79 850g caliper upgrade question

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  • Jwhit89
    Forum Newbie
    • Mar 2022
    • 19
    • Portland maine

    #1

    79 850g caliper upgrade question

    Good evening all,

    I’ve been scouring the forums/searching for info on the best budget caliper upgrade for my shaftie, I’ve already got stainless lines for it, but I’m looking for a caliper upgrade as the round puck leaves a lot to be desired. Not sure I want to go full salty monk upgrade yet, and wondering what could be a direct swap.


    thanks!
    79 GS850G cruising around western Maine
  • Grimly
    Forum Guru
    Past Site Supporter
    Super Site Supporter
    • Sep 2012
    • 5771
    • Ireland

    #2
    My 79 wears 80-onwards calipers. A simple bolt-on upgrade, complemented by a more modern adjustable master cylinder from a Honda Deauville (5/8", same as original) and a set of decent modern pads - Carbon Lorraine in my case.
    While the results aren't in Superbike territory, they're at least twice as good as the hockey-puck pieces of junk.
    I don't know how I survived thousands of miles of horrible weather using those old junky calipers.
    You want to know the best bit?
    When I took the old calipers off and thoroughly examined them, I discovered that internally they were so rotten that a good heave on the brakes would probably have resulted in no brakes at all. A really shyte design.
    Last edited by Grimly; 02-05-2024, 10:00 AM.
    Dave
    '79 GS850GN '80 GS850GT
    Only a dog knows why a motorcyclist sticks his head out of a car window

    Comment

    • Nessism
      Forum LongTimer
      GSResource Superstar
      Past Site Supporter
      Super Site Supporter
      • Mar 2006
      • 35792
      • Torrance, CA

      #3
      Originally posted by Grimly
      My 79 wears 80-onwards calipers. A simple bolt-on upgrade, complemented by a more modern adjustable master cylinder from a Honda Deauville (5/8", same as original) and a set of decent modern pads - Carbon Lorraine in my case.
      While the results aren't in Superbike territory, they're at least twice as good as the hockey-puck pieces of junk.
      I don't know how I survived thousands of miles of horrible weather using those old junky calipers.
      You want to know the best bit?
      When I took the old calipers off and thoroughly examined them, I discovered that internally they were so rotten that a good heave on the brakes would probably have resulted in no brakes at all. A really shyte design.
      Tell it LIKE IT IS!!
      Ed

      To measure is to know.

      Mikuni O-ring Kits For Sale...https://www.thegsresources.com/_foru...ts#post1703182

      Top Newbie Mistakes thread...http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...d.php?t=171846

      Carb rebuild tutorial...https://gsarchive.bwringer.com/mtsac...d_Tutorial.pdf

      KZ750E Rebuild Thread...http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...0-Resurrection

      Comment

      • salty_monk
        Forum LongTimer
        GSResource Superstar
        Past Site Supporter
        Super Site Supporter
        • Oct 2006
        • 14002
        • London, UK to Redondo Beach, California

        #4
        Unless you're looking to stay Suzuki for originality I don't see any reason to go the halfway to decent brakes that the later GS Caliper brings.

        You'd need to change to the 80+ rotors to work with the newer Calipers anyway and the CBR & EX650 stuff is much more available & cheaper than GS stuff now. The cost will be about the same either way....
        1980 GS1000G - Sold
        1978 GS1000E - Finished!
        1980 GS550E - Fixed & given to a friend
        1983 GS750ES Special - Sold
        2009 KLR 650 - Sold - gone to TX!
        1982 GS1100G - Rebuilt and finished. - Sold
        2009 TE610 - Dual Sporting around dreaming of Dakar..... - FOR SALE!

        www.parasiticsanalytics.com

        TWINPOT BRAKE UPGRADE LINKY: http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...e-on-78-Skunk/

        Comment

        • Jwhit89
          Forum Newbie
          • Mar 2022
          • 19
          • Portland maine

          #5
          Salty I sent you a pm!
          79 GS850G cruising around western Maine

          Comment

          • salty_monk
            Forum LongTimer
            GSResource Superstar
            Past Site Supporter
            Super Site Supporter
            • Oct 2006
            • 14002
            • London, UK to Redondo Beach, California

            #6
            PM back at ya. Thread link on my signature below in case you need it.
            1980 GS1000G - Sold
            1978 GS1000E - Finished!
            1980 GS550E - Fixed & given to a friend
            1983 GS750ES Special - Sold
            2009 KLR 650 - Sold - gone to TX!
            1982 GS1100G - Rebuilt and finished. - Sold
            2009 TE610 - Dual Sporting around dreaming of Dakar..... - FOR SALE!

            www.parasiticsanalytics.com

            TWINPOT BRAKE UPGRADE LINKY: http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...e-on-78-Skunk/

            Comment

            • llew.virtue
              Forum Newbie
              • Jun 2024
              • 3
              • Australia

              #7
              Need to contact you salty,sent you a message regarding adapter plates

              Comment

              • salty_monk
                Forum LongTimer
                GSResource Superstar
                Past Site Supporter
                Super Site Supporter
                • Oct 2006
                • 14002
                • London, UK to Redondo Beach, California

                #8
                Yeah I PM'd you back an email address... Check your messages (Link should be at the top of the page to messages).
                1980 GS1000G - Sold
                1978 GS1000E - Finished!
                1980 GS550E - Fixed & given to a friend
                1983 GS750ES Special - Sold
                2009 KLR 650 - Sold - gone to TX!
                1982 GS1100G - Rebuilt and finished. - Sold
                2009 TE610 - Dual Sporting around dreaming of Dakar..... - FOR SALE!

                www.parasiticsanalytics.com

                TWINPOT BRAKE UPGRADE LINKY: http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...e-on-78-Skunk/

                Comment

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