New to the forum with 2 GS850

[jdvorchak]

Hello. I just joined the forum a couple of days ago because I ran into, what I think, is a great deal. Found two GS850's for sale on craigslist and it was too good of a deal to pass. A 1980 GS850L and a 1981 GS850G. Both with clean titles but neither have run for a number of years. The G doesn't have license plates so unknown how long it's been sitting. The L has 2009 license plates and I did hear it run with starting fluid in the air box. The carbs are streaming fuel with the petcock turned on.

I am not new to working on bikes just new to Suzuki's. Over the past 10 years I've revived dozens of old metric bikes, mostly Honda and Kawasaki. I find them cheap on craigslist or word of mouth and make them run and ride safely. That usually includes new tires and carb cleaning but can entail everything up to and including internal engine work. Although I call this a part time job, retired in Sept of this year from AT&T, it's really more of a hobby. I love the challenge of getting an old neglected bike on the road again. Once I get one safe enough to let my kids ride, I flip it. Then take that money and buy some more bikes.

Of the forums, of which I am a member, this is one of the best. I've already downloaded the FSM and look forward to working on these over the winter here in the St. Louis area.

Any members in the St. Louis area are welcome to contact me, especially if you need help with a bike. I have a very well equipped heated garage and love talking with other enthusiasts.

 

[Redman]

jd,

Welcome to GSR.

By "streaming with fuel", if you mean running out of the air box.... you will want to see that don't also have fuel in the crankcase.

Do keep us updated on your progress.

.

 

[Spyder]

Welcome to the site! Always good to hear of more of our pride and joys revived from the dead...

 

[jdvorchak]

jd,

Welcome to GSR.

By "streaming with fuel", if you mean running out of the air box.... you will want to see that don't also have fuel in the crankcase.

Do keep us updated on your progress.


.

Turned the petcock on and in a few seconds had about a cup of gasoline on the floor. PO told me #2 carb leaked a little...I'd hate to see what he thought was a lot! It was late and I didn't pursue it any further. I'll check it out today. That one has brakes locked up on it so I want to deal with them first so I can at least move it around the garage. Right now it's blocking the door.... The front brake lever acts like no brake fluid in it. The rear has pedal and some fluid came out when I cracked the bleeders. I think for now just pull all 3 calipers off the rotors and trouble shoot later. I pulled a calf muscle when I was loading them onto the trailer so unless I put my motorcycle jack under it I really can't tell if it's front or rear locked up. Hope the jack fits. I can usually jack anything but a Kawasaki with no issues.

 

[jdvorchak]

FYI here are a couple of pics.. Caution... it is an ugly bike right now:

 

[jdvorchak]

Now some pics of the L model.. The one that is streaming the fuel :

 

[jdvorchak]

Just went out and played with both of them a bit. The 81 GS850G started and ran on all 4 with starting fluid. Really sounded good. Nice throaty tone to the pipes.

the 80 L model has a sound system and it works! Well the radio does. Don't have a cassette tape to test it. It has a mic clip like for a cb mic but I haven't found a CB or an antenna.



Also got this stuff with them:

 

[Redman]

JD,

Thanks for posting pics.

Interesting that both have about the same jammer fairings.
If you decide to remove one and keep one, I would vote to keep the one on the L.
THe Ls with the stepped seat and awful pullback bars are terrible as far as having to hold yourself up against the wind with your elbows bent. So you are holding yourself up against the wind with abdominal muscles, if don't have a fairing.

And you have one of the early edition Clymers that has the color schematics.

Not much difference between an 80 and an 81 (was many changes 79 to 80, and some changes 81 to 82).

If you just had the petcock on PRIme for just a little while when it flooded, then not so much of a chance of gas in crankcase, but still should check. It would be the occasion of going out in morning and having a big 10 foot puddle under bike, or if a small puddle but had been dripping days.

