'83 850GL Maintenance and other repairs

[93Bandit]

Just something to look at. The old Vista cruise throttle locks, for me, worked well, was way smaller, inconspicuous, and out of the way, but much harder to find anymore than these bigger ones.. just a little flat plastic disc that went between the grip and switch assembly, trying to remember exactly how they were installed.

I looked at a few options like that, but with my heated grips I'm limited to what type of lock works. This one is easy on, easy off, affordable easy to use and well made. I think I'll be happy with it.

 

[93Bandit]

Bit of an update. Last week on my way to work, I noticed my windshield was cracked. I thought I inspected it carefully after dropping the bike in my garage, but somehow I must have missed the huge crack... Oh well, I stop drilled the crack to prevent it from spreading. I also plan to glue/weld the plastic where the crack is, but wasn't 100% certain on what material it's made from. It should either be acrylic or polycarbonate. I searched Slip Streamer's website but couldn't find the info anywhere. I emailed their customer support to ask what material they're made from. The PRESIDENT of the company emailed me back immediately, he told me what material was used and suggested I be care and wanted to see pictures of the crack. I emailed him a few pictures and 4 minuets later he replied with a quote for a replacement windshield (just the windshield, no hardware so it'd be cheaper) but said I should be safe to ride with it if I repair it correctly, and offered suggestions on how to repair. Can I just take a moment to brag on this company? The President of the company took time to help a customer, and not only that offered a suggestion on how to repair rather than just trying to get a sale. This is my second interaction with the company for service issues and I am 110% satisfied. If you have any windshield needs for your bike, I could not recommend Slip Streamer any more strongly. They provide top tier customer service!

Anyhow, here's a few pictures of the crack, before and after I stop drilled it. Still looking for a liquid weld to repair the crack. Please excuse the bug splatter, I need to clean it again.

 

[rphillips]

Great to hear, not the crack but the customer serv. Always enjoy these pos. reviews as they just keep getting rarer and rarer.

 

[93Bandit]

Great to hear, not the crack but the customer serv. Always enjoy these pos. reviews as they just keep getting rarer and rarer.

Agreed. It seems like it's hard to find a company you can trust these days.

 

[Grimly]

I wonder if cyanocrylate will wick in and cure in the crack.

 

[93Bandit]

I wonder if cyanocrylate will wick in and cure in the crack.

I'll have to look into that.

 

[93Bandit]

Went for a short ride today and hit a mileage milestone, 33,333.3 to be exact!

 

[93Bandit]

Contemplating a 4-1 exhaust for my bike. To be quite frank, I've always disliked (maybe even hated) the look of the short megaphone OEM exhaust on my 850L. I'm not fond of the sound either. On a whim I was looking at options online and the Delkevic with straight muffler is tempting me!

Do I do it???? Help.

https://delkevic.com/full-system-to...rsal-muffler-and-stainless-steel-4-1-headers/

 

[Grimly]

Contemplating a 4-1 exhaust for my bike. To be quite frank, I've always disliked (maybe even hated) the look of the short megaphone OEM exhaust on my 850L. I'm not fond of the sound either. On a whim I was looking at options online and the Delkevic with straight muffler is tempting me!

Do I do it???? Help.

https://delkevic.com/full-system-to...rsal-muffler-and-stainless-steel-4-1-headers/

I'm quite happy with the fit and finish of the Delco, but be warned, it's not quiet. Not as bad as wide open megas, but still not quiet.
I'm also sure the pipe size they chose is less than optimal for the 850, as it's a bit too free-flowing in my opinion. They probably used the same pipe gauge on the 850, 1000 and 1100 kits.

 

[93Bandit]

I'm quite happy with the fit and finish of the Delco, but be warned, it's not quiet. Not as bad as wide open megas, but still not quiet.
I'm also sure the pipe size they chose is less than optimal for the 850, as it's a bit too free-flowing in my opinion. They probably used the same pipe gauge on the 850, 1000 and 1100 kits.

Hows the volume at 80mph? Is it deafening at high way speeds or just too loud for sneaking in late? I don't mind louder exhaust as long as it doesn't make my head ring after a trip.

As for free flowing, probably loose some low end torque due to the pipes?

 

[Grimly]

Hows the volume at 80mph? Is it deafening at high way speeds or just too loud for sneaking in late? I don't mind louder exhaust as long as it doesn't make my head ring after a trip.

As for free flowing, probably loose some low end torque due to the pipes?

No, the noise doesn't ding you in the ears, but you know it's there all right. I actually quite like the sound but there's too much of it.
For sneaking in late, you can ride along sub-4000 and it's ok, but nothing like as subdued as a stock system.
The flow characteristics on mine are non-standard anyway, with the big single carb. Because of that, low-end torque is largely unaffected.
I'm seriously considering putting a Motad system back on, just to see if it improves things.

 

[93Bandit]

No, the noise doesn't ding you in the ears, but you know it's there all right. I actually quite like the sound but there's too much of it.
For sneaking in late, you can ride along sub-4000 and it's ok, but nothing like as subdued as a stock system.
The flow characteristics on mine are non-standard anyway, with the big single carb. Because of that, low-end torque is largely unaffected.
I'm seriously considering putting a Motad system back on, just to see if it improves things.

