Back in the GS fold (a familiar '81 850G)
Two summers ago I sold off my remaining boxes of gs bits, swayed by the rubber-mounted mid-range wallop of Yamaha XS1100s. I did end up buying another gen 1 Bandit 1200 last spring, it seems my life is just incomplete without one of those things. In a fit of downsizing, I sold my last XS1100 this winter, leaving the Bandit as my only motorcycle. I simply don't ride much these days with young children and all the obligations that come with that. And yet here I find myself with another GS in the garage.
How I landed on this aquisition: I've been trying to stay away from browsing FB marketplace for bikes, doubly so when I have an almost empty garage stall and my list of winter projects complete, but there I was poking around. What should pop up but a very well sorted looking '81 GS850G (and well priced) that just needs some basic reviving after a few years of sitting dormant. Based on the list of modifications, I strongly suspected the current owner must be a GSR member. I sent a link over to bwringer with my suspicions and he confirmed that this was indeed wazz 's bike for sale. I tried to resist, but quickly decided that I must rejoin the ranks of GS ownership. Plans were made, long story short a few days later, the bike has now landed in my garage, along with an awesome assortment of spare parts and even a color matched Vetter fairing.
I am absolutely stoked. I just so happened to have the exact sized spare battery sitting around, old fuel has been drained, carbs will likely come off next for the usual pilot jet cleaning. The bike is currently set up with the smaller chrome "L" headlight and superbike bars installed, I'm torn between swapping out for the original "G" headlight or trying on the Vetter fairing on for size. I used to hate the look of them, but now I think they are very cool/retro in a period correct way. Leaning towards the G headlight swap and riding as is this coming season, and the Vetter re-install can be a project for next winter. Big thanks to wazz for selling me the bike and delivering it down to Indy, I think it's neat to keep a well kept bike like this in the GSR "family" so to speak.
The other big internal debate I'm having with myself is whether to take the Bandit or the GS down to the Brown County rally this summer. I'll try to make it this year come hell or high water!
banditwithGS.jpg
How I landed on this aquisition: I've been trying to stay away from browsing FB marketplace for bikes, doubly so when I have an almost empty garage stall and my list of winter projects complete, but there I was poking around. What should pop up but a very well sorted looking '81 GS850G (and well priced) that just needs some basic reviving after a few years of sitting dormant. Based on the list of modifications, I strongly suspected the current owner must be a GSR member. I sent a link over to bwringer with my suspicions and he confirmed that this was indeed wazz 's bike for sale. I tried to resist, but quickly decided that I must rejoin the ranks of GS ownership. Plans were made, long story short a few days later, the bike has now landed in my garage, along with an awesome assortment of spare parts and even a color matched Vetter fairing.
I am absolutely stoked. I just so happened to have the exact sized spare battery sitting around, old fuel has been drained, carbs will likely come off next for the usual pilot jet cleaning. The bike is currently set up with the smaller chrome "L" headlight and superbike bars installed, I'm torn between swapping out for the original "G" headlight or trying on the Vetter fairing on for size. I used to hate the look of them, but now I think they are very cool/retro in a period correct way. Leaning towards the G headlight swap and riding as is this coming season, and the Vetter re-install can be a project for next winter. Big thanks to wazz for selling me the bike and delivering it down to Indy, I think it's neat to keep a well kept bike like this in the GSR "family" so to speak.
The other big internal debate I'm having with myself is whether to take the Bandit or the GS down to the Brown County rally this summer. I'll try to make it this year come hell or high water!
banditwithGS.jpg
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