New member... Not so new rider from Southern New Jersey

[SnoDrtRider]

Hi!
I just purchased a 1981 GS850G. I have been hunting for one on and off for a few years and bingo! One pops up on FB Marketplace about 15 miles from me!

My quest was not out of the blue... it is rather nostalgic...

This is my second GS850G... The first one I owned was a 1980 model year that I purchased brand new as a leftover in the early Spring of 1981. It was my first pure street bike after owning several "Enduro" bikes.
I always wanted to find another one and finally the planets aligned and I did!

She is in fairly decent shape and running condition with only 14,XXX miles. The previous owner said he put needles and seats in the carbs but one was still leaking. Once I get her home (I hid it in a buddies garage because my wife thinks I have too many bikes already but that's another story) I will do a proper carb rebuild with a trip through my ultrasonic tank.
It has "POD" air filters right now (which I disapprove of) but I have the original air box to put back on.

The tank has a dent on the left side and I had my buddy who is an Ace body man look at it and because of a crease right on the line of the tank he suggested I try to find another tank first.
The exhaust is aftermarket but quiet and not bad looking. I haven't taken the time to look for a manufacturer but it is styled like a kirker from back in the day.

I'll get some photos up in a minute...

 

[Redman]

Welcome to GSR.

Are a couple other NJ members, one rather prominent that might see pop in here fairly soon.

THanks for the intro, and the pics.

(although, both pics look like the same pic)

PO say anything about re-jetting the carbs with it having the pods and pipe....?

I have no advice for you about dealing with the wife on this situation.

For an 81 tank, you will want an 80 or 81. The 82s and after have a different mounting.

The carb leak could be the o-ring at the valve seat.
But if this is happening while it is parked, well, then need to be thinking more about the petcock.

.

 

[SnoDrtRider]

Yeah both pics are the same I was uploading from my phone and wasn't sure what was going on.
Thanks for the info on the tank fitment that doubles my choices when searching!

 

[Redman]

...........
Thanks for the info on the tank fitment that doubles my choices when searching!

But you are not going to find a stock 80s tank in the same color as a stock 81.
Most all the 80 850s will be the maroon (called Red on the microfische). I dont recall what the other color was for 80 (was usally 2 colors each year, one more common).
Even if you did find one the same base color as yours, but different year, the accent stripes would be different because those changed every year.

>>later note:
After looking at your pic again (and including in my prior post), I can not entirely tell, but appears that the tank front fender and sidepanel are painted and dont have the accent stripes. If so, then, yah, any 80 tank will work as well as an 81.

 

[Dogma]

Was the '79 tank different? I thought it was the same as the '80-81.

 

[dorkburger]

Hey, welcome from that part of the state that some claim doesn't exist...
Cool that the bike you were looking for popped up in your backyard.

I can't speak for the nostalgia often associated with an old GS, as I'm only 46, but I do love them.
What other bikes do you own?

 

[Redman]

Was the '79 tank different? I thought it was the same as the '80-81.

I dont know if are or are not the same. I know is many design changes between 79& 80 so I didnt include 79 in my recommendation for interchangeability with an 81 tank.
I do have first hand experience to know the tank mounting (most all models) changed from 81 to 82 (as did the seat mounting).

 

[SnoDrtRider]

Current stable is two other GSs of another brand (BMW) One is a 2013 F800GS and the other is a 2015 G650GS which is my wife's... They are our go to riders on weekends and for road trips.
We also have a 1984 Harley FXRS which my Father in Law bought new in '84 it sat for 13 years and we took it over and I de-accessorized it back to stock.
I also have a 1986 Montesa Cota 304 trials bike that I like to play around a low speed on in the backwoods on the property.
I have a 1980 Husqvarna WR 390 for when I want to scare the bejesus out of myself in the woods also.

 

[dorkburger]

Nice collection!

 

[Dogma]

I dont know if are or are not the same. I know is many design changes between 79& 80 so I didnt include 79 in my recommendation for interchangeability with an 81 tank.
I do have first hand experience to know the tank mounting (most all models) changed from 81 to 82 (as did the seat mounting).

I did some digging. The part number seems to be the same (except color codes) for '79-81 GS850G and '80-81 GS1000G.

 

[SnoDrtRider]

I know for fact the 1980 and 1981 tanks are the same except for colors. A buddy of mine back in 81 rode my 1980 a few times and like it so much that he bought a 1981 off the showroom floor. The bikes were identical except for color. We rode together quite a bit.