New GS850 Tourer owner!

[Peter Buehner]

Hi Everyone,
Well I have just acquired a 1980 GS850G Tourer through Ebay. I set a super low price (I thought) and ended up winning this thing for less than a grand. I have no idea if it is a good deal or not. I still have to ship it to myself in Maine from CT which is going to cost about $200.
Anyway, after the shock of finding out I won, I googled GS850 and here I am.
My plan is to replace all the fluids, get a new battery and tires, and see what else might be going on. Any advice? I have the whole long New England winter to tinker around.

Happy Holidays everyone.

Peter

 

[tkent02]

Hi Everyone,
Well I have just acquired a 1980 GS850G Tourer through Ebay. I set a super low price (I thought) and ended up winning this thing for less than a grand. I have no idea if it is a good deal or not. I still have to ship it to myself in Maine from CT which is going to cost about $200.
Anyway, after the shock of finding out I won, I googled GS850 and here I am.
My plan is to replace all the fluids, get a new battery and tires, and see what else might be going on. Any advice? I have the whole long New England winter to tinker around.


Happy Holidays everyone.

Peter

There is a lot of reading for you to do...

http://members.dslextreme.com/users/bikecliff/

For starters, adjust the valves so they don't burn up.

 

[Burque73]

Hey Peter, welcome! You'll love the 850. I highly recommend reading through this thread to avoid some heartache!

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?171846-Top-10-Newbie-Mistakes

Post some pics of your bike when you get it too. :encouragement:

 

[steve murdoch]

Welcome to the site, Peter.
Lots of members in your neck of the woods.
Photos of your new ride are required when it lands on your doorstep.

 

[Redman]

Peter, Welcome to GSR.

I had an '80 850G for 15 years. (650G before that, 1100GK now).

Will be interest to hear more about your adventures with the bike.
Will be looking for why you call it an 850 tourer. I am guessing it has had a fairing and side bags added.

Speaking of pictures, maybe you can still snag the photos from the auction listing (right click, save image). We will need to see pics before can answer any of your questions. Yah, need to know if you have the maroon one or the black one har har har

Good that you are planning on changing the fluids and the tires.
Two things you are going to want to check:
1) valve adjustment
2) charging system

Again welcome to GSR. Do introduce yourself more, and do post pics when you can.

.

 

[Peter Buehner]

Thanks everyone! I put the eBay photo into my signature I think. Anyway I should get it within a week or two I assume. I'm am starting my reading now!

 

[Peter Buehner]

Peter, Welcome to GSR.

I had 850G for 15 years. (650G before that, 1100GK now).

Will be interest to hear more about your adventures with the bike.
Will be looking for why you call it an 850 tourer. I am guessing it has had a fairing and side bags added.

Speaking of pictures, maybe you can still snag the photos from the auction listing (right click, save image). We will need to see pics before can answer any of your questions. Yah, need to know if you have the maroon one or the black one har har har

Again welcome to GSR. Do introduce yourself more, and do post pics when you can.

.

Well it has the factory fairing and tour pack, not aftermarket...the fairing is labeled with Suzuki. The listing said that it was rare to find but I may well have been sold a load of goods . Photos once I get it. Oh and it is black which I assume is the least desired color. Luckily, I love black.

 

[Redman]

Well it has the factory fairing and tour pack, not aftermarket...the fairing is labeled with Suzuki. The listing said that it was rare to find but I may well have been sold a load of goods . Photos once I get it. Oh and it is black which I assume is the least desired color. Luckily, I love black.

Do post photo (not seeing in sig line). FOlks here can help sort out something.

I think it was 79 that could get a dealer-add-on Suzuki tagged faring (not factory) (not 1980). But I suppose could have put one of those on an 80.
Does it look like this.....

Yes, if is one of these dealer-add-on Suzuki fairings (Califiga or something like that actaully) that is something of a rarity.
I do not know if there was or was not also such bags available (were not shown or mentioned in this artical).
If everthing is Windjammer or Krouser or other, those were lot more common.

THen there is the situation of maybe is a 79 model built in calandar year 1980 and registered as an 80.....
Does it have smooth solide brake rotors or slotted rotors?
Front fender chrome or painted like tank?
Emblem on side panel GS850 or GS850G?
Have a headlight switch On Off Switch, of just Hi-Low?
Have kickstarter or no kickstarter?
(are other significant changes from 79 model to 80 model, but these are the easiest to ask about that you would be able to see/know).
Or Post picture.

Dave

 

[Peter Buehner]

Sorry that I cannot get the image on there. It is a triple disc brake bike. The front fairing is labeled Suzuki while the saddle bags and back rest box all say Vetter.
'This is very close to it...found it through google. The only difference I see is the label on the fairing and the color

 

[Steve]

If that is the fairing, somebody has put the Suzuki label on a Vetter fairing. :-k

Not all that bad, but it's not "Suzuki". :-\\\

Black is a good color to have. Click on the link in my sig to see my '80 850G'K'.

I call it an 850G'K' because I have the rear luggage from an 1100GK, which Suzuki never put on anything except the 1100.
It's a "junior-sized" GK, which is one reason I call it "Junior".
The other reason is that it's smaller than my Wing, but equipped almost the same.

