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Katana with a GS850 engine

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    Katana with a GS850 engine

    Hi guys

    I came across a Katana frame (650) with a GS850G engine. What are your thoughts on this? Is it a viable combo? At first I thought no way, but the idea is intriguing me more and more. It is going very cheap - as usual the owner claims the carbs need to be synchronized - the cosmetics are in really good condition and I read that the 850 engine is almost bullet proof.

    Will appreciate any advice/thoughts thanks

    #2
    This may be a dumb question, but, How is the driveshaft from the 850 connected to the chain & sprocket on the Kat frame??????
    1983 GS1100E, 1983 CB1100F, 1991 GSX1100G, 1996 Kaw. ZL600 Eliminator, 1999 Bandit 1200S, 2005 Bandit 1200S, 2000 Kaw. ZRX 1100

    Comment


      #3
      Originally posted by rphillips View Post
      This may be a dumb question, but, How is the driveshaft from the 850 connected to the chain & sprocket on the Kat frame??????
      The 650 Kat was a shaftie.


      They must have had a VERY GOOD shoehorn to fit the 850 engine in the 650 frame.

      Not sure about just the engine, but the whole 850 is about 100 pounds heavier than the 650, I am sure that a bunch of that 100 pounds is engine and the frame needed to support it. Although they evidently got it to fit, I would question the structural integrity of the package.

      .
      sigpic
      mine: 2000 Honda GoldWing GL1500SE and 1980 GS850G'K' "Junior"
      hers: 1982 GS850GL - "Angel" and 1969 Suzuki T250 Scrambler
      #1 son: 1986 Yamaha Venture Royale 1300 and 1982 GS650GL "Rat Bagger"
      #2 son: 1980 GS1000G
      Family Portrait
      Siblings and Spouses
      Mom's first ride
      Want a copy of my valve adjust spreadsheet for your 2-valve per cylinder engine? Send me an e-mail request (not a PM)
      (Click on my username in the upper-left corner for e-mail info.)

      Comment


        #4
        Originally posted by Steve View Post
        The 650 Kat was a shaftie.


        They must have had a VERY GOOD shoehorn to fit the 850 engine in the 650 frame.

        Not sure about just the engine, but the whole 850 is about 100 pounds heavier than the 650, I am sure that a bunch of that 100 pounds is engine and the frame needed to support it. Although they evidently got it to fit, I would question the structural integrity of the package.

        .
        Well, folks put 1100s into 750 frames. It might be a little flexy, but I doubt it will break. Sounds like a fun combo, if it all works.

        Not seeing pics of the setup, I'm guessing it has pod filters since the stock airbox probably wouldn't line up to the 850's carbs. It wouldn't breath properly though the 650 box anyway. Hopefully it has some kind of 850 size exhaust too. Hopefully after that, it's been properly jetted for all that. Now then, if the current owner could do all that correctly, he probably could have balanced the carbs. I'm thinking this is an unfinished project bike. Expect to do significant tuning.
        Dogma
        --
        O LORD, be gracious to me; heal me, for I have sinned against you! - David

        Skeptical scrutiny is the means, in both science and religion, by which deep insights can be winnowed from deep nonsense. - Carl Sagan

        --
        '80 GS850 GLT
        '80 GS1000 GT
        '01 ZRX1200R

        How to get a "What's New" feed without the Vortex, and without permanently quitting the Vortex

        Comment


          #5


          Here is a picture of the set-up - it does look like a really tight fit and you cannot not really see what he did with the carbs.

          If the frame can handle the extra power without flexing too much and becoming dangerous I am quite willing to do the extra work required

          Comment


            #6
            Originally posted by Dogma View Post
            Expect to do significant tuning.
            That is "standard procedure", even if the 'new' bike is perfectly stock.

            .
            sigpic
            mine: 2000 Honda GoldWing GL1500SE and 1980 GS850G'K' "Junior"
            hers: 1982 GS850GL - "Angel" and 1969 Suzuki T250 Scrambler
            #1 son: 1986 Yamaha Venture Royale 1300 and 1982 GS650GL "Rat Bagger"
            #2 son: 1980 GS1000G
            Family Portrait
            Siblings and Spouses
            Mom's first ride
            Want a copy of my valve adjust spreadsheet for your 2-valve per cylinder engine? Send me an e-mail request (not a PM)
            (Click on my username in the upper-left corner for e-mail info.)

