Old Smoker: Suzuki GT550 Restomod

Suzuki GT550 RestomodKickback Contender: Restomod GT550 from Jeremy Missin… 

By the time Suzuki’s GT series of two-stroke triples landed on the scene, Kawasaki had already cemented a reputation for producing unbelievably fast and feisty “widowmaker” triples. The Kawas were uncompromising furies that could out-accelerate just about anything short of an F4 Phantom jet, but they were scary, almost barbaric machines to ride. Suzuki was wise enough to take a slightly different tack, concentrating on a more civilized series of speed machines.

“For many their arrival four years after Kawasaki’s H1 represented time well spent within the R&D Dept. Rather than compete head on with the banzai nature of the competition, the Hamamatsu boys produced three well considered machines under the guise of Grand Tourers, hence the GT moniker.” –Classic Mechanics

Suzuki GT550 The GT550 might have been the best of the bunch — less complicated and expensive than the water-jacketed GT750 “Water Buffalo,” more powerful and versatile than the GT380. Still, like many two-strokes speedsters of the 70s, these bikes itched to be modified.

Suzuki GT550 RestomodThat’s where our new friend Jerry Missin comes in, a UK shed-builder with an engineering background and more than four decades of riding experience. We came across this GT550 build of Jerry’s thanks to Lorne Cheetham of the Kickback Show, where it was featured in the Best Modified Classic class.

Suzuki GT550 RestomodThough the UK has a strong tradition of two-stroke restomods or “hybrids,” Jerry was especially inspired by the GT550 “Honduki” built by Virginia’s MotoHangar, which boasted modern sportbike suspension, brakes, wheels, and more. When a basket-case GT550 came his way, Jerry jumped on it…though he soon discovered he’d given himself quite a challenge indeed:

“Once I’d bought the bike and had it home, it was one of those OH SHIT WHAT HAVE I DONE moments. It was so bad that when I lifted the engine out and split the casings, the crank chamber was full of water!!”

Suzuki GT550 RestomodJerry completely rebuilt the clapped-out motor from the crank on up, and didn’t stop there. The basket-case GT550 began to evolve into one of the hottest “butchered classics” we’ve seen, sporting a monoshock conversion with Bandit swingarm and R6 rear shock, Triumph Speed Triple forks and brake calipers, Ducati Scrambler wheels with offset drive sprockets, modified rear subframe with Z550 tail section and one-off underseat electronics tray, Moto Stitch custom seat, Higgspeed expansion chambers, electronic ignition, custom wiring loom with various Motogadget goodies, and much more.

Suzuki GT550 RestomodJames at JH Paintworx laid down the paint based on Jerry’s vision, and we think the Heron Suzuki-inspired colors and design are absolutely perfect for this “Old Smoker.” Jerry showed the bike at both the Bike Shed Show and Kickback, but sold it a couple of years ago to make way for new projects…

“One of my biggest mistakes as I loved that bike. “

Suzuki GT550 RestomodFortunately, the new owner still sends him photographs, and Jerry has built some incredible machines in the meantime…more on those soon. Below is our full interview with Jerry along with more shots of the build process and completed bike.

Also, don’t forget the next Kickback Show is coming up April 12-13 at the Great Malvern Showground in Worcestershire…complete with a hall of Butchered Classics! You can submit your bike and/or get your tickets here — don’t miss out!

GT550 Restomod: Builder Interview

Suzuki GT550 Restomod

• Please tell us a bit about yourself, your history with motorcycles, and your workshop.

From a very early age, I’d always had a passion for motorcycles. With over 40 years of continuous road riding experience, the list of bikes owned is long and varied (with the exception of Harleys and Indians).

Suzuki GT550 Restomod

My profession is engineering-based, so I’ve always had an interest in anything mechanical and bikes easily help feed this passion, especially bikes that are different from the norm.

Suzuki GT550 Restomod

I’ve been building bikes on and off for about the last 15 years. I’ve never had the luxury of a large workshop, always worked out of a wooden shed, you learn to adapt to your surroundings.

Suzuki GT550 Restomod

• What’s the make, model, and year of the donor bike?

Suzuki GT550, 1974.

• Why was this bike built?

I wanted to build a 2-stroke special and this basket case of a GT550 happened to be in the right place at the right time. Once I’d bought the bike and had it home, it was one of those OH SHIT WHAT HAVE I DONE moments. It was so bad that when I lifted the engine out and split the casings, the crank chamber was full of water!!

Suzuki GT550 Restomod
Cleaning it up nicely.
• What was the design concept and what influenced the build?

I’d seen some photos online of an American-built GT550 called Honduki, I liked his concept. This bike was the inspiration for this build.

Suzuki GT550 Restomod

• What custom work was done to the bike?
  • Modified frame, including shortening and tidying up the rear end.
  • Mono shock conversion with additional bracing.
  • One-off underseat tray
  • Forks, yokes, and brakes from a Triumph Speed Triple
  • Suzuki Bandit swingarm
  • Yamaha R6 rear shock
  • Ducati Scrambler wheels and discs
  • Machined offsets for drive sprockets
  • One-off custom seat made by Chris at Moto Stitch Motorcycle Upholstery
  • Custom wiring loom with electronic ignition and a long list of Motogadget parts.
  • Higgspeed expansion chambers
  • Kawasaki Z550 tail piece
  • Engine completely rebuilt
  • There is a long list of non standard parts.
• Does the bike have a nickname?

