Joe's '83 GS850G, here in Maine

[Motojoe2492]

Hello all, my name is Joe Lee. I currently rent an apartment in Machias, Maine,
looking for a house and land closer to civilization. The Ellsworth area to be
exact! I just bought (literally on Sunday) this beautiful 1983 Suzuki GS850G
for $700, ready to ride. I have put a few hundred miles on it already and am
LOVING IT! A 24 years old, I have had a few bikes, two were projects that
never actually made it to the road, and one Maxim 650 that I rode a lot
in Washington before I came to Maine.


This is bike is great, sounds great and rides like a dream. Starts every time!


The house wish list includes a garage so with any luck I will have a place to do
repairs, which at this point is an oil leak around the valve cover gasket and
camshaft cover. I will be scanning this forum for some good info, so I hope to
fit in here and get to know you all!


-Joe

[dorkburger]

Welcome. Looks like a nice ride. Enjoy, and good luck with the house hunting.

[alke46]

Welcome to the site. From the 1 picture posted it does look like a nice bike. More pics from varying angles would be appreciated. Good luck with finding a place with preferably a 2 car garage or at least a work shop outbuilding.

[Guest]

Welcome, The Machias area has some nice roads with great coastal views. I live in the Ellsworth area myself. I will keep an eye out for a 850,lol.

[Motojoe2492]

Welcome, The Machias area has some nice roads with great coastal views. I live in the Ellsworth area myself. I will keep an eye out for a 850,lol.

Wow, that's good to know! I work at the Napa in Milbridge, formerly the Machias store. Maybe I'll see you around! Last week was my vacation, so I'm back to the grind tomorrow. I'm glad I have a fun way to get there now!

Welcome to the site. From the 1 picture posted it does look like a nice bike. More pics from varying angles would be appreciated. Good luck with finding a place with preferably a 2 car garage or at least a work shop outbuilding.

Thanks! I have plenty more pictures, not to worry! She's a bit rough around the edges but that will be taken care of this winter. We have put in an offer on a place! I'm sure Mainiac knows where, too. It's right at the end of the Red Bridge Road very close to the Bangor Road. Easy access to Ellsworth and Bangor. There are no garages or sheds but the basement is huge and workable!
(I even see room for a paint booth )


I look forward to asking all sorts of questions when I tear this bike down to the frame!

[Burque73]

I look forward to asking all sorts of questions when I tear this bike down to the frame!

Hey Joe, Welcome!
You're in the right spot if you're going to tear it all down, and get it back on the road. I've got an 81 that hasn't made it quite that far, currently in the torn down stage. I love my 83. It cruises nicely at 80 mph, 6k rpms. The wind jammer is taking some getting used to, but is nice on the highway. Still debating on finding a headlight and blinkers for it.

Roger

[Motojoe2492]

Hey Joe, Welcome!
You're in the right spot if you're going to tear it all down, and get it back on the road. I've got an 81 that hasn't made it quite that far, currently in the torn down stage. I love my 83. It cruises nicely at 80 mph, 6k rpms. The wind jammer is taking some getting used to, but is nice on the highway. Still debating on finding a headlight and blinkers for it.

Roger

I've never done a tear down, so I'll be picking through the forum. The guy I bought it from has a windshield for it that I will get sometime this week, as well as a repair manual.

I want to strip the frame and paint it. Considering doing a colored frame and adding a cafe style headlight cowl. Other than that I don't think I'll be changing much. I am excite to see what it's like with a windshield though!

[Redman]

Hey, Joe, Welcome to GSR.

Good to hear of a 24 year old that doesn't think he needs a racer looking rocket, and isnt taking about needing a zawsall to make improvements.

From picture it looks like fairly good stock condition. Stock paint looked shiney. (I know, cant always tell in photos.)

Check to see if the cam cover oil leak is really the cam cover, or if its from the tack drive gear unit in the cam cover.

DO post more pics, and tell us more of your GS adventures.

I would say to work on reliability issues and the oil leak first.

WIth windshild/fairing you will find that you can ride longer and further without getting as tired, and can extend the riding season by rideing longer into the fall and start earlier in the spring.

.

.

[ddaniels]

Welcome to the forum! Nice looking bike from the picture. Looking forward to seeing more.

[Motojoe2492]

Here are some pictures, I didn't plan on them being thumbnails, but they link you to an easy viewing site.

Note that my editing has covered up some blemishes and imperfections, but those will get their fair share of coverage when it's time for the tear-down.











I am sad about the missing emblems, but plan on getting some this winter. I had one from the Cherokee I sold last year, so I thought it would be better than two holes on the side cover. I get a lot of comments on it for sure! haha






This was when I rode to the camp sites on Rockey Lake









screen capture freeware

[Guest]

My job takes me to Machias once a week. I went by your Napa and was going to stop and introduce myself but I was behind schedule and you had a parking lot full. Maybe this week I can stop. Looks like your bike will clean up nicely.

[Motojoe2492]

(I forgot I was going to reply more on this thread, let me catch up)

Hey, Joe, Welcome to GSR.

Good to hear of a 24 year old that doesn't think he needs a racer looking rocket, and isnt taking about needing a zawsall to make improvements.

From picture it looks like fairly good stock condition. Stock paint looked shiney. (I know, cant always tell in photos.)

Check to see if the cam cover oil leak is really the cam cover, or if its from the tack drive gear unit in the cam cover.

DO post more pics, and tell us more of your GS adventures.

I would say to work on reliability issues and the oil leak first.

WIth windshild/fairing you will find that you can ride longer and further without getting as tired, and can extend the riding season by rideing longer into the fall and start earlier in the spring.

.

.

Yeah, I can't say I've ever gotten excited about the rockets. They seem to always have ignorant riders attached to them! And I've done some chopping to bikes before, but this one is quite attractive already!

The paint isn't terrible, though there is a small bubbled spot of rust on the tank and more on the swing arm. She'll be getting a whole paint job this winter!

There is at least one spot on the cam cover gasket I am sure is seeping, and a bit on one of the chrome caps. The majority I can tell is coming from the tach port though. (I also found that the shift shaft seal is leaking too, but the level seems good so I think it's a very slow one.

The windshield is amazing! I will post pictures tonight if I remember. It is on the ugly side, but not fighting the wind sure makes it nice.