• Required reading for all forum users!!!

    Welcome!
    Register to access the full functionality of the GSResources forum. Until you register and activate your account you will not have full forum access, nor will you be able to post or reply to messages.

    A note to new registrants...
    All new forum registrations must be activated via email before you have full access to the forum.

    A Special Note about Email accounts!
    DO NOT SIGN UP USING hotmail, outlook, gmx, sbcglobal, att, bellsouth or email.com. They delete our forum signup emails.

    A note to old forum members...
    I receive numerous requests from people who can no longer log in because their accounts were deleted. As mentioned in the forum FAQ, user accounts are deleted if you haven't logged in for the past 6 months. If you can't log in, then create a new forum account. If you don't get an error message, then check your email account for an activation message. If you get a message stating that the email address is already in use, then your account still exists so follow the instructions in the forum FAQ for resetting your password.

    Have you forgotten your password or have a new email address? Then read the forum FAQ for details on how to reset it.

    Any email requests for "can't log in anymore" problems or "lost my password" problems will be deleted. Read the forum FAQ and follow the instructions there - that's what we have one for...

  • Returning Visitors

    If you are a returning visitor who never received your confirmation email, then odds are your email provider is blockinig emails from our server. The only thing that can be done to get around this is you will have to try creating another forum account using an email address from another domain.

    If you are a returning visitor to the forum and can't log in using your old forum name and password but used to be able to then chances are your account is deleted. Purges of the databases are done regularly. You will have to create a new forum account and you should be all set.

1985 GS700ES - Sprockets and Chain Dilemma

  • Thread starter Thread starter Anonymous
  • Start date Start date
A

Anonymous

Guest
I did a searh and this was addressed in August of last year. I have a few additional questions though. I'm puzzled by the wide differences in the price of chains. My 85 700ES has 8,000 miles on it and the original chain and sprockets. (I'm the original owner) I hate to spend hundreds of dollars on this, but do I need to for my own safety? I'll probably put a thousand or so miles on this bike this year. It's not my main ride. Please advise on where to go for parts. The local Suzuki dealer quoted me almost one hundred and eighty dollars for the chain itself!
 
I have a similar bike (1983 GS750ES), and my experience is that the chain should normally do twice the mileage that you indicate (i.e. about 16,000 miles), if reasonably maintained. However, if that is the OE chain on the bike, mileage isn't the only factor: age may play an important role. Check the chain for rust, and for binding and/or stiff links. If you find any that won't work free, change the chain. Also, rotate the rear wheel and drive chain, measuring slack in several places. If you find significant variation between your measurements in different places, change the chain: it has differentially stretched, and you will find it impossible to adjust satisfactorily.

Although, many recommend changing the sprockets every time you change the chain, I have found that this is not always necessary. In particular, if you change the chain for reasons of corrosion, rather than wear, it will probably be OK to keep the current sprockets. Careful visual inspection of the sprocket teeth should reveal any hooking, etc. Others here have a better idea of chain pricing but $180 sounds way too expensive to me, even when installation labor is included. I seam to recall a price of $80 when I last changed mine but that was a few years ago.

BB
 
is my reasoning logical?

is my reasoning logical?

Well, I thought that 8,000 mines was way too short of a life span also, but I'm ashamed to admit that the bike sat unused for almost ten years. I was riding last week with my buddy and when we stopped, he walked over to the rear sprocket and at the very back of it, he pulled the chain from the sprocket. He told me the chain was worn out. I'm going from his advice.

I did try that trick at the local dealership with their bikes and the chains hung tight to the rear sprockets. I'm just assuming I need a new chain and I was going to do the sprockets while I was at it.
 
Re: is my reasoning logical?

Re: is my reasoning logical?

blue700es said:
Well, I thought that 8,000 mines was way too short of a life span also, but I'm ashamed to admit that the bike sat unused for almost ten years. I was riding last week with my buddy and when we stopped, he walked over to the rear sprocket and at the very back of it, he pulled the chain from the sprocket. He told me the chain was worn out. I'm going from his advice.

I did try that trick at the local dealership with their bikes and the chains hung tight to the rear sprockets. I'm just assuming I need a new chain and I was going to do the sprockets while I was at it.
Click to expand...

If he could do that, he is right.

BB
 
If you are running a 20 year old chain it should be replaced. Mileage is not the only wear indicator on a chain. Sprockets on the other hand may be OK with the mileage you have. I would replace all as a set, if you ride that little you will not have to do it again. You should be able to get both sprockets and a good quality chain (RK, DID ect.) for less than $180. Do not order thru a dealer, use one of the many parts warehouses advertised in the back of any cycle magazine.
Good Luck, Ed.
1983 GS 750ED
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top