New guy with an old bike

[RadRacer]

Looks like you guys have a nice site here. I'm glad there's a community like this. I just picked up a 79 GS850. My father's friend was tired of seeing it sitting, so I volunteered to take it off his hands. Overall it's in decent condition. Turns over, but seems low on compression. I'm hoping it's just stuck valves from sitting. It has a large fairing on the front that I'm contemplating removing. I'm hoping to get it running and use it for my 100 mile daily commute to work.

Here's a picture of it before I cleaned her up:
20150801_191105_HDR.jpg

[Guest]

Looks like you guys have a nice site here. I'm glad there's a community like this. I just picked up a 79 GS850. My father's friend was tired of seeing it sitting, so I volunteered to take it off his hands. Overall it's in decent condition. Turns over, but seems low on compression. I'm hoping it's just stuck valves from sitting. It has a large fairing on the front that I'm contemplating removing. I'm hoping to get it running and use it for my 100 mile daily commute to work.

Here's a picture of it before I cleaned her up:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]41285[/ATTACH]

Welcome to the site. You've got a good bike there and if your doing 100 miles a day, I'd rethink taking off the fairing.
You've got the good one from Fuller, not the Vetter that looks like a Cyclops to me. Where are you located? There may be a local that can help you with troubles.

[GS1150Pilot]

No matter what, though, jettison the throne room saddle.

[RadRacer]

Welcome to the site. You've got a good bike there and if your doing 100 miles a day, I'd rethink taking off the fairing.
You've got the good one from Fuller, not the Vetter that looks like a Cyclops to me. Where are you located? There may be a local that can help you with troubles.

We'll see. I was thinking of swapping it with something smaller. It's just a little too big for my liking I think. Also wouldn't mind adding some saddle bags to it.

As for the seat, I haven't had much time on it to see how comfy it is. But I thought the wife might like it...if I can ever talk her into riding that is :-P

[Rob S.]

I just noticed - that's a hardtail, isn't it? You're going to need that cushy seat.

[Guest]

Where are you located? From your background foliage, Southeast?

[dorkburger]

Welcome. Good luck with the bike.

[RadRacer]

I'm in central FL on the east cost. The previous owner replaced the rear shocks with bar to lower it. I'm definitely putting shocks back on it; will a set from an 83 GS850 fit it?

[Jedz123]

LOL I was going to say, first order of business: Rear suspension.
Welcome aboard! I didn't think 850's got the VM carbs... I thought they all uses Mikuni CV's...

Enjoy the bike! Good luck on your project!

[RadRacer]

LOL I was going to say, first order of business: Rear suspension.
Welcome aboard! I didn't think 850's got the VM carbs... I thought they all uses Mikuni CV's...

Enjoy the bike! Good luck on your project!

Any idea if a set from an 83 Will fit? And I couldn't tell you a thing about the carbs...yet :-P. It does look like the tank may have been repainted. Is it supposed to have saddle bags or a trunk?

[Guest]

I had the feeling you were in Fl. If you deside to toss the fairing and rear struts to the curb, PM me with a curb alert. I have an '80 850 parts bike if you need some parts.

"I didn't think 850's got the VM carbs... I thought they all uses Mikuni CV's..."

'79 was the first year for the 850. It still has the left over VM carbs and a kick starter from the 750.

[RadRacer]

I had the feeling you were in Fl. If you deside to toss the fairing and rear struts to the curb, PM me with a curb alert. I have an '80 850 parts bike if you need some parts.

"I didn't think 850's got the VM carbs... I thought they all uses Mikuni CV's..."

'79 was the first year for the 850. It still has the left over VM carbs and a kick starter from the 750.

I don't have the rear shocks. If you want the solid bars it has, I'll gladly trade for a set of shocks from your parts bike! Still unsure on the fairing. Might see if I can find something smaller. My last bike didn't have one and I did fine, but it definitely wasn't a comfort bike.

[Guest]

I don't have the rear shocks. If you want the solid bars it has, I'll gladly trade for a set of shocks from your parts bike! Still unsure on the fairing. Might see if I can find something smaller. My last bike didn't have one and I did fine, but it definitely wasn't a comfort bike.

Sure, send me a PM with your contact info and I'll see what I can do. I'm just north of Orlando.
I've been wanting to do a bobber or chopper with a springer solo seat.

Now if I just can get back a certain green 79 750L I know of....

[JJ]

Welcome aboard! I didn't think 850's got the VM carbs... I thought they all uses Mikuni CV's...

Nope. '80 and later were CV carbs. '79 was VM's.