The stock bike was amazing. The after-market can--like all after-market cans--just wakes up neighbors and makes the bike sound broken. In stock condition, a perfect half-litre bike.
When I was in the Air Force back in 1983,one of my buddies had one of these and at the time it was just such a cool bike that looked way ahead of its time.
I'm sure that buddy wasn't me... but I bought myself a 1982 GPz 550 as a separation present to me when I got out of the Air Force in 1982. I still have that bike... but it needs a restoration just like this bike!
Way back in 1982 I joined the USAF, after Basic Training and Technical School, I was assigned to Dyess AFB, Texas. Having no transportation and living in the "dorms" as a single 21 year old I was on the hunt for transportation. I found a bike just like this, but it was a 1981 model and I bought it in January 1983. It had 18,000 miles on it, but was in mint condition! I paid $1300.00 for it. I rode it daily for the next two years, through rain, wind, storms, cold, hot, it was my only form of transportation. Late in 1984, I received orders to Misawa AB, Japan and had to sell my beloved 550 GPz. I sold it for $1300.00. I never had to replace anything, not tires, or even a battery. It was one of the best built, trouble-free bikes I ever owned. It was 100% original when I bought and sold it. So, I actually rode this bike for two entire years for free, except gas, oil and filter changes, which I performed at the base Auto Repair Shop. I have such good memories of this bike, and this period of my life. One big memory I still have is this. I attended a wedding of a friend, and met this recently widowed 30 year old woman. I was 22 years old and she was 8 years my senior. She was an aerobic instructor, and was very pretty and was in excellent shape. Her husband had been killed about a year before we met at the wedding in a big truck accident. We started out as friends the first month, and then one afternoon we were at her house drinking some cold beers. After about six beers each, she said I should stay over as to not drink and drive. Later that night, I told her I could sleep on the couch, she had no kids. She asked why I didn't want to sleep with her in her bed. I told her because I had not been invited. She asked me to sleep with her. Man, I think it was because she was still a young woman and had not been with a young man since the death of her husband, but we stayed up most of the night making love, again and again. She blew my mind. We continued to date, but marriage was never brought up. Then, I received my orders to Japan, and she had no desire to move away from Texas, so we parted ways. To this day, this was one of the best assignments I ever had. I stayed and retired 20 years later in 2002. I've been retired now for 18 years and I'm 58 years old, but I sure have some great memories of that Kawasaki GPz 550 and my friend Olivia. They were both really fun rides! :)
Nice miles. Glad you can enjoy a great bike. I had a mint Gpz 550 , red like yours but the side covers were more like squat pyramids . The lettering was black with gold trim and a white center. It had a custom Corbin seat , stage 3 dyno jet, independant K&N filters, and 4 into one exhaust with a kerker canister muffler. It was mint ! I was struggling to get work and so the bike sat for short time waiting a clutch replacement and possibly dog work on the transmission but it wasn't a major issue as it flew . Anyway, one day I came home from work , went to grill some dinner and my bike was missing . Someone had robbed me of my machine which double hurt as it used to be my brother's and was gifted to me for transportation. So seeing you piece your bike together and enjoy it , somehow eases the pain. Great stuff man ride on!
Good Job, Looks like you found a good one very rare in such nice Factory condition and a period correct Kerker Pipe to boot rare find for a 82-83 Gpz550. Nice to see you put it back to working condition. At a certain point these bikes become Collectors items like many cars. I believe the 81-85 GPz 550 are getting to the point that they are museum pieces. Because once dumped you will never get the factory pieces to get it back to 100%. And as We all know who ride it's not if its when. Looks great for 36 Years old. I hope you keep it or it goes to someone who will keep it up, it's a piece of History that many of us remember. I had a 82 in 1983 $2750 listed New back then but $3200 out the door from the Dealer in 1982 So I waited a year and bought mine used for $2200. Money was tight for a 19 year old kid right out of High School. Sold it a year later to go in to the Service. But I will always remember my year of the GPz550 Uni-Trak. Best Balanced 550 to be had in the early 1980s.
I just bought my first bike ever and it is an 83 GPz550. Im so excited I wish It was in near condition to this. Im looking for parts to fix and restore this bike. Was wondering where I could find a new carb and a new airbag for this bike. Great videos! The fairing is the most beautiful thing on this bike!
I had one for 3 years,... good memories. To me was the perfect bike and I regretted for a long time having sold it. It was a bad decision but I could only enjoy it for 5 months since I live in Toronto..
They're so much fun. New enough to be powerful, old enough to be simple and inexpensive. They're definitely going to be increasing in value in the next 15 years.
you're so right picked up my zed for £600 and considering its 31 years old its in good condition was looking for a z650 but they fetch about £3000 in the UK out of my budget !
