What are the most beautiful GS models? Aesthetic questions

[storm 64]

I always liked the 1150. The one without the faring lowers.
The 82 GPz 750 was also a attractive motorcycle too.

 

[Nessism]

My opinion, the small bikes look best. 1st gen GS550E. The 1000/1100 bikes look like behemoths to me....and they are!

 

[rphillips]

You got it stormin, that's it, 1150"E" in that color... I've got me confused, I hate when that happens. I's thinking that is Candy Alpine Blue, but now wondering if it may be Space Blue Metallic? I promise I did know back in the mid 80's.

 

[GS1150Pilot]

Something I definitely dislike about the 1150, and even to some degree about my CB900F is the huge and clumsy looking instrument panel.

 

[Rob S.]

Something I definitely dislike about the 1150, and even to some degree about my CB900F is the huge and clumsy looking instrument panel.

That's why the old style '82-'83 11E instruments are so beautiful. :applause:

 

[GS1150Pilot]

I think the small fairing on this one really balances out the front of the bike. I will be a heretic and say that, at least aesthetically, the longer swingarm and larger rear tire also makes the bike look better.

 

[oldGSfan]

I think the small fairing on this one really balances out the front of the bike. I will be a heretic and say that, at least aesthetically, the longer swingarm and larger rear tire also makes the bike look better.

I strongly agree on that fairing, but on a longer swingarm my first reaction is always hey, wait a sec, that looks odd. Hmm the rear fender curve doesn't seem right. Wonder what it's like to ride? But not oh that improves the look of the bike. There's one bike in particular that when stock, appeared to me to have a much too long swingarm - the Indian FTR. I was really liking the bike then whoa, what is going on with that rear wheel hanging waaaaay back there? Sure enough, a quick search showed that the aftermarket is making shorter ones.

Anyway, opinions on subjective aesthetic stuff are fun to talk about, as long as everyone realizes I am the final authority on style

 

[eil]

The GS700ES just feels like the pinnacle of 1980's motorbike aesthetic to me. Part UJM, part muscle-bike, part sport bike and looks to die for.

I WILL own one some day.

 

[zuluwiz]

Strictly my opinion, but,,,,,,,,,,,I always liked the looks of my 81 GS11E. None of the ones following had the same appeal. The best-looking GS of all (IMHO) was the first,: yes, it was the 76 GS750 that I always liked the best. Feel free to disagree, as long as you acknowledge that I'm right.

 

[GS1150Pilot]

The GS700ES just feels like the pinnacle of 1980's motorbike aesthetic to me. Part UJM, part muscle-bike, part sport bike and looks to die for.

I WILL own one some day.

Yep, those are about perfect to look at and, from what I hear, nice bikes all around.

 

[Nessism]

IMG_0446 by nessism, on Flickr

IMG_0447 by nessism, on Flickr

 

[oldGSfan]

I was wrong about tail sections on Suzuki, that 550 looks good, well what I can see of it. Something nice about a jaunty duck tail at the end, a la Kawasaki. Not the droopy ones on the bigger bikes.

 

[rphillips]

Tom, we didn't agree at all at first. I saw your pick on that GS450S & wondered how anybody could ever even tolerate anything like that tail section on any bike. Some of the GS650's shared that same style and I always thought they would look way better if that thing just fell off. The first gen. GS tail sections (turned up at the end like Donald Duck's bill) had style and design. For me "everything" GS's used after that had "Zero" style, they just looked like a generic hood for the tail light.

 

[dorkburger]

This mess....

First ride 2021 by Glen Brenner, on Flickr

 

[GS1150Pilot]

I ended up removing the fairing from my 1150, as I had really wanted an E. The colorways are very appealing in those models.

 

[rphillips]

Me too, had a blue & white "E" model and a red & white ES, with fairing removed. Anybody need a red & white 1150 ES fairing, I'm sure it's still down in the basement someplace.

 

[oldGSfan]

Tom, we didn't agree at all at first. I saw your pick on that GS450S & wondered how anybody could ever even tolerate anything like that tail section on any bike. Some of the GS650's shared that same style and I always thought they would look way better if that thing just fell off. The first gen. GS tail sections (turned up at the end like Donald Duck's bill) had style and design. For me "everything" GS's used after that had "Zero" style, they just looked like a generic hood for the tail light.

Could be the bourbon.

 

[oldGSfan]

Me too, had a blue & white "E" model and a red & white ES, with fairing removed. Anybody need a red & white 1150 ES fairing, I'm sure it's still down in the basement someplace.

I don't mind that fairing if it's the round headlight one. I think someone put on an '83 and it looked pretty good to me. Is it the 'train' headlight size? Hmm. I think the 'mess', in Glen's words, is all behind the fairing on them.

 

[oldGSfan]

Tom, we didn't agree at all at first. I saw your pick on that GS450S & wondered how anybody could ever even tolerate anything like that tail section on any bike. Some of the GS650's shared that same style and I always thought they would look way better if that thing just fell off. The first gen. GS tail sections (turned up at the end like Donald Duck's bill) had style and design. For me "everything" GS's used after that had "Zero" style, they just looked like a generic hood for the tail light.

The rose-tinted glasses and haze of 40-plus years may affect my affection for that GS450S. In the summer of '80, after having been a ski bum up in Mammoth Lakes CA, I went to work on sulfur and oil rigs down by Houma Louisiana - way down in 'Amos Moses' country, "about 45 miles southeast of Thibodaux Louisiana" as the song goes (god bless Jerry Reed). The aim was to save money for college - which promptly went to the roadhouse bartenders and up my nose, oh well. My stepbrother was there and bought a GS450S in black. He almost lost his life on it, being a knucklehead. It was much faster than I expected it to be, and I liked the looks - still do.

 

[Rob S.]

Or just remove the lowers so more of the engine is visible.