Get one or both of the GSes running by next summer, don't sell both of them, keep at least one of them, and watch for postings about the GSR ralley in Bedford indiania in June. Have had folks from St Louis area there before. and I think it is not that far away.
If you do sell both of them, you could still go to the GSR ralley on the old wing, or the Honda CB or the KZ, or the H-D. Have had an H-D at the rally before. Was quite memorable; Took about 6 of us to haul it up out of the ditch.
Although, I suspect you will not have that problem.

The 80 850G that I had, I got it with a jammer fairing installed.
THe headlight bucket and "ears" were still on the bike. THe headlight bucket had the sealed "bulb" and ring removed, and had a rubber boot installed over the headlight bucket. Apparently Vetter provided the jammer fairing with that rubber boot to install on the headlight bucket. THe PO gave me the headlight and the t/signals. So was easy to restore back to stock. Sold the jammer fairing real easy (here on GSR) for $150 (about 10 years ago).

Dave

 

[jdvorchak]

Thank you for your thoughts. I was thinking the exact same thing about leaving the fairing on the L. The radio works so why not.

I was just out working on the L brakes and fixed the right front caliper from locking. Still need to rebuild the MC and put in new brake fluid but the pads are like new and the front calipers are way too clean for an old bike. I suspect someone a few years ago worked on the brakes but didn't ride it much. Now the MC is dry but all kinds of brown funk in the reservoir like dried up brake fluid. There was still liquid brake fluid, although dirty, in the calipers. And the clutch cable and front brake lines look new. Once I pull the tank and the carbs I'm thinking this won't take much to get it back on the road. All lights and horn work on both bikes, which is kind of amazing to me, but they were stored in a garage.

 

[jdvorchak]

JD,

Thanks for posting pics.


If you just had the petcock on PRIme for just a little while when it flooded, then not so much of a chance of gas in crankcase, but still should check. It would be the occasion of going out in morning and having a big 10 foot puddle under bike, or if a small puddle but had been dripping days.


Dave

I just got down and looked at the petcock. The 1980 L has no prime position. No fuel selector that I can see. Looking in bike bandit the petcock doesn't show a selector arm!

when I say I turned the petcock on, the PO had installed an inline plastic petcock, similar to the type found on riding mowers.

I haven't decided to keep both yet. I approached a friend to take the L off my hands "as is" and he's thinking about it. But if he doesn't bite no problem. I have all winter to get two bikes running. which is the fun part to me. I have plenty of other bikes to ride in the mean time.

I'll keep that Indiana meet in mind. That could be a fun weekend trip and probably only be one day of easy ride for me. Unless I take the long way. I rode from St. Louis to W. Virginia one week and came home via Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas! Guess I just wasn't done riding yet.

 

[Redman]

....

I'll keep that Indiana meet in mind. That could be a fun weekend trip and probably only be one day of easy ride for me. Unless I take the long way. I rode from St. Louis to W. Virginia one week and came home via Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas! Guess I just wasn't done riding yet.

Hey, sound like a rider to me.
(meaning someone who enjoys riding, as opposed to enjoys being seen standing next to a bike).


I haven't had any experience with Ls, but I think I have heard about their petcocks not having a lever, but just a slot to turn with a screw driver.

.

 

[jdvorchak]

Hey, sound like a rider to me.
(meaning someone who enjoys riding, as opposed to enjoys being seen standing next to a bike).


I haven't had any experience with Ls, but I think I have heard about their petcocks not having a lever, but just a slot to turn with a screw driver.

.

I'll have to take a closer look at that petcock. Using a screwdriver doesn't sound like a convenient way to operate it. Certainly not while you're riding.

Yes I ride. I put more miles on motorcycles than in cars for the past 7 years. I have to force myself to drive my Civic just so it won't rot. I filled the 12 gal tank in Sept and yesterday, when I drove the Civic, it still had 1/2 tank! As opposed to burning about 5 gal per week in the bikes. Mainly my Ultra Classic for grocery shopping and errands.

A couple of years ago I told my wife that the laws of physics ceased to exist on a trip to the local Honda dealer. It was 6 miles there and 110 miles back!

 

[Guest]

Maybe this old thread could help?

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/archive/index.php/t-208368.html