Who has owned their GS for more than 37 years? This guy!

[1978GS550Minnesota]

I purchased an '80 model GS850 new in December, 1979 and owned it until September, 2017 when it was 'claimed' by Hurricane Irma along with four other bikes. So, 37 years and 9 months or so. Otherwise I would still have it.

At the time of the storm I had another 850 getting work in a shop away from the flooding which I still have and I also purchased another one since then. So what I can truthfully say is that I have owned at least one 850G continuously since 1979--soon to be 43 years.

Sorry for your loss. Hurricanes suck.

[1978GS550Minnesota]

See my sig lines. 40 years last month!

Happy "Bike Birthday"

[Paint It Black]

Great old photo! You're in Birmingham, so that must be one of those right hand drive bikes for the UK market, yeah? ;-p

That’s correct
21 in that picture and only owned the bike a couple of days
was taken by a co-worker in the car park at the land rover factory, where I worked’84-‘99

[Grand Rouge]

Purchased new October Dallas and Big Red May 8 1988 Self Portrait (2).jpg 1983

[Grand Rouge]

FOT7750.jpg GS still is pristine and ageless. Me...well.....Life is good.

[Cipher]

year 40 for my 550. wanted the faired repli racer version but mom said it looked too fast. So I got the exact same driveline and suspension in an L

[Grimly]

Great old photo! You're in Birmingham, so that must be one of those right hand drive bikes for the UK market, yeah? ;-p

The camber shims are changed for the UK/Ireland markets.

[Suzukian]

I've got 40K miles on my 1983 GS750ES. I purchased it, and assembled it out of the crate. That was 40 years ago, it's needed virtually nothing, except the "Stator Fix", which affected many Suzuki's of that era. A friend owned the dealership and sold it to me $20 dollars over what he paid for it. It still runs very strong, doesn't smoke, and I will be modifying the front end this Autumn with a GS1150 front end, and 17" Katana 3 spoke rims, with dual Tokico calipers. just picked up a new Bridgestone Battleaxe 16" wheel, which I couldn't get for years. It seems like they did a production run recently, as this tire is so soft and supple, you can tell it has not been in storage. That buys some time before the modifications. I will be keeping all the stock parts. My son will be getting all of my bikes and stuff, as he has expressed great interest in it, and is my riding buddy.

[2BRacing]

I purchased my GS850G new in June 1981, just about exactly 42 years ago! I have always done the maintenance myself and contrary to what most owners have experienced, the original stator and R/R is still going strong (but with headlight loop removed). Odometer now stands at 45,032 km. I had the honour of my bike being chosen as BOTM in April 2009.

[unfocused]

I purchased my GS850G new in June 1981, just about exactly 42 years ago! I have always done the maintenance myself and contrary to what most owners have experienced, the original stator and R/R is still going strong (but with headlight loop removed). Odometer now stands at 45,032 km. I had the honour of my bike being chosen as BOTM in April 2009.

I have a 77 GS750 that still uses the original charging system with the headlight loop removed and several additional ground straps. Works great.
All the same components have bounced around through 3 different bikes over the last 5-ish years and are now on a 2nd GS750...
However, I did mount a volt meter.

Nice scoot and great pic!

[Diirk]

These pics are awesome. Makes me wish I started riding before I learned how to crawl