a tip over. Nearly popped a rhoid the first time I had to pic it up off its side. My friends who all rode crotch rockets, called it a "Hogan's Hero" bike

[StevieB]

It is a GT 550. I believe it is a 1973.

Inprecise. Year wrong if bike truly does have drum brakes.

looks like a GT around mid 70's

Incomplete, inprecise, and looks don't quite get it. GW "looks" like the President, but we all know Dick Chaney is the real prez.

You guys are funny- if CyberPoet had posted the same thing, you would be falling all over each other, praising him for his encyclopedic knowledge of all things motorcycle, whereas I give a quick but fairly thorough rundown of the bike (completly from memory, I didn't google a thing) and you get pissy 'cause you checked in with a little tidbid of half-information.