Sounds great. My only issue with the GT550s was that they are very viby bikes. So much so that they will put your hands to sleep. My GT750 was so much smoother and of course the power was very good. 🎉
Wow. This is timely for me. I’m thinking of Higgies for my 73. ** Big Edit**. I saw and spoke to you Sunday at Barber as you were loading your trailer with the bike! So funny I ran into your video as well!
Thanks for the video. My first motorcycle was a 1975 GT550 in 1980. I tuned it up until it was running perfect and then went to an abandoned dead end road. I ran it through the first three gears and it blew my mind how fast it was off the line! Great memories
Had the identical '75. Loved it - traveled from Jersey to Utah on it. A few years later I came upon some J&R Expansion Chambers. I put them on and it was like Jekyll and hide. Wheelies on command and. lots of noise. Too much noise. Glad I kept the stock pipes for the long trips.
I traded my 125 trials in for a 550 with a 3 into one. After a couple of months the baffle blew out at speed on the motorway. The bike was so much faster after that but far too loud. Put a baffle back in.
More than 40 years ago I also had a GT 550 with expansion exhaust. I put the standard exhaust back when the police asked for it and after a while... I changed it again.
A GT550 with a 3 into 1 is the best sounding bike ever. It sounds like a formula one car from a distance. I know its not efficient but the sound is awesome.
You can tell that baffle is missing haha. I was on my GT380, had a 3 into 1 pipe and it blew the baffle midway through a tunnel, nearly deafened me lol
After I had a Waterbuffalo 750 upgraded with expansion chambers, K&N Filters, and re- jetted by the Suzuki shop, it burned a hole in the piston of the middle cylinder. I would never mod a 2 stroke again. That work was done by Suzuki...
Cool video. Usually I hate 2 strokes because they sound like an angry hornet buzzing down the road. But I'll make an exception in this case because the Suzuki GS550 is such a classic 2 stroke and it sounds like 3 angry hornets buzzing down the road 👍 PS - I had several 90 and 100cc bikes over the years. All 2 strokes except for my Honda S90 which was my favourite. There is just something about a 4 stroke that is soothing to the nerves. PPS - I subscribed to your channel because you have such a wide variety of cool bikes. I am going to watch the Suzuki RV90 next. Lol.
Great question. Running the stock airbox and stock Suzuki air filters, it doesn't appear the expansion chambers have changed airflow enough to require a jetting change. I was at first scared I would be running much leaner now, so I checked all 3 plugs after about a 5 mile run on the new exhausts and all had the proper tannish brown appearance. Cleaned them, rode another 15 miles and checked again...same tannish brown appearance. Before this, I don't believe the plugs have been out in several years, so possibly I was a bit rich before..dunno. I'm sure if I went to pod air filters I would certainly need to rejet, but I like the look of the stock airbox.
@@vintagecycle316keep the airbox, all sorts of issues without it. Don't trust a plug chop for mixture though. A high load for more than a few seconds will find a slightly lean mixture in holed or melted pistons. Just a seize if you are lucky. Get a wideband O2 sensor to be safe. Spanneys do change the mixture.
Higgies! Love it. Now it sounds like it means business. The two stroke triples have a great sound. Very different from my Yamaha twins. That's a nice vintage machine. How is the parts availability with the GT's? The Kawi guys are having a rough time with parts. Yamaha, on the other hand, has good parts availability. I would like to add either a Suzuki or Kawi triple to my collection, but the parts situation worries me. Ride safe.
Pre-2020, parts availability direct from Suzuki was great. But during the pandemic they started discontinuing all the parts for older bikes. Now Suzuki sells very little for the GT bikes. But there's a pretty good aftermarket following for most items you could need such as rubber bits, engine internals, and other commonly needed items.
@@vintagecycle316 So you can get access to crank seals, piston kits, brake parts, etc. Good to know. Today, I am spoiled by good availability from Yamaha for RD's, supplemented by other sources. Long term, I expect eventual discontinuance as demand decreases. I love the 70's and 80's bikes. Something there for everyone.
Did you ever get the jetting figured out? I just bought a set of Higgspeeds for mine. After doing some research, I believe the bike will need 110 or 115 main jets; depending on altitude/climate, and if you have done any air box/filter modifications.
Back in the day the manufacturer didnt want the bike to sound weedy now its all the rage for those who werent there which is perfectly understandable. I had spannys on an RD350 but not for the sound although it was nice.
I've done several plug chops with the bike after the exhaust swap. Plugs look good with no signs of running lean. I believe this is due to the fact that I am still running the stock airbox with factory air filters. I imagine if I swapped out for some K&N style pod air filters, the carburetors would require some jetting work. I've ridden less than 100 miles still since the swap, so I will plan to look at the plugs a couple more times to be sure. But as of now, all looks good to me.
