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hank2

hank2

Forum Mentor
Past Site Supporter
I just enrolled on this fine site. I live in Eastern Pa., US. I've stuck my head in a few times over the years and enjoyed what I read. In a few days, I'll be buying my first GS, an '81 GS650G, It shows about 25k miles and decent original paint. It runs, but I only took it on a few passes up and down the alley of the seller. He admits to what he called a slipping clutch at hard throttle. I'm thinking it may just be worn wheel splines. I'll have to pluck away at it over the Winter. The seller has multiple bikes and only put 500 miles on it in a year. He had bought it from a flipper at a vintage Japanese bike show, so it's mostly sat around. Yes, I'm probably crazy to get into this.

I got into riding regularly in the early 2000's, already into my 50's. Spent about 12 years doing much wrenching and riding on a '72 BMW R75/5. I later bought a '11 Suzy V Strom 650 and did suspension and other improvements on it. I sold that last April as I had decided I was past prime time for riding and also needed the money at the time. The V Strom was getting a little too top heavy for me to push around, but with the suspension improvements, it was a fine riding bike. I had always admired the GS series, especially the shafties. Four cylinders and carbs scares me a bit, but hopefully this one will prove to be worth it, with a bit of work and money. Hope to extend my riding another couple of years. Thanks for the great site and all the information here.
 
Another Welcome.

Splines are likely not a problem on an '81. It is more likely that the cable is mis-adjusted or you need to change the springs. A set of OEM (NOT "heavy-duty aftermarket) springs is about $20, and another $10 for a gasket. Easy job, don't even have to drain the oil, if you leave the bike on the side stand.

.
 
Welcome to TheGSR.

650G is a good bike.
Yes, will seem lighter and easier to handle than a tall VStrom.

Worn wheel spline (also called hub, is "joint assembly" on the microfische) will not "slip a little" under any circumstance. THey wear and wear untill go crunch once and then it is like every gear is a neutral, all the time there after.
THis wheel spline problem is mostly on the 82 and couple years after, and mostly on the 850 and 1100.
But, that is good of you to know there is such a thing in there. SOme folks dont know of it till it does go grunch.
You shouod also know that it need lubing with every tire change. And maybe you might want to inspect it if you have rear wheel off or just maybe because you want to.

If you want to notice this clutch slipping, watch tack as accelerate hard (upper rpms) in 3rd or 4th gear, watch the tach, see if there are times that the tach seems to ramp up quicker than does the mph. Also maybe notice this in top gear if ever at, well, upper rpms (I'll say it that way) and you see the tach increase without any speed increase.

Clutch slipping a little can be improved with just replacing the springs. Although your clutch fiction plates are probably 38 years old. If you read the service manaul it states a service limit based on measuring the thickness. My expereince is that the friction plate can be within that thichness criteria, but the friction material has become hard and slick over the years and miles, especailly if has been slipping for some time. If your budget can handle it, replace the springs and the friction plates, you will be surprised to realize the clutch was slipping more than you knew. Will almost need to learn how to operate the clutch all over.

Thanks for introducing your self.
We really should have had pictures before giving advise.
Yah, we need to know if you have the black or the red one. har har.

And the airhead too. Wanna see that.
 
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hank2 said:
I'm thinking it may just be worn wheel splines.

Spent about 12 years doing much wrenching and riding on a '72 BMW R75/5.
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I can see how you might suspect the drive splines after owning an airhead for a while - been there, got the t-shirt.
As has been said, it was only a small minority of Zuks suffered the problem and it was rapidly fixed.
Basically, Suzuki got it right from the start and some dreadful cockup happened in 1982. The same drive design from 1979 went on until today, all way through the four-cylinder semi-sports light and heavy cruisers and is still to be found on the big V-twins.
They obviously learned from BMW's mistakes, which makes it all the more mystifying why they dropped the ball for a year - bad heat treatment, wrong choice of material, new design engineer who thought he was smarter than everyone else, who knows.
 
Welcome, Hank, from another citizen of Penn's Woods. My son goes to Kutztown U, not far from Reading.
 
Hello Hank,

I started riding later in my age too (44) and my first bike was not the best choice. But that's history and here you are with a 650/shaftie.