That's crazy! I've sold about four Z650's this year for under $2,000 (£1,500). We've shipped cycles to the UK many times, so you could actually buy one and get it shipped across the pond for under £2,500!
had this bike in 1985. kerker 4 into one was awesome. my first lowside was on this bike. other than that all was fun. always wished the frame-flex during hard power out of a turn was not there. but then again, its 1983.
@@MilesFromExtraordinary Thanks Miles, I am interested in a 82-83 model GPz like this one. How much did it sell for? Let me know if you get another one!
@@manolis106 Hey if your still looking I have a Very Clean stock 83 GPZ 550 that has 21k miles but diffidently doesn't show it. Runs awesome...I'm considering seller her
The stock bike was amazing. The after-market can--like all after-market cans--just wakes up neighbors and makes the bike sound broken. In stock condition, a perfect half-litre bike.
I had a GPZ550H2 back in '84. Scared the heebie geebies out of me but what a bike! Still miss it today.
Love it! Great walk through. I’m getting a gpz550 soon, and can’t wait to get it running and test drive it. This guy is letting me have it for free!!!
550 was the best and most popular GPZ as it actually cornered well.
When I was in the Air Force back in 1983,one of my buddies had one of these and at the time it was just such a cool bike that looked way ahead of its time.
I'm sure that buddy wasn't me... but I bought myself a 1982 GPz 550 as a separation present to me when I got out of the Air Force in 1982. I still have that bike... but it needs a restoration just like this bike!
The Gpz was the Daddy of the Ninja. In 90 or so they changed the name from Gpz to Ninja.
Way back in 1982 I joined the USAF, after Basic Training and Technical School, I was assigned to Dyess AFB, Texas. Having no transportation and living in the "dorms" as a single 21 year old I was on the hunt for transportation. I found a bike just like this, but it was a 1981 model and I bought it in January 1983. It had 18,000 miles on it, but was in mint condition! I paid $1300.00 for it. I rode it daily for the next two years, through rain, wind, storms, cold, hot, it was my only form of transportation. Late in 1984, I received orders to Misawa AB, Japan and had to sell my beloved 550 GPz. I sold it for $1300.00. I never had to replace anything, not tires, or even a battery. It was one of the best built, trouble-free bikes I ever owned. It was 100% original when I bought and sold it. So, I actually rode this bike for two entire years for free, except gas, oil and filter changes, which I performed at the base Auto Repair Shop. I have such good memories of this bike, and this period of my life. One big memory I still have is this. I attended a wedding of a friend, and met this recently widowed 30 year old woman. I was 22 years old and she was 8 years my senior. She was an aerobic instructor, and was very pretty and was in excellent shape. Her husband had been killed about a year before we met at the wedding in a big truck accident. We started out as friends the first month, and then one afternoon we were at her house drinking some cold beers. After about six beers each, she said I should stay over as to not drink and drive. Later that night, I told her I could sleep on the couch, she had no kids. She asked why I didn't want to sleep with her in her bed. I told her because I had not been invited. She asked me to sleep with her. Man, I think it was because she was still a young woman and had not been with a young man since the death of her husband, but we stayed up most of the night making love, again and again. She blew my mind. We continued to date, but marriage was never brought up. Then, I received my orders to Japan, and she had no desire to move away from Texas, so we parted ways. To this day, this was one of the best assignments I ever had. I stayed and retired 20 years later in 2002. I've been retired now for 18 years and I'm 58 years old, but I sure have some great memories of that Kawasaki GPz 550 and my friend Olivia. They were both really fun rides! :)
Thanks for this. I enjoyed every second of all 3 videos.
LOVE THESE BIKES!!!
Great job! It both looks and sounds exactly as I remember, and love that period correct Kerker ehaust!
Woulda sounded better if it where a Yoshimura pipe though ;)
i had a 1985 550 . man that was a fast little bike !
my buddy brad had a 1100 . . . scary fast !
Hi bro do you have still this beauty ?
Nice miles. Glad you can enjoy a great bike. I had a mint Gpz 550 , red like yours but the side covers were more like squat pyramids . The lettering was black with gold trim and a white center. It had a custom Corbin seat , stage 3 dyno jet, independant K&N filters, and 4 into one exhaust with a kerker canister muffler. It was mint ! I was struggling to get work and so the bike sat for short time waiting a clutch replacement and possibly dog work on the transmission but it wasn't a major issue as it flew . Anyway, one day I came home from work , went to grill some dinner and my bike was missing . Someone had robbed me of my machine which double hurt as it used to be my brother's and was gifted to me for transportation. So seeing you piece your bike together and enjoy it , somehow eases the pain. Great stuff man ride on!
