Happy 30th birthday to my GS850G !

[2BRacing]

Well, amazing how time flies! Happy 30th birthday to my GS850G ! I bought "Blue Magic" new on 11/06/1981. 30 years later, and she is still going really strong (although she only has about 33,000 km on the clock!).

I decided to treat her to some special preventative maintenance - new intake/airbox rubbers and O-rings; fuel tank petcock; and front disc pads. While adjusting the valves, I will also replace the tappet cover gasket and spark plugs. Also ordered (but not received yet) are braided brake hoses.

The first batch of parts now cost within US$50 of the original new purchase price of the complete motorcycle!

So after winter maintenance which will also include setting carb float levels with a fuel level gauge and synching with the OEM Suzuki gauge set (borrowed from my brother), she will be ready to go for the next 30 years!

 

[marvinsc]

Sweet machine! Congrats!

 

[Vmass]

Very nice!!

How long have you had the Hondaline fairing on there, and did you need to modify much to get it to fit?

 

[Guest]

Beautiful .
Well done .

Cheers , Simon . :clap: :clap: :clap:

 

[Guest]

Happy birthday to her! I think that's fantastic you've owned the bike since new.

 

[Guest]

Yeah congrats to keep her up in such a beautyful shape....it is something special to own a vehicle since new...sometimes i wonder who owned my bike first...i know it come from Iowa since it has an inspection sticker under the seat and i also know the previous owner bought it in Florida.

 

[BassCliff]

Hi,

Great looking bike. I love the paint jobs on the non-US bikes. You should be proud of your bike. Happy Birthday!


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

 

[2BRacing]

Very nice!!

How long have you had the Hondaline fairing on there, and did you need to modify much to get it to fit?

I fitted the fairing a few months after I bought the bike. The main mounting bracket fits against the steering stem and is held on by two "J" bolts. I had to remove the original headlamp mounting brackets and make up new brackets, as well as short brackets from the top of the valve cover to bolt to the rear of the fairing. The front indicators also required new mounting brackets to be made up.

 

[kelticsol]

Happy birthday!

Curiosity begs to know: What did you trade-in in 1981 that was worth 1300?

 

[Krunk_Kracker]

That is awesome.

Is the paint original? Has it ever been laid down?

 

[terrylee]

Amazing! terrylee

 

[2BRacing]

Happy birthday!

Curiosity begs to know: What did you trade-in in 1981 that was worth 1300?

I traded a 1979 Honda 550 Supersport in on the 850. Bit of a sad story - a guy who lived in the same street had a light coming together with a cage, but flew off the bike and hit a steel electric light pylon, which broke his neck.

I bought the 550 from his parents who obviously just wanted to get rid of it. Just front forks bent and some cosmetic damage. That was my introduction to synching 4 carbs!

 

[2BRacing]

That is awesome.

Is the paint original? Has it ever been laid down?

Yes, the paint is original and no, she has never been laid down. She has always been kept inside a garage, and we don't have snow and salt on icy roads here to cause rust. Also about 100 km away from the sea.

 

[2BRacing]

Thanks to all for the kind words and wishes - I have always been mechanically minded (although I am trained in chemistry and geology), but have only learned the finer GS "tips and tricks" during the last two and a half years from you great guys here on GSR. It was also an honour for me to get BOM in April 2009 with "Blue Magic".

Thanks again to GSR!

 

[RHODESIA SMITH]

Very very nice. You live in the best part of SA for biking, and just about everything as well. I have just done a round trip on my 850 from Jhb via Port Nolloth and down. ( yes I did it through that big cold front where it snowed in Namibia, was good). (did approx 4600km ,will post some pics when I get the rest of them from my fellow travellers and small write up as well.)

Mine is also the same livery but not near as pristene. ( mine has 76,000km on it and also an '81 ,but 3rd owner and I paid a lot more than what you did!), but that was a lot of money then I suppose!

Now I have the "benchmark", to work towards.

I am a bit nervous about ordering spares from the US owing to our wonderful SARS wanting too much for the import taxes, and possible pitfalls with the postal system? Is it reasonable and genuinely worth the trouble? I find the dealerships are not really interested in the older bikes while we enjoy such a huge following of the classic bikes up here on the reef.

I pretty much need the airbox rubbers and the works, same as what you are replacing.

nice, perhaps we will see each other on the road one day.

 

[2BRacing]

Thanks, Mr Rhodesia Smith - looking forward to your story and pics - that must have been some journey!

I actually bought all those parts here locally from Suzuki South. I am lucky in that one of the spares guys there is extremely helpful and knows the older models well. I just converted the Rand value to the equivalent of US$ in order to place it in correct perspective for the majority of GSR members in USA.

I assume you are in Jbg, right? Another member, Flyboy, is also located there and he is currently rebuilding his 850 which has done over 350 000 km IIRC.

 

[RHODESIA SMITH]

yep in gold 'ol JHB. I am now yearning for the area around Klawer and Van Ryns pass- what a pass!

thanks I sent FlyBoy a PM asking where he gets his bits and pieces around here. As per my name sake, I make plans, but it gets to a point where it is no longer possible. I have been able to get the intake rubbers reasonably soft by soaking them in a thick sealable plastic bag with a bit of petrol in. But I cannot keep doing this! Even though my bike is in good original shape and is not bodged, ( no real need to on these bikes) and was confident to do my trip with no mishaps- still would like to have in as best original condition as possible.

 

[Redman]

Hello Ben,

Enjoyed seeing your 850G again.

I did not remember that was a Hondaline fairing that you added.
Impressive paint.
You say the paint is original.
But let me quess, you added the extra three stripes. ...?

Have not seen rear crash bars like that before (well, other than on bikes with side bags).

Back to cart racing? Or this not the season?

Dave

.

 

[2BRacing]

Hi Dave

Nice to hear from you again!

Regarding the paint on the tank, sidecovers and tailpiece, that is all still original. The fairing, which was made by a fibreglass shop according to a Honda 900 Bol D'Or fairing (is that similar to Hondaline?), was just "raw" fibreglass when I bought it, so it was spraypainted in the same colours as the bike. I remember that the design (shape) of the three lines on the fairing caused some headaches at the time!

We have temporarily stopped kart racing, as my son is busy with his clerkship for accountant, after having completed his 4 years university studies. Problem is that he had to go to the head office of a company which is located 1 500 km away! So hopefully we will be able to continue kart racing when he is back in Cape Town next year. Here he is (unfortunately his knee is covering that Walbro carb!).

Keep well and enjoy your riding season while our winter rains have arrived, so I am getting ready for my winter maintenance!

Ben