Re: GS550E 1980 w/ 673 top end swap [aluminum swingarm swap completed]
- Thread starter jwegman
- Start date
jwegman
New Member
Finished the swinger swap last week and am finally getting around to posting pictures.
Polished it up to 800 grit to match forks:
Installed:
Its got all the right holes in all the right places:
I really want to weigh the bike now. This pretty much completes everything I want to do to the bike. I have a few adjustments to make here and there but am very happy with the transformation.
Polished it up to 800 grit to match forks:
Installed:
Its got all the right holes in all the right places:
I really want to weigh the bike now. This pretty much completes everything I want to do to the bike. I have a few adjustments to make here and there but am very happy with the transformation.
jwegman
New Member
Re: GS550E 1980 w/ 673 top end swap
In the fall I had a great photographer shoot my bike. It was a great experience working with him and we are just now releasing the photos. His website is http://evogphotography.com/.
Enjoy
In the fall I had a great photographer shoot my bike. It was a great experience working with him and we are just now releasing the photos. His website is http://evogphotography.com/.
Enjoy
brad black
Been Around the Block
not so sold on the wheel colour, or your visor.
but looks good. love the way the rear light/seat cowl works. i would have said that the gold disc centres distract, but given the rest of it is fairly monchromatic (like that too) they are a nice highlight.
but looks good. love the way the rear light/seat cowl works. i would have said that the gold disc centres distract, but given the rest of it is fairly monchromatic (like that too) they are a nice highlight.
LovingtheCLE
Been Around the Block
Seeing what you have done with this bike makes me ashamed to even refer to what I have done on my bike as a "build." Excellent work! I have gotten tons of inspiration. Now I just need to acquire mechanical knowledge, skill, and tools to be able to pull even a fraction of what you have done off!
Excellent work. This bike is a thing of beauty that will haul. You have given me a ton of food for thought as I think about future winter projects.
Excellent work. This bike is a thing of beauty that will haul. You have given me a ton of food for thought as I think about future winter projects.
Chuck78
Been Around the Block
Awesome build! I found this while trying to google search craigslist for a gs1100e swingarm for my friend who just scored an '80 gs550 & hopefully an extra 78 550 bottom & gs650g top thst I pointed him towards. Almost same build plan as yours really, even down to YSS brand shocks (c-302 piggybacks).
I'm very impressed with your swingarm drill bit (reamer) selection & alignment method, and forwarded that to my friend. I did however wonder if you recall if that was type M or type L copper, as L is much thicker walled (smaller I.D., commercial spec).
Glad to see someone made use of all my geeking out research over parts weight & swaps. Thanks for the shout out. Cool to see the same exact rotor/axle/swingarm that I'm running.
I've got a spare 77 550 engine & 81 650 top end to build up next year as well. I was considering seeing if JE or Wiseco would do a GSR group purchase on some custom gs650 big bore pistons like the 741cc 65mm wiseco's that are 20 years out of production. The GS650E &/or GS550 w/650 top is probably my favorite of all GS's due to light weight & excellent head/piston design & roller bearing crank. Great choice... Even with electric start delete, yours is 25lbs lighter & better mpg but my 920cc GS750 engine is a rocket though, good tradeoff for 25lbs extra. Keep up the awesome work.
I'm very impressed with your swingarm drill bit (reamer) selection & alignment method, and forwarded that to my friend. I did however wonder if you recall if that was type M or type L copper, as L is much thicker walled (smaller I.D., commercial spec).
Glad to see someone made use of all my geeking out research over parts weight & swaps. Thanks for the shout out. Cool to see the same exact rotor/axle/swingarm that I'm running.
I've got a spare 77 550 engine & 81 650 top end to build up next year as well. I was considering seeing if JE or Wiseco would do a GSR group purchase on some custom gs650 big bore pistons like the 741cc 65mm wiseco's that are 20 years out of production. The GS650E &/or GS550 w/650 top is probably my favorite of all GS's due to light weight & excellent head/piston design & roller bearing crank. Great choice... Even with electric start delete, yours is 25lbs lighter & better mpg but my 920cc GS750 engine is a rocket though, good tradeoff for 25lbs extra. Keep up the awesome work.
Chuck78
Been Around the Block
Ruprect said:
The 550 & 650 cams are a direct swap, but the timing chain gears on the 650g cranks & the 550 cranks are different, as are the cam sprockets, so you must retain the 550 cam chain sprockets to the cams you choose for the 550 crankcase/650 top end.
The 550 cams have a longer valve opening duration, 650's shorter bit I "think" the slightest bit more lift. 650 cams=more midrange torque, 550 cams are like a hot street cam with a fair bit more top end hp but less low end. The 550 cams have such an aggressive & authoritative tone with a straight through performance glasspack baffle that it's hard for me to not use them...
beckhart@aol.com
New Member
Hello,
Great bike - excellent work! How did you route the choke cable from the frame to the carburetors?
Great bike - excellent work! How did you route the choke cable from the frame to the carburetors?
Would you mind sharing any info regarding the ignition switch relocation? Which ignition did you go with? Happy with it? Is 1 wire coming from power and all 3 other wires hitting the output? I have a 1980 GS550E and am currently trying to decide whether to move my ignition switch. Bike looks awesome btw!
