It’s my bike – Nick Jeffery

I have always liked the GT550 ever since my brother had one back in 1975. After a few years off bikes, I knew what I wanted so I looked in the local free ads and there it was: a 1972 GT550 in candy gold. Three days later I went and had a look at it: one owner from new, very tidy and original with 16,000 miles. I put a deposit on it there and then. A week later I went back and had a test ride, starting that three cylinder engine up was music to my ears and brought back so many memories. Off up the road I went, the GT was nice and smooth up though the gearbox and everything felt good. When I got back to the dealer I paid him the rest of the money and rode it home grinning from ear to ear. It handles well for an old bike, the front brake is good but rear drum brake is not so special. I have replaced a few parts over the years, front and rear mudguards, shock absorbers, headlight, seat cover and rear light lens. I have had different exhausts on it over the years, Piper three-into-one, period expansion chambers, standard exhaust system: the whole lot really. It’s running on Higgspeed pipes at the moment, which sounds great. Engine-wise I have only changed one piston. The middle cylinder base gasket was leaking and when we took the left barrel off my mate Rob discovered that there was a piece of the piston skirt about an inch long missing on the LHS. There was also a crack in it as well; it would not have lasted much longer! I have recently had the paintwork done in candy gold by Alan Stacey of Wolston, Southampton who did a great job. I still enjoy riding the GT550 and I will keep it forever.