Sounds like fun to me.  I do not have any experience with it though, unfortunately.

Hey WD

If I remember rightly the XT550 has a dual throat carb, one side slide the other cv.
Long forks 21" front, a chop in the making.

Clive W  

It's definitely an interesting bike.  Everything is still available, so, may not be TOO difficult to get going again.  

Clive, you're right, dual throat carb to go with the dual port exhaust. Very strange.

I'm thinking about adding BMW style ammo can bags, a micro fairing and handguards. It has space for a rear rack, or buddy seat, or top trunk. Do those up whit to match the tank, and paint the frame red to match the firefighter sticker on the tank top. I used to be a wildland firefighter, so, don't need to peel the sticker.  

Definitely the most unusual bike I've ever owned. Checked the web this morning, and USA prices are $900-2000, UK prices in the 1200-1900 pound sterling range. I almost feel bad about getting it for free. Almost.
-WD

WD I belong to FSSMOC and have many old issues of the quaterly publication. As  remember the have some folks who are also riders of you new bike, let me know directly if you want to review the back issues and find some najmes and addresses for you. Also there are a couple "thumper sites" if you use goggle.  Thumperpage.com is one and I think thumper page forums is another new version of that one. Max