Good Job, Looks like you found a good one very rare in such nice Factory condition and a period correct Kerker Pipe to boot rare find for a 82-83 Gpz550. Nice to see you put it back to working condition. At a certain point these bikes become Collectors items like many cars. I believe the 81-85 GPz 550 are getting to the point that they are museum pieces. Because once dumped you will never get the factory pieces to get it back to 100%. And as We all know who ride it's not if its when. Looks great for 36 Years old. I hope you keep it or it goes to someone who will keep it up, it's a piece of History that many of us remember. I had a 82 in 1983 $2750 listed New back then but $3200 out the door from the Dealer in 1982 So I waited a year and bought mine used for $2200. Money was tight for a 19 year old kid right out of High School. Sold it a year later to go in to the Service. But I will always remember my year of the GPz550 Uni-Trak. Best Balanced 550 to be had in the early 1980s.
Would have sounded better with an period era Yoshimura race pipe.
I miss mine...
I had an '83.. what a sure footed bike it was.. could crank it over on some pretty harsh roads and still feel like you're on a rail.
I just bought my first bike ever and it is an 83 GPz550. Im so excited I wish It was in near condition to this. Im looking for parts to fix and restore this bike. Was wondering where I could find a new carb and a new airbag for this bike. Great videos! The fairing is the most beautiful thing on this bike!
Came out fabulous...
Awesome bike and great vid. And the correct exhaust! Remember: Kerker Kicks @ss!!
Sounds awesome
Sounds nice!
All it needs is a period correct Yoshimura pipe and you are golden.
I had one for 3 years,... good memories. To me was the perfect bike and I regretted for a long time having sold it. It was a bad decision but I could only enjoy it for 5 months since I live in Toronto..
Had one back in 1986 that was a nice bike and fast too
Great bikes! I've owned 2, an '81 (New) & and, years later, an '82
Nice rebuild going to go my gpz550 this coming winter love these old zeds
They're so much fun. New enough to be powerful, old enough to be simple and inexpensive. They're definitely going to be increasing in value in the next 15 years.
you're so right picked up my zed for £600 and considering its 31 years old its in good condition was looking for a z650 but they fetch about £3000 in the UK out of my budget !
That's crazy! I've sold about four Z650's this year for under $2,000 (£1,500). We've shipped cycles to the UK many times, so you could actually buy one and get it shipped across the pond for under £2,500!
had this bike in 1985. kerker 4 into one was awesome. my first lowside was on this bike. other than that all was fun. always wished the frame-flex during hard power out of a turn was not there. but then again, its 1983.
Great job,nice bike.
Funny I just found this video. I have the exact same bike with the same Kirker exhaust. I am the original owner and still have the bike !!!
Wow this bike looks so nice. Can you give a breakdown of prices? How much you got the bike for and all the individual parts?
wait, installing back the factory airbox fixes hi idle?
Saweeeeet !!!! 😍
Awesome bike!!!!! Needs pods!!!!!
Great looking bike , very nice . But please please wear a crash helmet .
Thanks for the kind words! and also the concern for my head!
that was my first street bike , special ordered from the factory
Does your bike have the battery acid probe wire in the battery and if yes how do you bypass that wire so I can put a jell cell battery
Nice, i have got a question: where did you find the airbox? i need one too :) greets
eBay had one
Can you tell me what Size Main Jets and Pilot Jets you used for it since it have a 4 into 1 Kerker Pipe and Pod Air Filters? Thank You
Did you manage to get it running smooth? 3 years later but i’m dealing with the same problem..
@@rubenkaiser Yes i sold the bike like 3 years ago i got it running perfectly even though it was a cold blooded criter
Looks like new and much cheaper then new.
Great job on a great bike! Do you still have it or has it been sold?
This particular bike has been sold, but we have a 1985 Reto-mod example coming up to auction in next week or so, if you're interested.
@@MilesFromExtraordinary Thanks Miles, I am interested in a 82-83 model GPz like this one. How much did it sell for? Let me know if you get another one!
@@manolis106 Hey if your still looking I have a Very Clean stock 83 GPZ 550 that has 21k miles but diffidently doesn't show it. Runs awesome...I'm considering seller her
wow, those carbs need cleaning !
There will be nothing left of it reving it like that from cold. It looks like these two are nt the sharpest tack in the box.
Bought this as my first bike, very torquey, I’m probably gonna kill myself on it cause I have to tip toe it I’m only 5’5. Oh well YOLO
Sounds lean