80 gs850

[Tempted]

I apologize for staying away from the forums so long. I've had a few customer bikes that have come in for rebuilds and had to finish them before the GS. The GS isn't finished by any means, but its getting there. God willing it should be on the road this weekend. I have to put a new front brake master cylinder on it, fix a valve cover leak and put a new battery in it.



This is the first time I've heard it sing to 12k rpm. I welded a new exhaust system since the old one was complete garbage. This is a pair of 2 into 1 pipes with some small mufflers I had. I love the sound.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3dYk0lhdJ0


When I bought it:


As of this morning:




More to come.

 

[Tempted]

I'm shocked at how downright fast this bike is. I rode it for the first time on a good tune today and the bike really moves. I had no idea these things would power wheelie.

 

[Steve]

Keep in mind that it's the HEAVIEST of all the GS line, except for the 1100GK, which came with full touring regalia.

I have not done the actual math, but the engine probably has the least power per cc of the lineup, too.

Just watch out for that "hidden boost switch" that gets triggered around 6,000 RPM. :-\\\

.

 

[Tempted]

Keep in mind that it's the HEAVIEST of all the GS line, except for the 1100GK, which came with full touring regalia.

I have not done the actual math, but the engine probably has the least power per cc of the lineup, too.

Just watch out for that "hidden boost switch" that gets triggered around 6,000 RPM. :-\\\

.

Oh I'm well aware of the weight this thing carries. Getting it on the center stand can be a pain when you weigh 150lbs. Power wise it seems to hold its own very well. Obviously its no superbike but from 0 to about 80 it isn't that far behind my ZRX1200R. It blisters the Shadow 1100 and 2001 Katana 600 in my garage right now. I'm very impressed with it being 34 years old, shaft driven and having a titanic-like size. It should be a fun bike. If only it were water cooled....

 

[Steve]

Getting it on the center stand can be a pain when you weigh 150lbs.

Proper technique goes a LONG way.

Start with bike on side stand. Place right foot on centerstand pad, push it down. With left hand on left handgrip and right hand on lifting handle behind rear shock, lift bike upright, keeping foot on centerstand pad to feel when the second pad touches down. Lean over bike, putting ALL your weight on your right foot. Yes, your left foot can actually leave the ground safely. Pull UP with your hands, the bike will rock back onto centerstand.

Yes, it's a bit scary at first, so have a spotter on the right side to prevent the bike going over.

.

 

[BluePlateSpecial]

Proper technique goes a LONG way.

Start with bike on side stand. Place right foot on centerstand pad, push it down. With left hand on left handgrip and right hand on lifting handle behind rear shock, lift bike upright, keeping foot on centerstand pad to feel when the second pad touches down. Lean over bike, putting ALL your weight on your right foot. Yes, your left foot can actually leave the ground safely. Pull UP with your hands, the bike will rock back onto centerstand.

Yes, it's a bit scary at first, so have a spotter on the right side to prevent the bike going over.

.

Yep, it's all about using your leg and getting the proper leverage. If you do it right it's easy. If you try to muscle it with your upper body it is very difficult.

 

[Tempted]

I prefer to use my left foot on the center stand so I have balance when I transfer the bike from left lean to upright before I lift the rear. The lighter you are, the more you have to lift. Heavier people can break the apex on the center stand with using a little strength and all their weight, lighter people have to pull up much harder to break the apex.

 

[Tempted]

Video showing the revs. 12k RPM WOT indicated, 1,100 rpm idle. It appears that most GS850's don't reach these revs this easily.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QatZrpMa9I

 

[850 Combat]

Roll it backward with the bike vertical, and stand on the centerstand pedal. The backward momentum gets the bikes weight to actually help it get up on the stand. Don't lead it over to get it on the centerstand.

 

[Wingsconsin]

Holy RPMs Batman

Holy RPMs Batman

shocking


12k rpms is incredible ..I doubt my GS850 will ever see 8k let alone 12k ...

 

[Tempted]

shocking


12k rpms is incredible ..I doubt my GS850 will ever see 8k let alone 12k ...

I doubt its good for this 34 year old motor but it sure sounds cool. I swapped a tach from a GS425 over to check and it reads about 300rpm less than the one on the bike.

My 850 is a very smooth running and revving machine. Idles beautifully, revs hard and pulls nearly as well as my 150lb lighter ZRX1200R. I've been extremely impressed with it. Again I only paid $340 for it and have less than $600 in it as it sits. I posted an ad on CL for it at $1500 and have a bunch of people wanting to see it tomorrow, just not so sure I want to sell it now. This is the best its ran since I've owned it.

 

[Rob S.]

I had no idea these things would power wheelie.

My '82 1100e has no center stand, no shaft drive, lighter-than-stock V&H exhaust and pulls beautifully all the way to it's 9,000 rpm redline. When I occasionally pull it past 7k in first or second, I might get an inch or two under the front tire, no more.

What am I doing wrong? Am I a coward, or just sensible?

I mean, come on! An 850? Shaft?!?

 

[Tempted]

My '82 1100e has no center stand, no shaft drive, lighter-than-stock V&H exhaust and pulls beautifully all the way to it's 9,000 rpm redline. When I occasionally pull it past 7k in first or second, I might get an inch or two under the front tire, no more.

What am I doing wrong? Am I a coward, or just sensible?

I mean, come on! An 850? Shaft?!?

A sensible person wouldn't do wheelies at all but I do. I've never been on another properly tuned GS that was 850cc or bigger so I don't have much to compare it to. My V65 will outrun my GS850, but just barely. I can't answer the questions of why this one pulls to 12k RPM or does power wheelies but I can take videos. I have no history on the machine farther than 3 months ago. When I bought it the bike needed a lot of work. The tach shaft was broken off in the head from a drop, the carbs were locked up, the exhaust was more holy than the Pope and it was in a general state of staleness. I didn't check any numbers, cam profile or bore diameter. All I did was rebuild carbs, re-time, re-tune, replace broken parts and re-paint. Didn't even change the plugs. Shaft drive bikes typically do not perform like this but having never ridden a properly tuned big GS I have nothing to compare to.

 

[Rob S.]

My Suzi says it's not her fault, but mine.

Would love to see some video with sound (maybe of the tach and speedo) of you getting some air without beating on the clutch.

 

[Tempted]

Did you watch the videos I already posted of the tach at 12k?

 

[gustovh]

Good on you, these 850's are fun and haul when tuned right. First shaft bike I pulled the front end up on. Though I can't see running them up to 12,000, tooo sad to watch em explode.

What paint did you use? How did you prep the front fender, wasn't it chrome?
V

 

[Tempted]

Good on you, these 850's are fun and haul when tuned right. First shaft bike I pulled the front end up on. Though I can't see running them up to 12,000, tooo sad to watch em explode.

What paint did you use? How did you prep the front fender, wasn't it chrome?
V

It was chrome, I chemically etched it first.