@@vintagecycle316 yeah good thinking. I had the RD250 and fitted Allspeeds to it and a K&N filter in the standard air box and the plugs looked fine but every couple hundred miles the piston around the exhaust port would break up.
Those bikes were not made for expansion chambers. All it would take is a good high speed run on a hot day and the center piston will have a hole in it.
:-) Thanks for your thoughts. I suppose we all have differences of opinion on what sounds and looks good to us. I love an all original motorcycle, and have several all original Suzuki's. But to me, the sound of 2 stroke motorcycle on expansion chambers is music to my ears. And I still have all the original pipes, and no permanent changes were made...so it can be put back to original anytime down the road if I decide too. Thanks for watching. I appreciate the views and comments.
I agree .... The stock exhaust system for a Suzuki. GT 550 sounded pretty dam good ,,,,,,, I’m a 2 stroke guy ,,,,,, For life ,,,
🤗🤗🤗..... took me back to my youth.... wish I could smell the two stroke oil......✊
Sounds great. My only issue with the GT550s was that they are very viby bikes. So much so that they will put your hands to sleep. My GT750 was so much smoother and of course the power was very good. 🎉
My 550a is vibes at the revs/speed you always want cruise at.60 mph is worst
I actually prefer the throutier stock exhaust sytem over those high pitched crackly high performance pipes at lower RPM at least
Wow. This is timely for me. I’m thinking of Higgies for my 73. ** Big Edit**. I saw and spoke to you Sunday at Barber as you were loading your trailer with the bike! So funny I ran into your video as well!
Thanks for the video. My first motorcycle was a 1975 GT550 in 1980. I tuned it up until it was running perfect and then went to an abandoned dead end road. I ran it through the first three gears and it blew my mind how fast it was off the line! Great memories
I owned the GT380 way back in the day. That distinct sound of a 3 into 4 two stroke pipe beautiful.
I had one of these in college. EXCELLENT BIKE! Wish I still had it. Unfortunately, totaled it (my fault). So sad! Enjoy that beauty!
Hey, at least you lived to tell about it. Some don't.
Had the identical '75. Loved it - traveled from Jersey to Utah on it. A few years later I came upon some J&R Expansion Chambers. I put them on and it was like Jekyll and hide. Wheelies on command and. lots of noise. Too much noise. Glad I kept the stock pipes for the long trips.
Very nice, crisp sound. . Had a piper 3-1 on mine back in 76, killed performance but sounded great.. Thank you for posting😊.
I traded my 125 trials in for a 550 with a 3 into one. After a couple of months the baffle blew out at speed on the motorway. The bike was so much faster after that but far too loud. Put a baffle back in.
Sounded good with the new pipes !
The sound I like, that's the specialty of 2 strokes.
More than 40 years ago I also had a GT 550 with expansion exhaust. I put the standard exhaust back when the police asked for it and after a while... I changed it again.
Oh I miss my baby GT550 Terry Becket exhausts , box S/A rear and 3/4 sports fairing.
A GT550 with a 3 into 1 is the best sounding bike ever. It sounds like a formula one car from a distance. I know its not efficient but the sound is awesome.
Agree totally! I had a GT550j with a Piper 3_1 , sounded awesome , can,t say about power loss , never had standard system fitted in my ownership!😃
Nice looking set of pipes
Sweet ride👍🏼 Don’t get rid of your OEM pipes!
Nothing beats the oem pipes for looks or sound!
They look very nice. The bike is prettier with them!
Sounds good 👍 Seems to rev quicker with the chambers. I was at Barbers and bought a 71 cb 350.
Diggin that bike. What a true classic.
You can tell that baffle is missing haha. I was on my GT380, had a 3 into 1 pipe and it blew the baffle midway through a tunnel, nearly deafened me lol
After I had a Waterbuffalo 750 upgraded with expansion chambers, K&N Filters, and re- jetted by the Suzuki shop, it burned a hole in the piston of the middle cylinder. I would never mod a 2 stroke again. That work was done by Suzuki...
i had the 550 in 74 fantastic bike wish i had kept it
don't forget to re-jet the carbs! standard jets are almost always too small!
i owned a gt 550 about the same expansion chambers but mine were black. i used to smoke those honda 750s. but it was bored 40 over when i got it
Trop belle, j’adore cette symphonie 💕
Killer Sound especially when warm up
Cool video. Usually I hate 2 strokes because they sound like an angry hornet buzzing down the road. But I'll make an exception in this case because the Suzuki GS550 is such a classic 2 stroke and it sounds like 3 angry hornets buzzing down the road 👍
PS - I had several 90 and 100cc bikes over the years. All 2 strokes except for my Honda S90 which was my favourite. There is just something about a 4 stroke that is soothing to the nerves.
