I had a black one back in the day, put a 3 into 1 Piper on her, sounded fantastic, gave the bike loads of torque but really robbed the top end, I then got a set of Allspeeds which really made the old gal move plus again sounded fantastic... Two strokes rule...
I owned one of those back in '75 as my first bike. Mine had the drum front brake like yours. I was amazed how effective it was. My next bike had a single disk up front and was way under-braked. That drum brake worked so well I was wondering why they switched to disks in later bikes. Not like the older cars with drum brakes which sucked. They'd fade. That's good yours starts that easy. I do remember that was the problem I had with mine, hard to start. The dealer couldn't fix that either.
Absolutely, fantastic restoration. I really like what you did with the rims. It goes well with the 72 candy gold paint scheme. I don't think that could have been pulled off as well with other model paint schemes. Did you chrome plate the rear wheel hub and brake plate or is it polished ?
Thanks for the kind comments. When I was looking for a GT550 to restore I kept going to the 72 Indy model in gold. I love the front hub on this model. All the aluminum has been polished with a buffer after hours of wet sanding. Since this video I've had a short opportunity to take it for a 5 mile spin and it runs out very nicely.
The 750 had a radiator and everyone called it the water buffalo. It was meant for highway travel and the one I rode once wallowed around corners. I owned the 550 in the 70's, with the original pipes was rather doggie until you hit 5500rpm then for the next 700 rpm was where the power band peaked. Then it flattened back out. You had to really push the 550 to keep it in the narrow power band and the drum brakes made stopping quickly fun as well. The Susuki 380/550's, Yamaha 350/400RD's, Kaw 500 and H2 750's were all high strung 2 strokes you had to pay attention to when you rode them. Really narrow powerbands (term was "on the pipes") when it hit. If you ever get the opportunity to ride one hang on hard to it when get to 5500rpm.
Beautiful! A real thinking man's motorcycle from back in the day.
Bad Ass!! When I was a kid, my neighbor had a GT185 exact same color. Loved that bike.
3 cylinder 2 strokes sound EVIL.
They sound angry all the time....
I had a black one back in the day, put a 3 into 1 Piper on her, sounded fantastic, gave the bike loads of torque but really robbed the top end, I then got a set of Allspeeds which really made the old gal move plus again sounded fantastic...
Two strokes rule...
Sounds sweet
Beautiful bike.
Very nice
I feel that a good smell comes from the screen.
I'm a two stroke junkie.
I owned one of those back in '75 as my first bike. Mine had the drum front brake like yours. I was amazed how effective it was. My next bike had a single disk up front and was way under-braked. That drum brake worked so well I was wondering why they switched to disks in later bikes. Not like the older cars with drum brakes which sucked. They'd fade. That's good yours starts that easy. I do remember that was the problem I had with mine, hard to start. The dealer couldn't fix that either.
美しいバイクです！☺️🇯🇵
Still love it
Das waren noch Zeiten als es aus dem Auspuff noch qualmte.
Motorcycle perfect.......👋👋👋👋👋👋👋👋👋👋👋👋👋👋👋👋
Holy crap...drum brakes🙃
I know this is a 6 year old videa but I have to say, those Higgies sound like oooooooohhh goooooood
You are lucky
お～！
初代ゴッパンだ！！
❤❤
what kind of a gold paint is that, looks like a custard pie from roths or house of colour Love it!
Absolutely, fantastic restoration. I really like what you did with the rims. It goes well with the 72 candy gold paint scheme. I don't think that could have been pulled off as well with other model paint schemes. Did you chrome plate the rear wheel hub and brake plate or is it polished ?
Thanks for the kind comments. When I was looking for a GT550 to restore I kept going to the 72 Indy model in gold. I love the front hub on this model. All the aluminum has been polished with a buffer after hours of wet sanding. Since this video I've had a short opportunity to take it for a 5 mile spin and it runs out very nicely.
Show
My '72 had the four pipes for the exhaust, I noticed yours had three ...are they aftermarket???
Of course they are
We're can you get those pipes.almost imposable to find
Sounds like a popcorn popper. Lol
it's a pitty youtube can't bring us odours too!
nice bike...
nice work ...
a lot of time...
have a look ty my gt550 on my channel!
Curious if you've ever rode a gt750.. And how your 550 compares??
The 750 had a radiator and everyone called it the water buffalo. It was meant for highway travel and the one I rode once wallowed around corners. I owned the 550 in the 70's, with the original pipes was rather doggie until you hit 5500rpm then for the next 700 rpm was where the power band peaked. Then it flattened back out. You had to really push the 550 to keep it in the narrow power band and the drum brakes made stopping quickly fun as well. The Susuki 380/550's, Yamaha 350/400RD's, Kaw 500 and H2 750's were all high strung 2 strokes you had to pay attention to when you rode them. Really narrow powerbands (term was "on the pipes") when it hit. If you ever get the opportunity to ride one hang on hard to it when get to 5500rpm.