On The Road.. Finally

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  • hotspur
    #1

    On The Road.. Finally

    Hi All,

    Finally got my GS850G registered on the road. Not exactly a resto but enough to make it look a little loved.
    New paint job on the front fender and plastics, leaving the tank for the time being. (spraycans)
    New intake boots
    New battery
    Rear Master cyinder kit
    etc etc.

    Took it for a ride this morning, all good except for a heaviness on the right handlebar. The last time I rode this bike was when I owned it last, about 8 years ago. I sold it and in the meantime 2 owners and 1500kms. Both owners I knew and no sign of crash damage etc. I remember the bars being slightly uneven but not the weight being on the ride side as much.. The right side is slightly closer to the rider, but the bars dont seem bent. I tried another set of bars, they were wider and accentuated the problem.

    The bike tracks straight and doesn't feel like it is crabbing. I tried lossening the triple trees and turning the forks but that hasn't helped.

    Anyone have any other ideas. I would be thankful of any help even it was yeah I put a damper on mine.

    Once I work out how to rezize my photos to fit here I will upload some.

    Cheers
    Tags: None
    • hotspur
      #2
      Photo

      Here is a photo of the old girl

        Comment

        • Steve
          GS Whisperer
          • Jun 2005
          • 35925
          • southwest oHIo
          #3
          Nice looking bike there. \\/

          About your steering problem: you tried loosening the triple trees, how about the axle bolts? I am not sure what sequence was used, but I have heard of loosening everything but the top triple tree clamps, then bouncing the forks a bit to let everything line itself up, then carefully putting the bike back on the centerstand and tightening everything.

          Here in the US, our tires tend to wear on the left side of center just a bit and the bike will pull a bit to the left, as well. Might be that is the case with your bike, but being in OZ, it pulls to the right. Check tire wear carefully, maybe even install new tires to see if the problem remains.


          .
          sigpic
          mine: 2000 Honda GoldWing GL1500SE and 1980 GS850G'K' "Junior"
          hers: 1982 GS850GL - "Angel" and 1969 Suzuki T250 Scrambler
          #1 son: 1986 Yamaha Venture Royale 1300 and 1982 GS650GL "Rat Bagger"
          #2 son: 1980 GS1000G
          Family Portrait
          Siblings and Spouses
          Mom's first ride
          Want a copy of my valve adjust spreadsheet for your 2-valve per cylinder engine? Send me an e-mail request (not a PM)
          (Click on my username in the upper-left corner for e-mail info.)

            Comment

            • duaneage
              Forum Guru
              GSResource Superstar
              • Apr 2004
              • 6149
              • Wilmington Delaware
              #4
              After looking for crash damage check the headset bearings in the steering. They may be bad. Old bikes had ball bearings, newer ( after 81) had roller bearings. THey are troublesome to change, and you may need services of a shop for teh lowers, but they are a critical safety item and should be inspected at least every 24 months or 10K miles. Adjusting them is important too, I used a bicycle wrench for headsets on mine. For grease I used waterproof lithium bicycle grease made by Park Tools.

              Sometime grooves get worn into the races, that might be the heavy your feeling. IF that is the case replace the bearings.
              1981 GS650G , all the bike you need
              1980 GS1000G Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely

                Comment

                • hotspur
                  #5
                  Well I spent a couple of hours on the bike again today, I am on holidays and it has been raining all week. Changed the handlebars for new ones and straighten the triple trees more with Steve's method. Has made a fair bit of difference. Did 150km this afternoon, not a lot but enough to show me what else I need to do. It has a small oil leak which is coming onto my left boot, I am pretty sure I have read on this forum that this is a typical leak but really only an a annoying one. Bought a little 81 gsx400F this morning for my next project, has only 21500kms on it, very straight, really only needs a paint job and some TLC.

                    Comment

                    • Guest
                      #6
                      Sitting on the bike with it on it's centerstand does the steering head move back and forth smoothly with no hitches?

                        Comment

                        • hotspur
                          #7
                          yeah it is pretty smooth, no grabbing or anything

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