GS550L

This low-slung GS-series middleweight was introduced in 1979 as Suzuki’s cruiser-styled four-cylinder 550, part of the company’s broader late-1970s move to offer more relaxed, custom-leaning variants alongside its standard road bikes. Early examples carried the original GS550L format through the first run, with model-year references appearing from 1979 through 1983. The nameplate then disappeared for a short period before returning in the mid-1980s, when Suzuki revived it with updated styling and chassis details; 1985 and 1986 are documented for the second production period. The later bikes are notable for the slimmer teardrop tank and the move to Full-Floater rear suspension, giving the model a more polished and contemporary look than the early version. In enthusiast circles, the GS550L is remembered as a classic UJM-era middleweight with an easygoing riding position and a distinctive mix of practical performance and cruiser posture. Its split history makes it one of Suzuki’s more interesting 550 nameplates, bridging the company’s early GS four-cylinder era and the later, more styled mid-1980s roadster-cruiser market.