Model Identification

[109Countries]

I’ve been lurking for a little while, and am a member of the GS550 Facebook group. I’ve recently picked up what I originally thought was a 550e, but the seat is from a 550L. This hasn’t ran in God knows how long, and was covered in cow manure (kept in a barn, of course). The group couldn’t identify the model on the neck, because it doesn’t line up with the cheat sheet. I have read that not all parts are swappable, and the E model was more powerful/desirable. Here’s some photos, and I appreciate the help. 

[johnr]

custom variants usually used the same formula cos they were cheap to make, stock frame same as the standard model, huge king and queen style seat, taller pullback bars, small fuel tank and single disk on the front. so its possible that theres a nice normal looking gs550 under all that horrible chrome tat, just screaming to be set free.

 

[Poldark]

Welcome to OSS.  Don't forget to introduce yourself in the General Chat section.

Just looking at the photos, I'd say that is a 1980 GS550L.  The 81 GS550L frame I have laying around no longer uses a vin starting with "GS550....".  Your info tag shows manufacture date 05/80 placing it late in the 1980 run.  The factory would have been ready to tool up for the 1981 run at that time.  There were a few frame changes with the 81 model.  My best guess is that at the end of the 1980 run, they were down to the last of their 80 model frames, one already stamped as an E model left as an L.

I have a fair amount of gs550 parts.  Get your post count above 50 and we can discuss buy, sell, trade, etc.  I'm in Virginia, where are you?

[109Countries]

On 6/1/2020 at 8:23 AM, Poldark said:

Welcome to OSS.  Don't forget to introduce yourself in the General Chat section.

Just looking at the photos, I'd say that is a 1980 GS550L.  The 81 GS550L frame I have laying around no longer uses a vin starting with "GS550....".  Your info tag shows manufacture date 05/80 placing it late in the 1980 run.  The factory would have been ready to tool up for the 1981 run at that time.  There were a few frame changes with the 81 model.  My best guess is that at the end of the 1980 run, they were down to the last of their 80 model frames, one already stamped as an E model left as an L.

I have a fair amount of gs550 parts.  Get your post count above 50 and we can discuss buy, sell, trade, etc.  I'm in Virginia, where are you?

That would make complete sense with the frame laying around, they do that with cars all of the time. So I was taking off the airbox, just to see how many mice were living in the filter area, and to my amazement, it was 100% clean inside with an old style but brand new k&n filter. The sparkplugs are brand new as well. That was quite the shock. I live in Iowa. I am sure that we can definitely work out some deals! I ONLY do paypal business to business though. I collect WW2 items, so there are a lot of scammers in that world. 

[Swiss Toni]

Good little bike, better if you didn't pay a lot! And, welcome to OSS, by the way!