My new 1982 GS850G

[stlstl]

A while back I fixed up a 1978 GS850G and loved it. Then I moved to Colorado and the old school slide carbs didn't appreciate the altitude changes. I live at 5800' and like to ride a few times a year up over 14,000'. So I sold it traded up to a new 2015 FJ-09. I loved that bike too, that triple engine was epic. Then I had kids. The FJ collected dust and I decided to let it go as well.

Then I saw this bike. A 1982 GS850G in immaculate cosmetic shape and they were only asking $1,400 for it. (It did have a giant front fairing that had to come off) I was sure to be the first person at that guy's doorstep with money and brought it home. It ran...decently...but it just wasn't right.

Several months later, I can proudly say it now runs as well as it looks. Much thanks to this website and teh BikeCliff guides! It has around 20K miles and I'm pretty sure I'm the first one to have ever done a valve adjustment. Every shim was replaced. A good number had zero clearance. The intake was missing the intake snorkel and had a plate riveted over it?! (see here https://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?256883-Why-would-you-cover-half-the-intake ) After fixing all of that and going through the carbs, its one hell of a GS. Looks dang near as good as the day it was born and probably runs better than it ever did

https://imgur.com/a/NoUkf01

 

[Redman]

 

[Redman]

Nice.

Glad the airbox snorkel situation worked out.

I see you had to improvise something for the headlight and mounting after it having a big faring.
I suspect it also had big sidebags at one point also (probably why the seat rail was removed.)

Good to hear of the improvement. Welcome back to the GSes.

 

[1978GS750E]

Very nice!

 

[stlstl]

I see you had to improvise something for the headlight

I wasn't thrilled with that but I couldn't find any OEM parts that weren't completely ratted out or cost a ton of money so I just went with the universal mount.

I suspect it also had big sidebags at one point also (probably why the seat rail was removed.)

That rear rack has a seat back that moves forward and back that would have interfered with the seat rail. I took that off as well but kept the rack as a base for a removable top case.

Nice.
Good to hear of the improvement. Welcome back to the GSes.

Thanks!

 

[Redman]

Hey. Good pic of bike and kiddo.
If the kiddo is a grandkiddo, there is a thread somewhere (Campfire?) about grandkids.

Hopefully you didnt think I was being negitive about the headlight mounting.
All Looks great.

Speaking of headlight moiunting; Not seeing any front turnsignals.
If the rear t/signals dont flash, it is beacuse dont have the front ones to provide enough load for the flasher.

 

[Burque73]

Nice find there in Denver, stlstl. That's where I picked up my 83 850 a few years ago in similar condition and pretty close to your purchase price. It too had a giant fairing on it, but I don't mind. In fact I found some side cases to match and a trunk from a GoldWing that goes pretty well with it all.

Glad you got things sorted and are enjoying this weather before the snow.

 

[stlstl]

Speaking of headlight moiunting; Not seeing any front turnsignals.
If the rear t/signals dont flash, it is beacuse dont have the front ones to provide enough load for the flasher.

I just went with a headlight with built in turn signals to keep it simple. It took a pair of 50W resistors wired up under the rear tail cover to get them to flash again.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MS8NK62/

 

[stlstl]

That's where I picked up my 83 850 a few years ago in similar condition and pretty close to your purchase price

Things tend to last out west with the dry air, eh? I'm originally from the midwest and anything like this would have been a rusty/corroded mess.

 

[ddaniels]

Maybe nitpicking but I think you headlight mounts are upside down, no? Great looking bike!

 

[stlstl]

Maybe nitpicking but I think you headlight mounts are upside down, no? Great looking bike!

lol, now that you say it...you may be right! I'll try and flip it tonight

 

[dorkburger]

Welcome. Nice looking 850.

 

[Wingsconsin]

Pretty -- super nice --- the carbs should compensate for elevation changes -
A loss of HP is the symptom I think -
I have had my normally aspirated carb Goldwing (1995 GL1500) to the top of the 14'ers (Pikes, Evans, Ind Pass)

 

[steve murdoch]

Love the pic of the future GSer sitting on your bike.
Some more info on your carbs at altitude.
https://www.motorcycleproject.com/text/carbs_altitude.html

 

[salty_monk]

The CV's work better than the VM's at elevation for sure... Nice bike, nice colour too. If the headlight ears you would need are 7" tall ones measured from top to bottom of the metal hoops not the rubbers (or for you the distance between the triple clamps) then I probably have a set of stock around somewhere but I suspect the ones you need are 6.5" tall.

 

[Lorenzo]

Nice bike, nice color scheme.