Topic: How were the Suzuki GS850's?

[Shenanigans]

There is a 78? sitting in the drive way of a house 2 streets over from mine. I took a glance at it a while ago while driving by. At that time I did not know what it was and did not see a Honda emblem on the tank so I did not make any inquires. Well it popped up on craigslist and is awful tempting at only 100 bucks. As you can see from the ad its all there.


How were these bikes? Any thing to be worried about? Any one own any?


http://phoenix.craigslist.org/mcy/501022792.html

[bgfootball67]

Great bike, at $100 you can not go wrong!  If I lived closer, it would be in my garage without a second thought!

[medic09]

I agree, at $100 it is worth whatever diversion you get just from playing with it to figure it out.

[pdxPope]

+1

I seem to recall something about the 3-cyl shaft-driven bikes being a little sketchy, but I think the 850 is an inline four (?)

I know that the 1100 is an absolute beast- Goes like a Porsche, handles like an old Volvo! 

Go wave $75 under his nose and see what happens...

-JP

[Kinch]

I have a 1980 GS850L and I love it. Great bike and for that price you can't go wrong.

[azuredesign]

+1

I seem to recall something about the 3-cyl shaft-driven bikes being a little sketchy, but I think the 850 is an inline four (?)

I know that the 1100 is an absolute beast- Goes like a Porsche, handles like an old Volvo! 

Go wave $75 under his nose and see what happens...

-JP

AS I recall '78 was still the 750 triple. The stock 850 4 cylinder came out in 79. They are heavy bikes, but don't handle badly. My 1100 was a decent handling bike, but would understeer( the front end would feel like it was washing out a bit) if you didn't pick a good line through corners. The 850 is pretty similar with a bit less, but plenty of power. Enjoy!

[azuredesign]

No wait, the 750 Suzuki was a 4 cylinder, the Yamaha was a 3. At least that's what I recall...

[kirkn]

PDX - you're thinking of the Yamahas.  Their 3-cylinder machine (750 at first, then bumped to 850 after a few years) were indeed a bit gimpy here & there, esp. 2nd gear woes.  It was the '78 ~ '82 Yamaha XS1100 that 'went like stink but handled like a bad smell'.

The Suzuki inline 4s of that vintage were the best (heresy to a SOHC 750 owner, I suppose).  The first GS750 of '77 was Suzuki's first effort into inline 4-stroke 4's and they got it damn near perfect.  GS1000 came the next year (both 2-valvers) and outshone the KZ1000, XS1100 and CBX as all-around superbikes.

After a few years, they bumped the 2-valver to 850 and intro'd the 4-valve 750 & 1000 (later 1100).

The original "standard" or supersports (E model) were chain drive.  The shaft drive (G or GK) came in standard dress and sylish cruiser (L) dress after a few model years.

Eventually, they could be had in 550, 650, 750, 850, 1000 and 1100 cc slices, depending on year and model.

They had few weaknesses, but among them were a weird-Alice charging circuit that could burn their stators ($$)  however, there are easy fixes available and well documented around in cyberspace.

That one looks like the standard shaft-drive model.  If it's an 850 shaft drive, I think it must be a year or two newer than '78.

For $100, you can hardly go wrong.

[dusterdude]

No wait, the 750 Suzuki was a 4 cylinder, the Yamaha was a 3. At least that's what I recall...

lotsa drugs huh?,thats ok it will all be better soon.

[SteveD CB500F]

I have a UK GS850G which was tested by Roland Brown in the October 2007 edition of Classic & Motorcycle Mechanics. 

It's fast enough (for a 70's bike) but handles like it has the proverbial hinge in the middle.
It's heavy and the shaft does weird things to the handling.

I like it though.



It's for sale too, but at a little more than your Craig's List bike...

[SteveD CB500F]

Forgot to say.

The rear "fairing"/seat hump always breaks off (I see the one in your ad has too) as there is no real handle for lifting the bike onto it's centre stand so most people just heaved on the plastic...

[Shenanigans]

Thanks for all the replies. That kinda info is exactly what I was looking for. I'm gonna head over there soon. I REALLY appreciate the replies.

[azuredesign]

No wait, the 750 Suzuki was a 4 cylinder, the Yamaha was a 3. At least that's what I recall...

lotsa drugs huh?,thats ok it will all be better soon.

Are you requestin' or tellin'??
The only way it's gonna get better soon is if I call Kevorkian! (I kinda like things this way anyhow!)
All best ,
Ben

[pdxPope]

PDX - you're thinking of the Yamahas.  Their 3-cylinder machine (750 at first, then bumped to 850 after a few years) were indeed a bit gimpy here & there, esp. 2nd gear woes.  It was the '78 ~ '82 Yamaha XS1100 that 'went like stink but handled like a bad smell'.

The Suzuki inline 4s of that vintage were the best (heresy to a SOHC 750 owner, I suppose).  The first GS750 of '77 was Suzuki's first effort into inline 4-stroke 4's and they got it damn near perfect.  GS1000 came the next year (both 2-valvers) and outshone the KZ1000, XS1100 and CBX as all-around superbikes.

After a few years, they bumped the 2-valver to 850 and intro'd the 4-valve 750 & 1000 (later 1100).

The original "standard" or supersports (E model) were chain drive.  The shaft drive (G or GK) came in standard dress and sylish cruiser (L) dress after a few model years.

Eventually, they could be had in 550, 650, 750, 850, 1000 and 1100 cc slices, depending on year and model.

They had few weaknesses, but among them were a weird-Alice charging circuit that could burn their stators ($$)  however, there are easy fixes available and well documented around in cyberspace.

That one looks like the standard shaft-drive model.  If it's an 850 shaft drive, I think it must be a year or two newer than '78.

For $100, you can hardly go wrong.

You are absoultely right. I stand corrected.

-JP

[crazypj]

Forgot to say.

The rear "fairing"/seat hump always breaks off (I see the one in your ad has too) as there is no real handle for lifting the bike onto it's centre stand so most people just heaved on the plastic...

yes there is, its the chrome bit bolted to top of left rear shock you can see it in the picture you posted.
 Most people don't know how to put bike on center stand so they break stuff.  the handle should be used o steadyy bike, you push down on stand foot to lift it
 The alternator wiring runs up to the left handle bar and only switches 3 phase when lights are on.
 main reason I  found generators burning out was due to faulty rectifier/regulator caused by using bikes charging system to charge flat battery, it couldn't cope with max output for more than a couple of mins, fried the diodes and allowed battery voltage to stator windings (which overheated them )

[jbailey]

The "Water Buffalo" was a 3 cylinder 2 stroke 750cc. liquid cooled.  That was early seventies.

[Shenanigans]

Went over there a few days ago and the only thing left is the oil under where it sat. I got beat.


Which turns out to just be fine because I just found 2 cb350f's for 400 bucks.  I hope someone does not beat me to them too...

[patricke9]

I know it's an old thread, but good info, looks like I will be picking up a GS850, '80 or '81, P/O couldn't remember for $100 later this week.  It is in great shape but partially disassembled, he was going to cafe it, just wants it out of his garage.  He said it runs great, but not charging & said it's the stator.  Already signed up on the GS Resources forum and have been reading up on the stator/charging issues.  I'll probly just put it back together & ride it as is, looks like I need it as my cb550 might need to come apart to change out the cam chain tensioner.  I'll start a new thread with pics as soon as I get it home.