This is becoming an obsession

[JTGS850GL]

I just negotiated with the guy to pick this bike up tomorrow for $300. I plan on using some of the parts (engine and exhaust) as spares for my GS1000G and parting the rest:






The listing read:

I have a NON RUNNING GS1000. It ran 2 weeks ago when i got it out of a shop here in atlanta but they lied to me about the problem and it caused the engine to blow. I took it to a specialist in old bikes and they told me everything wrong with it. I am 18 with a part time job and im going through the enlistment process for the Army so i dont have the time or money to fix it up. the bike is Beautiful.

1.wiring
2. top end needs to be rebuilt
3. needs a new stator

I spoke with the guy and I think the "specialist" was just trying to trump up a service. He says that the bike ran fine for about a week after he bought it. Then the bike just quit and he couldn't start it. He then charged the battery and a few days later it just quit again. He tried to take it to the dealer but they wouldn't work on "such an old bike". He took it to a "specialist" who got it started but according to their "machine" it needs a top end rebuild. So now he's just trying to get whatever he can out of it.

[Guest]

Score. When they're that cheap you just can't say no. Welcome 'JTGS850GL' to the club, we have daily meetings on our addiction/hoarding issue's

[A-train]

Uh, yeah, that bike looks WAY too far gone to be of value...

I'll take it off your hands for $150.

[JTGS850GL]

Naw... I wouldn't want to burden you with that.

[BigD_83]

Yup...another good save.

I sense an electrical check and a new R/R forthcoming

[earlfor]

I have a nice, new and crispy $50 if you're interested. LMAO

[Dogma]

Front discs are pre-'80. I wonder what surprises lurk inside. For $300, you can afford to find out.

[JTGS850GL]

Front discs are pre-'80. I wonder what surprises lurk inside. For $300, you can afford to find out.

All I know so far for sure is it's got a new battery and a new petcock. Beyond that is ??????

[JTGS850GL]

OK, it's home and I did get it started. Currently only runs on cylinders 1&2 Cheap pods installed and no output from R/R. Looks like my items on the list are going to be a valve adjustment and then pull the carbs apart. My goal is to get the engine running well and then decide what direction this will go in. It has some parts that I could use on my GS1000GT project bike and some parts that can be used on my GS850GL. I don't think the headlight bucket is even not an L part. I did check compression and it reads 120 across the board cold. There was enough of an ant and spider infestment that I had to spray here down with ant killer before I could begin work.

This is definitely a Frankenstein bike but still a lot of parts that can be used and resold. Still think that the $300 purchase price is a good deal. Need help identifying what parts this guy is made of. Here are some pics:

Headlight bucket:


Tank is coated inside


At least it has a new battery. R/R is definitely not stock. It's just sitting loose:




Cheap pod air filters:


New rear tire that should be just the ticket for my 850GLZ:


Good rear fender with dorky rear turn signals that were never hooked up:


Front rotor seems wrong for an 80. Rear are drilled and the fronts are not:




This was his choke arraignment:

[JTGS850GL]

More pics:

The exhaust seems to be in good condition. Anyone know if it will fit a non L with some rear attachment mods?:


Good crash guards too:




Rats nest of wiring:


Front fender is dented but at least the fork and fork seals are in good shape:


I'm sure that someone would like this handlebar arraignment but not me:


At least the seat in not ripped:


We'll the ants must be dead so it's time to see what's under the valve covers, order O-rings, pull the carbs and begin the rebuild process.

[Dogma]

The headlight bucket could be a G model bucket, but you'd have to look carefully at the mounting rings to be sure. See where the adjust screw is and whatnot. The ears are proper L ears, just painted black over the chrome. The little bag under the headlight. I hate it. I want to grab hold of it with vise-grips and rip it off.

I wonder if the purple stuff on the plug wires is meant to protect them from moisture. The tank looks nice.

Aren't the '80 rear rotors flat? I clearly haven't paid much attention to the two I have. It's not an '82+ wheel, so I might be remembering it the other way around. Maybe it's the later models that have the rotor with no dish. Well, OK. It looks like the drawing on the parts list, so it's correct.

Why do people buy such awful turn signals?

The exhaust should be a straight swap to another 1000 shafty. I know for sure the L and G pipes interchange on the 850 from '79-'81 (Except the '79 would need the later oil pan to mount a later exhaust).

[tkent02]

Headlight bucket:

I have a nice chrome L headlight bucket I'd be happy to trade for that one.

[JTGS850GL]

Actually I'm thinking of putting the headlamp on my 1000G and selling the L headlamp that's on it now. I think this project will become an organ donor for the two bikes I have and the remaining parts will be used to offset the cost of those two projects. Probably keeping things like the exhaust, the engine, carbs and rear wheel. The rest will be stripped and sold. Many of the black painted parts will be stripped back to original before sale. Once I figure out what I need I'll post the reset in the classifieds section and ebay. Before all of that though I'll be getting the engine up to snuff. I may need a stock airbox just to get the engine dialed in.

[Guest]

I'm sure that someone would like this handlebar arraignment but not me:



I would be interested in that bar...

[Guest]

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