The 16in front wheel feels light and is claimed to improve the speed at which you can flick through bends. The 550 powers its way to around 6000rpm where it hits a slight flat spot, from there to about 7000rpm it picks up again zooming up to the red line at 10,000rpm. In 1990 the handlebars were raised to a more standard height. The fork gets the job done, and nothing more. Responding to the market impulses for that high-bar, low-light, step-seat, long-fork, short-muffler look, Suzuki has introduced a set of machines for the Raked-out Randys of motorcycling. It's a perfectly competent 1970s motorcycle.
An engine was also added to improve reliability, and European models used a as well as pulsed to control emissions. I'm alive fully and wish the weather would improve so I could really enjoy myself. . With a nearly square bore and stroke of 56. Damping action is slow over bumps of all sizes, and the resulting initial impression is that the fork is over-sprung. More than 160 miles can be ridden before reserve is needed, with still another 40-odd miles left.
The model was released in Japan in April 1978. Unfortunately, constant oil leaks from the gearshift lever made me re-think Suzuki. Real motorcycles had push-rods, kick starting, drum brakes and 36-spoke wheels, and until 1969 motorcycles were virtually tradition-bound to use these items. Related bikes List for comparison of specs. This is obviously going to make setting up the carbs easier for the home mechanic. It's fast, it's comfortable both in town because of its nimbleness and on the highway because of its roominess , it's absolutely stone reliable and it's inexpensive compared to any of its middleweight rivals. Fortunately, around-town cruising and short highway jaunts are most usually accomplished at speeds below the resonance level.
The 550's powerplant was a well-engineered, technically pedestrian unit. Taking off from rest, the 550's power comes in with a bang, it takes a while to get used to the clutch and it is possible to stall it before becoming really accustomed. And check out the rating of the bike's You can compare the rating with other bikes. The fairing offered a sportier, aggressive look and improved rider comfort by providing wind protection and better aerodynamics. Moreover, the cast wheels don't need maintenance. Adjustment of the valves is a simple matter of installing shims of different thicknesses in the tappet tops.
If you consider buying this bike, you should view the list of Look at photos. For a bike of this age, there should be a free download of the manual. Suzuki Motos Colombia in Spanish. It shows that the bike had a single brake disc at the front. Fast, fun and still cheap. All discs are slotted to repel water in the wet and aid heat loss. No more getting the C spanner out or hammer and chisel in some cases , just twist the knob which hydraulically adjusts the pre-load, it couldn't be simpler.
Suzuki engineers have chosen to use roller bearings at several points in the engine's bottom end where they might otherwise have used plain bearings. Instead, the 500 uses an oil-damped steel spring fork, which is perfectly competent but not exceptional in any particular area. Faults: This bike has serious carb issues. The gearbox ratios have been changed slightly from the old 550 but as before, are spaced well. I sold it and bought a '82 Honda 900F. Its power, at 47bhp, is perfect for the class, and the 180kg weight means its power-to-weight ratio is close to the 0.
Katana version looks flash, does 60mpg but lacks comfort. At about the same time that the chassis components begin wearing grooves in the highway, the Bridgestone tires, especially the rear, begin to drift. The riding position gives the impression of sitting in the bike rather than on it, the front half of the seat is lower than the rear and your knees fit into cut-outs in the tank and are shielded from the wind by the lower half of the fairing. However, I think you will want to know how to get the oil in and out of the forks as well. All of these models preserved the earliest layout: double overhead cams, 2 -adjusted valves per cylinder and a roller-bearing crankshaft. You can sign up for e-mail notifications when other riders answer you.
A single monoshock as on other models except last year's 550 but with the difference of dial-a-ride adjustment. Discussions for every bike Bikez has discussion forums for every bike. A model for 1990 had a reduced fuel capacity, 15. Custom version handles strangely above 70mph. Good luck and have a wonderful day. Pin striping on the tank and sidecovers was very unique to this year. Click on the image for larger format.
Suzuki Touring Group in Spanish. Suzuki Motor de Colombia S. After doing some research, I may have paid too much. Click on the image for larger format. Suzuki's use of stylish and inexpensive variations has been commercially successful: last year the E models outsold the standard versions in all four displacement categories where they were offered-400, 550, 750 and 1000cc.
The position seems high compared to modern bikes, but the added visibility and better vision in traffic compensate for me. In the 10 years since 1969, multi-cylinder roadsters have become the norm. The small half fairing does a good job in deflecting the wind and prevents your neck taking the full blast during high speed runs. True, its styling might have been somewhat subdued, but at a claimed 49hp it was no slouch, with quarter-mile times in the sub-14 second range. There was no question that Suzuki would have to enter the game. Medium-density foam is used in the seat and it's good for a reasonably numb-free long ride. New for this year is a starter interlock, a safety feature which requires the rider to pull in the clutch lever while starting the engine.