Hot Cam in a GS850?

**Guest** · 10-21-2020, 04:02 PM

Originally posted by Brendan W

Sometimes the benefit being just having done it and learned something by doing. It's hard to put a price tag on experience.

Exactly this! Why? Why not?

**RustyTank** · 11-13-2020, 06:35 PM

Originally posted by Chancho196

Exactly this! Why? Why not?

Glad to hear from someone who doesn't think it's a terrible idea

I haven't been completely talked out of it, still mulling it over. I'm getting closer and closer to pulling the top end off, so the time to make a decision slowly approaches.

**TeamDar** · 11-13-2020, 06:54 PM

If it makes it easier for you to decide...I have a used set of Web 118 grind cams for sale. These are for stock engines and are considered drop in with no modifications. $250 shipped to the USA. Dar

**Guest** · 11-13-2020, 08:49 PM

Just for grins, giggles, and hotrodding purposes: would a shaft drive 1000G or 1100G engine fit in the 850 frame? Seems like that would be more bang for the buck than putting a hotter cam in the original 850 engine.

**RustyTank** · 11-13-2020, 10:35 PM

Originally posted by TeamDar

If it makes it easier for you to decide...I have a used set of Web 118 grind cams for sale. These are for stock engines and are considered drop in with no modifications. $250 shipped to the USA. Dar

Dar, I'll message you if you don't mind.

**RustyTank** · 11-14-2020, 12:01 AM

Originally posted by 80GS1000

Just for grins, giggles, and hotrodding purposes: would a shaft drive 1000G or 1100G engine fit in the 850 frame? Seems like that would be more bang for the buck than putting a hotter cam in the original 850 engine.

This has been brought up earlier in this post. Comment #6 and #9 in this thread I believe, if you wanna look back at them. The subject is definitely worth exploring. But again I ask, if I've got the top end open, why not drop a set of hotter cams in?

**RustyTank** · 11-14-2020, 12:04 AM

Originally posted by Steve

Oh, second thought: since the 1000G debuted in 1980, it will have electronic ignition, so you will need to change all THOSE parts, too.

Steve, the 79 GS850 also has electronic ignition, so I'm not sure what your getting at.

**Rob S.** · 11-14-2020, 12:13 AM

The weight, and the shaft. It wasn't built for that. But there will always be guys who drag race their lawn mowers and Harley Davidsons.

**Nessism** · 11-14-2020, 08:26 AM

Originally posted by RustyTank

Steve, the 79 GS850 also has electronic ignition, so I'm not sure what your getting at.

Suzuki adopted electronic ignition for the 1980 model year bikes. 1979 bikes have points.

**Steve** · 11-14-2020, 08:42 AM

Originally posted by Nessism

Suzuki adopted electronic ignition for the 1980 model year bikes. 1979 bikes have points.

Keep in mind that the 1980 production did start in late '79, so some of the 1980 bikes (WITH electronic ignition) will have 1979 assembly dates. Some people have mistakenly identified those as '79 bikes.

.

**GS1150Pilot** · 11-14-2020, 09:13 AM

Originally posted by Rob S.

The weight, and the shaft. It wasn't built for that. But there will always be guys who drag race their lawn mowers and Harley Davidsons.

You mean like Korry Hogan? Yeah.

**RustyTank** · 11-14-2020, 09:27 AM

Originally posted by Nessism

Suzuki adopted electronic ignition for the 1980 model year bikes. 1979 bikes have points.

Oh right. Thanks for the reminder Nessism. I totally forgot that the 79 850 had points

I've upgraded my 850 with electronic ignition.

**RustyTank** · 11-14-2020, 10:05 AM

Originally posted by Rob S.

The weight, and the shaft. It wasn't built for that. But there will always be guys who drag race their lawn mowers and Harley Davidsons.

Rob, can you expounding on this a bit. I don't want to do anything that will ruin the engine.

**GS1150Pilot** · 11-14-2020, 10:55 AM

Rob's just being Rob, which means silly. Nothing you are thinking about, if properly done, will ruin that motor. That cam set may make it less fun to ride, however.

**Rob S.** · 11-14-2020, 12:06 PM

Originally posted by RustyTank

Rob, can you expounding on this a bit. I don't want to do anything that will ruin the engine.

It won't ruin your engine, but it won't win you many races.

One of the few times I've been to a drag strip was in the early '80's in New Jersey (Atco?)
About five of us piled into my parent's car for the trip and left our rice burners at home.

The few times Harleys raced, if they weren't up against another Harley, they were given a few seconds handicap at the start. They never won regardless.

My friends and I were on one side of the strip. There were some vocal Harley fans on the other side. We were laughing at them and their bikes. They didn't belong at a drag strip. That's all I'm saying.

In the late '70's, I had some money from a lucrative summer job. I bored my CB 350 from 325cc's to 435 (the largest available). I put a "type two, off road" cam in it (the most extreme available). The dealer advised against the cam, saying it would cause un-street personality. I dug my heals in. They had to grind out the inside of the cam cover. It was nice, but within a year the bearings were shot, and I didn't have another $800 to put into it.

Is your 850 doing what it was designed to do? It may very well tolerate the hotter cam. It may deliver noticeable power increases that are worth the money and effort. This is for you to decide. Just realize that when stock GS 750s are smoking your souped-up 850, you were told that may happen.