Suzuki, Yamaha 550's Compared

I submit for your amusement, my 550's compared. :wink:
1981 Suzuki GS550T, Clubman bars, MAC 4>1, pas. pegs removed, mini windshield, seat cowl and 2 washers under needles.
1982 Yamaha XJ550R Seca, Superbike bars, front cowling removed, Suzuki mufflers cermachromed.
Most of the modifications to these bikes are not important to this comparison but are mentioned for your interest, however the needle shimming and weight reduction on the Suzuki did make for performance improvement.
• the GS550T was released in 1981, but the design dates from 1977 with not much change in the bike or engine.
The engine is 21.5 in. wide, with the gen. at the left end of the drive shaft and the sig. gen. on the right end. It has an equal B/S ratio, comp.-8.6:1, rated 49 HP @ 9000.
The bike has a wet weight of 465 lb., a a single front and rear disc brake and a wheelbase of 56.5 in.
• The XJ550R Seca, first released in 1981, is the 4 years newer design.
The engine is 16 in. wide because the generator's located on the starter shaft, with the signal generator located on the left end of the drive shaft. It has a B/S ratio of 1/1.1, comp.-9.5:1 C/R, rated 56 HP @10,000.
The bike has a wet weight of 436 lb. a single front disc and rear drum brake and a wheelbase of 55.3 in.
My GS550T has a flat power curve with no change near peak rpm. The accelerations are not dominating. The engine sound is old school rumble.
The bike handles very well, with a low C/G feeling, predictable turn in and lean, strait line steadiness. It's roomy with the pegs directly under my C/G, making it easy for me to crouch like a jocky on the pegs, riding over the bumpy roads we have here.
My XJ550R has a peak power curve, and great acceleration. The XJ engine sound is excellent, a wicked chain saw like waahk, waahk scream. :twisted:
The bike feels like a short wheel base sport bike, it wants to turn and flick. I had a deer show up in a 40 mph curve, I braked suddenly and the rear tire jumped left, but next time I'll do better. The pegs are a little too far forward in front of my C/G.
To sum them up: The GS has the better road handling, the XJ has the better engine. Buffalo Bill

 

You need to improve/rebuild the suspension and put lower bars on the Seca; it can be made to handle GREAT.

Fit new rear shocks and rebuild the front forks on the Yamaha with Progressive Suspension springs and see how it handles. My Secas are rock-solid at 85+mph.

I remember both bikes from back in the day, the Yamaha was simply a higher-quality piece. Suzuki's chrome sucked, I remember rusty shocks on GS450's in the showroom.

But it's still all about that MOTOR.

 

Fitz, I think the balance advantage to the GS was also because it has a small windshield reducing the wind pressure on my torso, the Seca does not, so the wind pushed me back on the seat and behind the C/G. However even with the bikes sitting on their side stands, I can rise up on the Suzuki pegs from where I sit, on the Seca I have to be right up to the tank to balance on the pegs. I would have to move the Seca pegs backward to correct that.
Bill