            Comment


              #7
              I am wondering what his motivation was for the project.

              A stock 650 is rated at about 73 hp.

              A stock 850 is rated at about 78 hp.

              Not much more power for all the weight added and effort involved.

              .
              sigpic
              mine: 2000 Honda GoldWing GL1500SE and 1980 GS850G'K' "Junior"
              hers: 1982 GS850GL - "Angel" and 1969 Suzuki T250 Scrambler
              #1 son: 1986 Yamaha Venture Royale 1300 and 1982 GS650GL "Rat Bagger"
              #2 son: 1980 GS1000G
              Family Portrait
              Siblings and Spouses
              Mom's first ride
              Want a copy of my valve adjust spreadsheet for your 2-valve per cylinder engine? Send me an e-mail request (not a PM)
              (Click on my username in the upper-left corner for e-mail info.)

              Comment


                #8
                Originally posted by Steve View Post
                That is "standard procedure", even if the 'new' bike is perfectly stock.

                .
                Well, by significant tuning I mean rejetting and other adjustments, above and beyond what's needed for stock.
                Dogma
                --
                O LORD, be gracious to me; heal me, for I have sinned against you! - David

                Skeptical scrutiny is the means, in both science and religion, by which deep insights can be winnowed from deep nonsense. - Carl Sagan

                --
                '80 GS850 GLT
                '80 GS1000 GT
                '01 ZRX1200R

                How to get a "What's New" feed without the Vortex, and without permanently quitting the Vortex

                Comment


                  #9
                  Originally posted by AJs Adv View Post


                  Here is a picture of the set-up - it does look like a really tight fit and you cannot not really see what he did with the carbs.

                  If the frame can handle the extra power without flexing too much and becoming dangerous I am quite willing to do the extra work required
                  Interesting. It looks as though the front brakes have been upgraded. It's hard to be sure in the blurry photo, but those don't look like stock calipers, rotors and master. I'm not sure that isn't the 850's front wheel. Didn't the 650M have the tri-spoke pattern?

                  As Steve pointed out, it's not a big gain in power for stock motors. Maybe he got bored, or torched the 650 and only had an 850 around. Who knows? With pods and pipe that 850 might be making a few more than stock (assuming correct jetting). Either way, it's not an enormous increase in power. I wouldn't expect it to be dangerous. Well, not any more dangerous than the rider.

                  I would say to get it if it strikes your fancy. It doesn't have to make sense to anyone else. Just be aware that a significantly modded bike might still be a project.
                  Dogma
                  --
                  O LORD, be gracious to me; heal me, for I have sinned against you! - David

                  Skeptical scrutiny is the means, in both science and religion, by which deep insights can be winnowed from deep nonsense. - Carl Sagan

                  --
                  '80 GS850 GLT
                  '80 GS1000 GT
                  '01 ZRX1200R

                  How to get a "What's New" feed without the Vortex, and without permanently quitting the Vortex

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Originally posted by Steve View Post
                    That is "standard procedure", even if the 'new' bike is perfectly stock.

                    .
                    Well, by significant tuning I mean rejetting and other adjustments, above and beyond what's needed for stock.
                    Dogma
                    --
                    O LORD, be gracious to me; heal me, for I have sinned against you! - David

                    Skeptical scrutiny is the means, in both science and religion, by which deep insights can be winnowed from deep nonsense. - Carl Sagan

                    --
                    '80 GS850 GLT
                    '80 GS1000 GT
                    '01 ZRX1200R

                    How to get a "What's New" feed without the Vortex, and without permanently quitting the Vortex

                    Comment


                      #11
                      If the 850 motor is taller than the 650 you might want to check if you can get the valve cover off without dropping the motor in the frame or having to remove it entirely for valve adjustments. That would be the ultimate PITA. The 650 motor has a plain bearing crank while the 850 is roller bearing, it will be a much heavier lump so frame strength and suspension should be also taken into consideration. It could work, there are a lot stranger engine conversions out there.
                      '84 GS750EF (Oct 2015 BOM) '79 GS1000N (June 2007 BOM) My Flickr site http://www.flickr.com/photos/soates50/

                      Comment


                        #12
                        It seems the current owner did not like all the questions - he seems to have gone to ground hahahaha. Thanks very much for the advice and comments. I will post again if he decides to surface

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