When shown at 2021 Bike Shed Show in London, I gave it the name “OLD SMOKER.”

Suzuki GT550 Restomod

• Can you tell us what it’s like to ride this bike?

It rides well but that seat is not the most comfortable.

Suzuki GT550 Restomod

• Was there anything done during this build that you are particularly proud of?

There are many things I love about this build, including being able to resurrect such a crapped-out engine. James at JH Paintworx interpreted my design perfectly. I think the stance of this bike is just perfect.

• Is there anyone you’d like to thank?

Follow the Builder: @jerrymissin66

2 Comments

  1. Charles Hargis

    It might have been in 1975 working for a suzuki dealer mostly doing warranty service check ups .. and my favorite part the test ride where I was guarantee you lost 100 miles of river off your back tire after I was done.. two stroke triples were cool… But I can’t remember whether I like the 380 better than the 550 or the 550 better than the 380. they both went braap braaap braaaap buraaap ating dang ling long my first bike was a Suzuki 1967 120,1st year for oil injection that works forever never goes badke all the Yamaha dirt bikes do with the pump on the end of the right side of the crankshaft ? What were they thinking taziki’s got the best on injection made .. with the pump driven off one of the transmission shafts turning a lot slower without all those engine vibes from the crank and two oil lines one to the intake manifold and the other pressurizing the crankshaft from the left main bearing is it connecting rod and from there it mixes with the air fuel .. and today I still see where people chop the oil lines off and disconnected the pump… And all they accomplished was too destroy the left main bearing as it sealed from the Grand Chase so it never gets any oil again when you chop the line of…. I rambled on enough here’s my idea. Those ram air on the air cool cylinder heads … They don’t work unless you’re moving pretty good speed… What if you built water cooled heat sinks that fit on top of those air scoops … When you’re sitting stalled in traffic those air scoops get pretty hot as heat goes up
    .. met with liquid cooled heat sinks you would be dumping that heat into the water jackets and cooling it in a radiator that you could l fashion to the front of the frame somewhere higher than the engine. And you can probably use liquid cooling components for custom water cooled loops for custom-made water cooled computer systems. Bolt on the water killed heat sink from video cards from the really big ones that are a footlong for NVIDIA and AMD … GET A COPPER OR ALUMINUM COMPUTER RADIATOR WITH THE PUMP ALREADY IN IT THAT’S 12 VOLT HOOK IT UP TO YOUR SYSTEM WITH YOUR FAVORITE TYPE OF SWITCH there are some sweet looking custom switches for your hand bars they’re all billet clamp on the fridge on all your computer equipment for water killing is a standard 1/4 inch straight pipe thread ( no tapper) that they sell adapters to go from quarter straight to national pipe thread has the same place they offer the computer parts for water killing.. take a look in the possibilities are endless you could use -AM settings just like on race bikes and cars… Are the new fad I’m killing a computer by hardlining it … He actually get straight pieces of acrylic and heat them up with a making all your bins and you have a solid clear piece of acrylic from the heads to the radiator so you can see the coolant going through it … And there’s all kinds of different colored coolant this Sunday even looks like shampoo and then you can get accent lights to make your lines glow. .. you do this by buying keys and elbows with pre-made up LED lights of different colors to screw in the blind end and force the light to go all the way down your hard line runs…. Just YouTube some liquid chill custom systems for computers and you’ll get the idea….. I put a big CPU air cooled heat sink that was just heat tubes with lemon fins on them and they all ran through a square block that you put on your CPU processor. I strapped this one on my frame downtube that was square shape on an XR 600r using heatsink paste and hose clamps let it stick out the right side above the engine cylinder head and a damn thing actually cool the engine down and worked. I also had one of those Harley-Davidson single pass power steering pump coolers zip tied on back behind the frame under the carburetors but it’s still got a little bit hot but when I added the computer heat sink you can hold on to the frame section for just a moment before you had to let go but prior it would fry spit got so hot like exhaust the computer heat sink airfield took the edge off of it nice and cool I never did check the temperature but anytime you can touch something and hold on to it for a second it’s about 150°f versus frying some spit is about 300°. .. anyway it was worth it to watch the eyes pop out on my buddies when they first seen it. … Likely killed video cards would be the ticket for the heat sink on top those ram air scoops I’m at 5:50 Suzuki… Whether they make any difference or not but the bling could be outrageous and if it ever fails you can still ride home because the Mike didn’t have it when it was made and it’ll still run… And best of all if you use a big enough rear which won’t take much and you can use computer fans behind it as I make industrial ones that are waterproof. The possibilities are endless for a professional fit and finish

  2. Charles Hargis

    How do I stop Google from changing my words after I type or post them… I reread my comment just now and everywhere where I printed cooling system Google changed to killing system I gotta go

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