1980 GS 850 GL restoration

[Bearr045]

Bought a 1980 GS850GL thirteen months ago. carbs were off ( cleaned & re kitted according to previous owner).

Installed carbs after careful inspection, replaced intake boots, new foam air filter, throttle cable, Caltric stator, Rick's reg/rect., newer CDI box, new Shinko dual purpose tires, new seat.

After all that work was finished bike would start & run for about 3-5 minutes tops. Re-routed & re-soldered kill switch wires, the culprit (they were shorting). Finally got to test ride it! and it runs healthy and strong with 30k original miles on the clock.

Currently waiting for replacement conical bearings for steering post from All Balls racing.

Certainly a bike that had been neglected , and later stored for 18 years before I got to it. Very happy to be working on it as I continue to restore and fix as I go along. Have pics of project will definitely share before & after pics shortly.
Thanks to GS resources forum members that have helped with their input to make this restoration project possible.

 

[Dogma]

It's just so gratifying to get a neglected piece of equipment into working order again, isn't it? Especially a motorcycle, and I have particle feelings about that model specifically, having had a similar experience.

 

[Bearr045]

gratifying indeed! especially doing own work. I read about people restoring all kinds of GS's, but very little of the specific GS850GL. There doesn't seem to be very many of these surviving. But the good news is parts are not hard to procure. Looks like I'll be riding mine in couple more months, after addressing some SS hex head bolt replacement as well as some electrical wiring connections that needs to be cleaned/replaced, maybe either paint or re chrome both fenders. they are slightly pitted.