.

 

[Peter Buehner]

OK, here is the bike. I finally figured out that my Ipad couldn't get the images but I can from my computer. What's the verdict? OEM touring package or just Vetter labeled? I am also including a link to the video where he says that this is the holy grail of gs fans due to the oem fairing



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdo48bw5EDo&t=1s

 

[portdave]

Looks like the dealer add on fairing. Nice. Welcome.

 

[lurch12_2000]

OK, here is the bike. I finally figured out that my Ipad couldn't get the images but I can from my computer. What's the verdict? OEM touring package or just Vetter labeled? I am also including a link to the video where he says that this is the holy grail of gs fans due to the oem fairing

View attachment 48718

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdo48bw5EDo&t=1s

Funny...the youtube video is labelled Honda GS850G. Nice looking bike. Vetter bags and trunk but not a Vetter fairing. Probably is a Suzuki factory fairing. Will probably need new tires once you get it running. I have a spare '80 rear rim if you'd like it. It has a different spoke and disc setup than my '82 850 but I needed the spline off of it.
Where in Maine are you? We have a fairly active group of GS forum members that do rides and camping through the year. You're welcome to check the Meetingplace section and join in. Or drop me a PM and we'll hook up if you're close. I'm always looking for an excuse to ride Maine too even in the cooler weather.

 

[Peter Buehner]

Thanks! I am in Orono, Maine. I had planned on new tires for sure. I will take a look at the back rim when it arrives and I will let you know. What a great find this forum is! I am headed to the meetingplace now.
Happy Holiday season everyone.
Peter

 

[Steve]

Yeah, that is the Calafia STX fairing that was a dealer-installed option, so it's sort of a "factory option" fairing. Many years ago, a friend in California had one of those on his '77 Wing, but I never had the pleasure of riding behind it to give it any kind of evaluation.

That bike appears to be in IMMACULATE condition, but I would still go through it with the proverbial fine-toothed comb. Definitely check the date codes on the tires. I'll bet the brake hoses are still original (they have date codes, too). It appeared to start rather easily in the video, but there was no indication that the bike was cold when they started the bike. If it starts harder when cold, it's an indication that the valves need to be adjusted.

If that is the bike that you "won" for less than a grand, pat yourself on the back because you stole that bike. :clap: :clap: :encouragement:

$200 for shipping is probably a very good price, but for that amount, you could have rented a trailer and had a LONG day drive to get it yourself.
Hope it arrives in a condition as good as it appears in the video.

.

 

[Peter Buehner]

Thanks for the reply. I will definitely check over everything. I have downloaded a service manual and am reading like a madman. I love your forum name! We are getting up to 9 inches of snow tomorrow so I think that shipping is the better option
Have a great day.
Peter

 

[Guest]

Congratulations on what looks to be a great bike! The 850Gs are fantastic bikes, absolute work horses. And if your plans are touring, your set right from the starting gate. My first GS was a 79' 850, awesome bike. While you're putting new tires on, replace the wheel bearings, super cheap and well worth the effort. Check out your final gear while you have the tire off as well, on some of the models the spline teeth can wear. There's a list of things to check on these bikes here somewhere, you've probably already seen it. Again, congratulations, she looks like a great bike and welcome to the site.

 

[Peter Buehner]

Thanks for the advice azr. I will check those things for sure. Have a great day.
Peter

Congratulations on what looks to be a great bike! The 850Gs are fantastic bikes, absolute work horses. And if your plans are touring, your set right from the starting gate. My first GS was a 79' 850, awesome bike. While you're putting new tires on, replace the wheel bearings, super cheap and well worth the effort. Check out your final gear while you have the tire off as well, on some of the models the spline teeth can wear. There's a list of things to check on these bikes here somewhere, you've probably already seen it. Again, congratulations, she looks like a great bike and welcome to the site.

 

[Redman]

I concure with opinions stated by others.
Definitely is that dealer add-on fairing (that I thought was for 79 only).
The bike is Definitely is not a 79.

Furthermore, I will say;
Bike IS an 80 ....
Definatly is in great condition.
You got a good deal.

Original seat cover even.

If have the rear wheel off (you said new tires), do inspect the hub (called joint assembly on microfische) in the rear wheel. Have to remove it from the wheel for good inspection. Is not too much of a concern on an 80 (or 81) (82 on, yes, more of a concern), but if have the wheel off, should take a look.
CAn talk more about that when you get to it. That and the valve clearance check and the charging system.



.

.

 

[lurch12_2000]

Do a search on removing the rear spline here. You have 6 bolts and some retainers, and pry out with 2 large screwdrivers, but the spline has to be removed and cleaned to check for wear and condition. I use an inch of kerosene in a large Cool Whip container which is perfect size to soak spline, and an old toothbrush. I can almost guarantee that an '80 spline will be black in color and in perfect shape. Around mid'-81 through '83 they used the same crappy gold colored spline on 650G, 850G, 1100G bikes and show serious wear of spline teeth. After cleaning and drying off spline just lightly coat teeth with Moly-60 lube and have piece of mind for your trip since you're removing the rear wheel for a new tire anyway.