Wales UK new member and owner

[Welshbiker]

He every one,

New member and owner. I have always fancied an 80'so bike so bought a 1981 GS650G. It looks great sounds great with a possibly 7000 miles from new I love it. I have come across a problem though today trying to insure it. The bike was imported from the USA in 2014 and my insurance company won't recognise it as a classic motorcycle as it was first registered in 2014.

I don't want to find a UK registered GS650G and start swapping everything over. Has anyone else come across this and how did you sort it.

I only want to change a couple of things on it but everything else will stay as it is. I want to change the handlebars originals too high for me and the American speedometer to a UK speck one.

Regards

Mark

[Guest]

Welcome Mark.

Not sure how to resolve your dating issue - you may have to join the Suzuki Owners Club, or VJMC, and ask them about a dating certificate. Hopefully another Brit will be able to help more. It's certainly possible - thousands of bikes have been imported from the States over the years.

I may have a spare speedo and bars in the shed - I'll have a look tomorrow.

Stayed in Conwy a few years ago for a wedding (Castlebank Hotel?), lovely part of the world.

[Welshbiker]

Hi Steve

Thanks for that really appreciate it, will keep an eye out for replys to dating issues. I have thought about the suzuki owners club. I know castlebank hotel, I think there was a documentary about it a few years go. You should come back to the area. 👍

Welcome Mark.

Not sure how to resolve your dating issue - you may have to join the Suzuki Owners Club, or VJMC, and ask them about a dating certificate. Hopefully another Brit will be able to help more. It's certainly possible - thousands of bikes have been imported from the States over the years.

I may have a spare speedo and bars in the shed - I'll have a look tomorrow.

Stayed in Conwy a few years ago for a wedding (Castlebank Hotel?), lovely part of the world.

[Rob S.]

Welcome to the site, Mark.

If you put your year and model in your signature, it will make it easier to ask for and receive info about your bike.

And show us a pic of your ride.

[Welshbiker]

I've just done my signature but having trouble with my photos because I'm accessing the forum on a tablet at the moment. I'm hoping to have it sorted by tomorrow evening

Mark

Welcome to the site, Mark.

If you put your year and model in your signature, it will make it easier to ask for and receive info about your bike.

And show us a pic of your ride.

[salty_monk]

What's the difference between a UK & US spec speedo? Both should be in MPH. If yours is KPH it came from Canada...

[Guest]

If I recall correctly, the difference between US and UK speedos is minor - just the circled '55'.

Did some of the GS series (in the States) also only have 80mph speedos?

[Grimly]

I heard some of them went to 88mph.
That would be handy nowadays to nip back for NOS parts.

To the OP; your insurance company are being asshats.

[Rob S.]

Did some of the GS series (in the States) also only have 80mph speedos?

They most certainly did! It insulted my senses to see "1100" on the side covers and no more than "80" on the speedo.

I think it was 1980 through '82. Hell, when the 903cc Kaw z1 came out in '73 it had a 160 speedo. I remember at least one onlooker thought it would go that fast. Who was I to burst his bubble?

[Welshbiker]

Yep my speedo only goes upto 80mph and has a white circled 55, it does my nut in for some reason.

If I recall correctly, the difference between US and UK speedos is minor - just the circled '55'.

Did some of the GS series (in the States) also only have 80mph speedos?

20190908_182237.jpg

[Guest]

I've just dug a speedo out of the stash. Good nick, but a brown face (looks like yours is dark green?), and has 57k on it. I'm sure I have another somewhere. As for bars, I found 2 sets that might suit you. However, one looks like it has been shortened slightly - not sure that the throttle tube, switchgear and M/C would all fit correctly. Another set has a scrape on one end that would be covered by the left grip, and a mark where someone has bolted something to the bars in the area of the clutch lever.