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Progress update on my '83 GS850GL

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    Progress update on my '83 GS850GL

    I first found this bike in a state of terrible neglect living in Dubuque IA. with an owner who had neither the skills nor the resources to do a proper resurrection. He was riding it , when he could get it running, and that seemed few and far between. It was clean and shiny, but ran terribly and had been neglected for quite some time it seems. I bought it and brought it home in October of 2013.
    This is the Craiglist photo I first saw...


    From that time forward I have been tinkering, and working , and spending on getting it really ready to be a daily rider and commuter. Most of the seals leaked oil, it had not been valve adjusted since who knows when, it ran awful, the carbs were a mess, the tires old and worn, the brakes worked (kinda). Some parts and pieces were missing but it was mostly whole and a survivor of sorts. Being the first Blue on Black GS850 GL I had ever seen I fell in love with it and decided to renew it .

    New seals, valve adjust , valve seals, stopping all the leaks eventually, and a carb tear down and clean and adjust,; followed by adding a luggage rack, working gauges, and hard saddlebags; new tires, brake caliper cleaning and bleeding the old fluids out, fresh
    fluids everywhere and some more TLC...

    Here she sits in my garage this morning...













    And Finally - The saddlebags have lights in them and I added them to the brake light circuit... See a You Tube video here...
    --> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cwZHV-337E
    Last edited by Wingsconsin; 04-29-2014, 11:48 AM.
    Currently in the Stable :
    2002 Honda Goldwing GL1800 Sunburst Pearl Orange
    1983 Suzuki GS850 GL Blue & Black

    " I am never lost until I run out of fuel...until that moment I am EXPLORING."
    - Carl R. Munkwitz

    Munk's Maxim: "There is no such thing as a cheap motorcycle"

    #2
    You may notice the MIXED years accessories...
    Things like the round turn indicators in the front ('82) vs rectangular in the rear ('83)
    The 85 MPH speedo gauge is not original to the bike. I have the 140 MPH speedo OFF as it squeals something awful and I found this working replacement.
    The bike was built as an '83 in late '82 and I think they may have mixed parts at the assembly plant as they ran out of '82 parts....? (maybe)
    Or these have been replaced by a Previous Owner who paid little attention to details...(likely)

    The newspapers under the bike are to catch any wayward oil drips - but after 3 days since the last running - no indication of leaks (finally - I have been messing with the stator cover way too much).

    Still left to do...

    Bleed front brakes (again).
    Hang case guards - I have them already
    Re-cushion the seat (add foam to add width and thickness for better comfort)

    Tinker with some additional running lights (LEDs)

    And whatever else I find to do as I ride the snot out of it...
    Last edited by Wingsconsin; 04-29-2014, 03:59 PM. Reason: Added information
    Currently in the Stable :
    2002 Honda Goldwing GL1800 Sunburst Pearl Orange
    1983 Suzuki GS850 GL Blue & Black

    " I am never lost until I run out of fuel...until that moment I am EXPLORING."
    - Carl R. Munkwitz

    Munk's Maxim: "There is no such thing as a cheap motorcycle"

    Comment


      #3
      They started building 83 models around Oct. 82, so it is a true 83 model.
      Nice story, nice bike.

      Comment


        #4
        Nice bike!

        Very nice! Where'd you get those saddlebags?

        1983 GS750ED-Horsetraded for the Ironhead
        1981 HD XLH

        Drew's 850 L Restoration

        Drew's 83 750E Project

        Comment


          #5
          Originally posted by koolaid_kid View Post
          They started building 83 models around Oct. 82, so it is a true 83 model.
          Nice story, nice bike.
          Yep - date code is for an October '82 build


          Originally posted by jsandidge View Post
          Very nice! Where'd you get those saddlebags?
          Bags are Mutazu LN size hard bags - About $125 delivered to my door. Decent bags, included mounting brackets and hardware, ABS material and keyed locks ..

          -->> http://www.mutazu.com/
          Last edited by Wingsconsin; 04-29-2014, 12:22 PM. Reason: added link
          Currently in the Stable :
          2002 Honda Goldwing GL1800 Sunburst Pearl Orange
          1983 Suzuki GS850 GL Blue & Black

          " I am never lost until I run out of fuel...until that moment I am EXPLORING."
          - Carl R. Munkwitz

          Munk's Maxim: "There is no such thing as a cheap motorcycle"

          Comment

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