Hi from Melbourne, Australia!

[PK2]

Hi all, just introducing myself. I'm a 51 year old from Oz, very keen motorcyclist and family man (dad of 2, grandfather of 3, all boys!)

In my riding life I've had - XR80 (bought new in 1980, still in the shed!), TS185, XR500, CB750F2, GSX750ESD, XT660X, HD 883 Iron, 2009 VStrom 650 which is my current bike.
A month or so ago I bought a one owner 1980 GS850G. It had been in a shed for 4 years, cleaned the carbs, changed fluids, new battery, and away she went. Has the original bikini fairing, original paint, 4 into 1. Keen to keep her as stock as possible. Never had a shaft drive before!

I'd forgotten how good an inline 4 sounds under acceleration with not much baffling in the muffler!
So I've put around 2000km on it, ticked over 85000km today.

Looking forward to getting to know you, I'm also on stromtrooper.com and advrider.com

 

[Steve]

Welcome. :encouragement:

Very nice-looking bike there, but a curious mix of differences from what we had over here. :-k
- The only 850Gs with a chrome fender were '79s.
- The rectangular turn signals did not show up until '81.
- "Original" bikini fairing?? I don't think we ever had that option. At least, I have never seen one.

You will likely enjoy the shaft drive. Back when the 850G and 1000G were new, many of the magazine testers said they had to keep looking to make sure it had a shaft, because they could not tell the difference. For the purists, there is, indeed, a bit more unsprung weight at the rear wheel, but the lack of constant maintenance and (for me) the lack of noise are definitely worth it.

.

 

[steve murdoch]

Welcome to the site.
Good looking bike and i like that paint scheme.
So that's what a wombat looks like.

 

[PK2]

Thanks Steve(s)! I may be wrong but I think there were a number of fairing options on the GS here in Oz. Got a mate who had the "batgirl" fairing on a GS750 25 years ago.

Steve, wombats are about the size of a medium stocky dog, built like a brick ****house, and definitely something you don't want to hit, especially on a bike! Generally kangaroos, wombats etc come out at dusk so its always a hazard riding in the Australian bush as the sun is starting to set.....

 

[sinkankan]

G'day Pk2, I'm Perth Australia with the same bike, so if you want to know a bit more about your trusty steed give a message.
My bike is in the dealer's after getting the slow mode run around by a local guy, hopefully it'll be running by the end of the week.
4 into 1's are a better option than the stock exhausts, and better clearance.
Put up a picture of your bike when can, cheers.

 

[PK2]

Nice Sinkankan! My engine needs a bit more polishing to shine like yours, but plenty of time to come.

Went for a ride Monday morning and had a few people that wanted to chat about it each time I stopped for a coffee. They are/were a popular bike and I'm happy to keep one on the road!

 

[LanceB]

Hi Sinkankan, I'm in Perth too. Recently picked up an 80 GS 750 police special with 77/78 features. It's needing a lot o lovin but steady steady. Can I ask what 4 into 1 pipes you have and howd you come about them, and do you know anywhere local to get valve shims. Needing a couple o 2.50 s and a 2.55

 

[Johno]

Hi Sinkankan, I'm in Perth too. Recently picked up an 80 GS 750 police special with 77/78 features. It's needing a lot o lovin but steady steady. Can I ask what 4 into 1 pipes you have and howd you come about them, and do you know anywhere local to get valve shims. Needing a couple o 2.50 s and a 2.55

For shims try http://www.precisionshims.com.au/ they will express post overnight.

 

[Guest]

Welcome from Brisvegas! Always good to see another Aussie on the board!

And +1 on Johno there, I get all my 450's shims from them.

 

[Guest]

G'day! I am also from Melbourne, though out the other side.. in the Dandenongs. The gs are a great bike. So comfortable on long trips, cruising all day. Love the shaft drive with little maintenance required. Cheers, Joe.

 

[sinkankan]

Hi Sinkankan, I'm in Perth too. Recently picked up an 80 GS 750 police special with 77/78 features. It's needing a lot o lovin but steady steady. Can I ask what 4 into 1 pipes you have and howd you come about them, and do you know anywhere local to get valve shims. Needing a couple o 2.50 s and a 2.55

you can give Mark at McCullochs (Victoria Park Suzuki, tell him Chris Davis sent you) a call for the shims. The header pipes came with the bike, and I got the mufflers from Motorcycles Plus in Kewdale, new old stock. I ran up a stainless spacer on the lathe from the rear frame to support the clamp, locks it in nice and tight. And had to put a S/S rivet in where the muffler meets the tailpipe, just to make sure.

 

[BOBGS1000]

G'day PK2 I'm just up the road ( Stawell ) I have recently picked up a gs1000 made 78 but I think sold as 79 ? Currently getting ready for club rego etc. Hope to have done and take it to Broadford Bonanza easter ( google it ) Excellent event. Also GS750B in the shed owned since new waiting to be revived.