Yes, please post pics when you get a chance and welcome to the site.

Ed
 
Thanks to all for the welcome and the good info on the splines and clutch. Good to know that the bad wheel splines didn't appear until '82. I'll be checking things out after I actually get the GS, This '81 is black. My test ride was only in 2nd gear in the rain in a back alley. Unfortunately, I sold the airhead back in 2014, after about a year with the V Strom. Big mistake. I had gone almost too far with mechanical/electrical perfection on that. This one will be just what it needs now and hopefully a reliable rider by next Spring.

I'll be doing a lot of reading here and likely asking about this or that. Thanks!
 
Rich82GS750TZ said:
Welcome, Hank, from another citizen of Penn's Woods. My son goes to Kutztown U, not far from Reading.
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Thanks, Rich. Good luck to your son! I'm a '70's grad of Kutztown, post military. That campus has been much expanded and landscaped to the 9's, compared to my days there. They had a huge enrollment increase some years a go, now declining, like all the State Universities. Great school.
 
hank2 said:
Thanks, Rich. Good luck to your son! I'm a '70's grad of Kutztown, post military. That campus has been much expanded and landscaped to the 9's, compared to my days there. They had a huge enrollment increase some years a go, now declining, like all the State Universities. Great school.
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It's a beautiful campus. My wife is a '94 Grad and she barely recognizes the place.
 
Nice find. Welcome aboard. There is a Newbie thread here that tells you some common things to look out for... The weakest area is usually electrics. I'm with Steve that you'll find the clutch springs will be your issue. Doesn't hurt to check the fiber plates whilst you're in there though. :)
 
I got the 650G home successfully last Thurs. evening. It runs and stops, but needs attention in a number of areas. I'll be taking a look at a number of things and will need new state inspection. Many gaskets, clutch springs, shocks, etc., etc. on order. Just a new set of plugs, new oiled air filter and some fresh E0 gas has helped. I'll attempt to insert a photo. I don't have a usable online photo account at this time. It likely looks better in the photo than reality, but decent original shape.

IMG_20191010_175154857.jpg
 
One more. Not a big fan of the 4 into one pipe, but will stay that way for some time.

IMG_20191010_175219533.jpg
 
hank2 said:
It likely looks better in the photo than reality, but decent original shape.

attachment.php
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Not too bad overall. Mostly stock, but those flowers growing out of the seat might tickle a bit. :oops:


hank2 said:
One more. Not a big fan of the 4 into one pipe, but will stay that way for some time.
Click to expand...
Do you not like it for the looks or the noise? I like the smooth, 4-into-1 sound, but prefer one that is quiet. If yours has a "performance" baffle and makes too much noise, there are "street" baffles available that make it sound MUCH better.

.
 
steve murdoch said:
Nice looking bike, Hank.
New shocks? What did you order?
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Progresssive 412's in 13.5 inch. Supposedly, the "heavier duty version of this "standard" shock. Hoping this means something like a 90/150 spring. I didn't want to get into pricier shocks on this.
 
Steve said:
Not too bad overall. Mostly stock, but those flowers growing out of the seat might tickle a bit. :oops:



Do you not like it for the looks or the noise? I like the smooth, 4-into-1 sound, but prefer one that is quiet. If yours has a "performance" baffle and makes too much noise, there are "street" baffles available that make it sound MUCH better.

.
Click to expand...
Yeah, the flowers have to go! The pipe is quite loud to me with not so great hearing. Not a bother until about 5k rpm. I'll look into different baffles, but all that will wait until at least this Winter.
 
hank2 said:
Progresssive 412's in 13.5 inch. Supposedly, the "heavier duty version of this "standard" shock. Hoping this means something like a 90/150 spring. I didn't want to get into pricier shocks on this.
Click to expand...

Good choice, imho.
Had the same setup on a GS1000. At my 165# they performed well even for "spirited" riding.
 
Nice looking bike!

I'm partial to 4-1 Pipe since I have a V&H/4-1 pipe! I didn't have issues with the sound...but then again, I have custom fitted ear plugs I bought when I was in New Mexico riding with MrBill!

Ed
 
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