Chrome air box side covers question

[RustyTank]

Hiya folks. My 79 GS850 has the stock air box and didn't come with the chrome air box side covers and I'd like to find some. I've looked on ebay and of course found some, like this set. But I've also looked on Babbitt's and found this. The questions I have are as follows,

1. Do the chrome air box side covers fit the same bike for a number of years, as that ebay listing suggests?

2. Am I to assume that the stock air box side covers that I found on Babbitt's are chrome? If so why on earth would anyone spend $70 for a pair on ebay?

[Steve]

I don't know if the chrome covers were different on the '79 airbox, but the '80 and '81 covers are the same.
I do know the airbox was a little bit different, due to the smaller ports for the VM carbs, but not sure about the covers on the ends.

I did notice that the part numbers in your two links were different.

.

[RustyTank]

I did notice that the part numbers in your two links were different.

Thanks Steve. I noticed the same thing. Thanks for the reminder about the change in carbs, I'd forgotten about that.

[Rich82GS750TZ]

But the part numbers on the ebay listing do match the crossed out OEM part numbers that have been superseded on the Babbits Listing. Still don't know it that means the Babbits parts are chrome though.

[RustyTank]

But the part numbers on the ebay listing do match the crossed out OEM part numbers that have been superseded on the Babbits Listing. Still don't know it that means the Babbits parts are chrome though.

Rich82GS750TZ, that I had not noticed. Thanks for the keen eye. Maybe I'll just write Babbitt's an email to confirm.

[RustyTank]

I wrote Babbitt's an email inquiring about the covers. Here's the response I received...

"Unfortunately these parts are discontinued and should not be listed on the site. I apologize for the inconvenience."

Well, there ya go. Now I know why someone would spend $70 for a pair of these on Ebay

[Rich82GS750TZ]

Bummer. Sounded too good to be true.