PPS - I subscribed to your channel because you have such a wide variety of cool bikes. I am going to watch the Suzuki RV90 next. Lol.
It’s not a GS550 it’s a GT550! Doh!
@@1vantheterr1ble47 Oops :-)
How about the carb jets....?
Great question. Running the stock airbox and stock Suzuki air filters, it doesn't appear the expansion chambers have changed airflow enough to require a jetting change. I was at first scared I would be running much leaner now, so I checked all 3 plugs after about a 5 mile run on the new exhausts and all had the proper tannish brown appearance. Cleaned them, rode another 15 miles and checked again...same tannish brown appearance. Before this, I don't believe the plugs have been out in several years, so possibly I was a bit rich before..dunno. I'm sure if I went to pod air filters I would certainly need to rejet, but I like the look of the stock airbox.
@@vintagecycle316keep the airbox, all sorts of issues without it. Don't trust a plug chop for mixture though. A high load for more than a few seconds will find a slightly lean mixture in holed or melted pistons. Just a seize if you are lucky. Get a wideband O2 sensor to be safe. Spanneys do change the mixture.
Better with the airbox. Higgspeed say keep std jets. I do 110 with pods, I would rather have std airbox though, they run better
Would you sell the old Exhaust?
Higgies! Love it. Now it sounds like it means business. The two stroke triples have a great sound. Very different from my Yamaha twins.
That's a nice vintage machine.
How is the parts availability with the GT's? The Kawi guys are having a rough time with parts. Yamaha, on the other hand, has good parts availability. I would like to add either a Suzuki or Kawi triple to my collection, but the parts situation worries me.
Ride safe.
Pre-2020, parts availability direct from Suzuki was great. But during the pandemic they started discontinuing all the parts for older bikes. Now Suzuki sells very little for the GT bikes. But there's a pretty good aftermarket following for most items you could need such as rubber bits, engine internals, and other commonly needed items.
@@vintagecycle316 So you can get access to crank seals, piston kits, brake parts, etc. Good to know.
Today, I am spoiled by good availability from Yamaha for RD's, supplemented by other sources. Long term, I expect eventual discontinuance as demand decreases. I love the 70's and 80's bikes. Something there for everyone.
Did you eventually increase the main jet size?
My 73 with ocelot chambers was slower than my 75 with stock set up . 115 , on a long stretch of I 84 on spectro oil
The older ones more Nicer look and nicer sound
Did you ever get the jetting figured out? I just bought a set of Higgspeeds for mine. After doing some research, I believe the bike will need 110 or 115 main jets; depending on altitude/climate, and if you have done any air box/filter modifications.
Back in the day the manufacturer didnt want the bike to sound weedy now its all the rage for those who werent there which is perfectly understandable. I had spannys on an RD350 but not for the sound although it was nice.
Sounds about perfect 😊
Oh yes that is nice! Those bikes where I am are scrap fodder.
These are nice bikes
You should have kept the stock exhaust and a replacement.
Did you alter the carburation?
I've done several plug chops with the bike after the exhaust swap. Plugs look good with no signs of running lean. I believe this is due to the fact that I am still running the stock airbox with factory air filters. I imagine if I swapped out for some K&N style pod air filters, the carburetors would require some jetting work. I've ridden less than 100 miles still since the swap, so I will plan to look at the plugs a couple more times to be sure. But as of now, all looks good to me.
@@vintagecycle316 yeah good thinking. I had the RD250 and fitted Allspeeds to it and a K&N filter in the standard air box and the plugs looked fine but every couple hundred miles the piston around the exhaust port would break up.
Those bikes were not made for expansion chambers. All it would take is a good high speed run on a hot day and the center piston will have a hole in it.
so cool!
What horrible looking pipes?
Sounds awesome, looks awful tho
OMG, what a waste... the original is and 100x nicer looking and 200x better sounding. Or vice versa. It is a pity you do not understand...
:-) Thanks for your thoughts. I suppose we all have differences of opinion on what sounds and looks good to us. I love an all original motorcycle, and have several all original Suzuki's. But to me, the sound of 2 stroke motorcycle on expansion chambers is music to my ears. And I still have all the original pipes, and no permanent changes were made...so it can be put back to original anytime down the road if I decide too. Thanks for watching. I appreciate the views and comments.
Why would he care what you think? It's his bike, he can do what he wants with it.
Looks and sounds horific a beautiful bike spoilt
I doubt he cares what you think, he owns it. You probably have a CG125 so your opinion is shit anyway.
Original sounds better