Ok so sounds like it won't be any worse than my neighbors HD.

As for flow, I forgot you have a single carb so not an apples to apples. What makes you think the motad will improve it? Does it have smaller primaries?

 

[Grimly]

What makes you think the motad will improve it? Does it have smaller primaries?

That's exactly it. Since I overhauled the top end I've been fighting an overheating bug that arises on sustained middling-high speeds. The Delko went on the bike as the final touch of the overhaul, and the carb is essentially the exact same (give or take a twiddle or two) as I had on before with the Motad, and there was no overheating (and there hadn't been for the previous 20 years). I'm thinking flow reversion at the exhaust ports might be the culprit, if the downtube size is too generous, or the collector is just right in the wrong position, because this has cropped up on other engines (the XS650 when fitted with over-sized pipes), with anti-reversion inserts being available.

 

[93Bandit]

That's exactly it. Since I overhauled the top end I've been fighting an overheating bug that arises on sustained middling-high speeds. The Delko went on the bike as the final touch of the overhaul, and the carb is essentially the exact same (give or take a twiddle or two) as I had on before with the Motad, and there was no overheating (and there hadn't been for the previous 20 years). I'm thinking flow reversion at the exhaust ports might be the culprit, if the downtube size is too generous, or the collector is just right in the wrong position, because this has cropped up on other engines (the XS650 when fitted with over-sized pipes), with anti-reversion inserts being available.

Interesting. I've heard if delkevic, V&H etc but not heard of Motad. Are they a reputable brand for Suzukis?

 

[slayer61]

Interesting. I've heard if delkevic, V&H etc but not heard of Motad. Are they a reputable brand for Suzukis?

I believe Motad is an European brand and likely more available over there.

The Motogpwerks pipe on my GS is pretty loud, but I wear a full coverage helmet, with ear plugs and I find it a very pleasant sound!

 

[Grimly]

Interesting. I've heard if delkevic, V&H etc but not heard of Motad. Are they a reputable brand for Suzukis?

They made some excellent systems, but hit the wall about a decade ago.
I had a stainless Motad on for thirty years, but the downpipes eventually got paper-thin, although the collector and muffler are still perfectly fine.
Lying in a box is an as-new chromed steel Motad system, which I was keeping aside, but I might have to fit it.

 

[93Bandit]

Got to tinker on the 850 a little today.

I've been having miss at idle, if you can call it that. I don't know if it's actually a miss, but it causes the engine to gallop a little at idle, somewhat randomly. The exhaust note has a random "putt...putt, putt... putt... putt... putt putt... putt."

I pulled the plugs and they seem to show cylinders 1, 2 & 4 running rich. I ordered a colortune and it arrived today. I've read the colortune doesn't work well with CV carbs but I decided to try it out anyways. I work on a lot of small engines so I figured if it doesn't work for CV carbs, it'll work on something else. Anyways, installed it on each cylinder and checked idle as well as mid throttle and WOT. Nice blue flame at idle and goes yellow when you blip the throttle hard. Hmmm, seems to be working for me and seems to be showing idle mixture is correct... I tried to take a video of the colortune in action, but to get close enough for it to show up the plug wire signal caused interference with the camera. Same thing happened when trying to take a picture. Bummer.

Ignition system is functioning fine, recently installed new plugs and wire caps. Runs fantastic, never stalls, I get good fuel economy, pulls hard through entire rev range, no stumble, doesn't foul plugs.

So now I'm wondering if the "miss" is due to slight exhaust leak I have at the head, or maybe the baffles are rotted out? The bike isn't that loud, however I've never heard another bike like this with a factory exhaust to compare too.

...Or is it due to my slight oil burn, which I assume is the valve stem seals.

Hmmm...

 

[93Bandit]

Got the 850 out last week for a ride in the cool evening. Was heading over to Holly MI, about 30 miles from where I live, to meet a buddy for dinner. While on my way, taking the scenic back roads, the bike felt weird. Kind of underpowered or sluggish, but was running fine. At a stop light I noticed it took more throttle than usual to accelerate up to speed, and after 12 miles I caught a whiff of something HOT, smelled like brakes. Pulled over to inspect and sure enough, right front caliper and rotor where ambient temp but the left caliper and rotor where HOT. Almost burned my hand. Headed back to the house and drove my car to meet him.

Next day I pulled the caliper off the bike and disassembled. Just as I suspected, gunk and cruddy inside. Piston has some minor pitting but didn't look too bad. Being that the bike is 40yrs old and the calipers have likely never been rebuilt, I should probably order parts to rebuild all 3 rather than just this one. Ugh, just in time to miss out on the last bit of the riding season. Oh well. If I was really wise, I would have rebuild the calipers at the same time I made new brake lines...

Do I rebuild the masters as well?

 

[rphillips]

Well, if a concern of may miss some last of riding season, fix that 1 then make a winter project of the others. Yes they probably need attention, but it really doesn't seem to deem immediate attention... just my opinion.

 

[Grimly]

Do I rebuild the masters as well?

Yep.























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