Topic: gs850?? perfect commuter?

[laminarflowone]

So, I was taking the scenic route home when I saw a gs850 in pretty good condition for sale on the side of the road.  I ended up calling up just for s&g, and the guy only wants 650 for it (a 1980 with 7k miles and running condition).  I'm seriously considering making it my new commuter and selling my current one (a 2004 ninja 250).  Thoughts on this bike?


-Josh

[BeSeeingYou]

Great bikes with a bulletproof engine. Can't beat the price.  Here is a little info on the model.

http://www.suzukicycles.org/GS-series/GS850G.shtml

[Retro Rocket]

Great bikes with a bulletproof engine. Can't beat the price.

HAHA Steve, you modded your post as i wrote mine... Excellent engines and with those miles i would say its a bargain...

Mick

[BeSeeingYou]

Great bikes with a bulletproof engine. Can't beat the price.

HAHA Steve, you modded your post as i wrote mine... Excellent engines and with those miles i would say its a bargain...

Mick

I was getting it mixed up with the GS1000. 

[Retro Rocket]

Great bikes with a bulletproof engine. Can't beat the price.

HAHA Steve, you modded your post as i wrote mine... Excellent engines and with those miles i would say its a bargain...

Mick

I was getting it mixed up with the GS1000. 

Even the GS1000 is around 15 kilo's heavier than the CB 750. CB750 dry weight is 218 Kilo's and the GS1000 is 233....

Mick

[bryanj]

Known in UK as a UJM

reliable
shaft drive
nothing inspiring

[laminarflowone]

Ah, so the consensus is that I should sell my ninja 250 and replace it with this guy?  I've had the 250 for a year and commute on it all year long.  I really like that the bike is happy at high revs and it is so fun at speeds under 50mph, but it when I go on the highway to go to the grocery store, the wind just tosses it around and doesn't have much more 'oomph' to get out of hairy situations.

I'm still on the fence...Anyone used both or either bikes for commuting? 

[kirkn]

No real consensus I don't think.  Both are good but both are different enough to be a case of "what do YOU want". 

I owned a GS850L (the cruiser version, not the 'standard' G) a few years back.  Great bikes.  Other than gimpy stators (whose fixes are well known and well documented), they're bulletproof for what you want.

I owned a '97 Ninja 250 this past summer and commuted on it nearly daily.  Great bikes.  Light, incredibly zippy/zingy, 75mpg yet still had 100+mph top speed.  My commute is 12 miles of surface streets thru the 'burbs though so the Ninja excelled.

Apples and bananas, really.

If you do a lot of highway riding and prefer the heavier weight at the expense of 40 vs. 75 mpg, go for the Suzuki.  If you don't do that much, really, of highway riding, keep the Ninja.

Still, the Suzuki has the whole 'vintage' thing going for it while the Ninja is still new enough to be just another used bike.

Apples and bananas.  Both good, both good for you, just depends what you want/need.

Kirk

[laminarflowone]

Yep. 

Owned a GS850L (the cruiser version, not the 'standard' G) a few years back.  Great bikes.  Other than gimpy stators (whose fixes are well known and well documented), they're bulletproof for what you want.

Owned a '97 Ninja 250 this past summer and commuted on it.  Great bikes.  Light, incredibly zippy/zingy, 75mpg yet still had 100+mph top speed.  My commute is 12 miles of surface streets thru the 'burbs though so the Ninja excelled.

Apples and bananas, really.

If you do a lot of highway riding and prefer the heavier weight at the expense of 40 vs. 75 mpg, go for the Suzuki.  If you don't do that much, really, of highway riding, keep the Ninja.

Still, the Suzuki has the whole 'vintage' thing going for it while the Ninja is still new enough to be just another used bike.

Apples and bananas.  Both good, both good for you, just depends what you want/need.

Kirk

Ah, thanks Kirk.  I think I'm going to keep my ninja as my commuter because I only use it on the highway maybe once a week and predominately commute on 35-40mph roads.  I already have my cb750 (which is still being rebuilt.....btw) to satisfy my  'soulful' and fun all-round bike.  But, that gs850 sure is tempting....

[ken736cc]

I had one of these when they were new. I named it " the incredible Hulk" . Make sure it is a G model. These have the large tank and big comfy seat. I cannot speak for the L model. Not my style. I still remember the smooth ride and torquey ? engine. Nice bikes.

[cb650PK]

Had  81 850g, rode like Cadillac, no chain to lube or adjust, good brakes, great on the highway, most comfortable bike I ever owned. Self canceling turn signals and gear position indicator. CV carbs with very light pull on the throttle. Kind of miss that bike. No resale value, you can buy really nice one for $800, which is ridicules.

[kirkn]

+1 on the gear position indicator.

Now, I've been riding for nearly 40 years and never thought I'd like a "gear position indicator"...  I mean, it seems like such a "beginner rider" thing.

But, I'll admit right now - I loved it!  Seems like ALL the street Suzooks of that era must've had one, because my '82 850L did, my '83 300L did and my current '85 700E does.  I get a kick out of keeping watch on exactly which gear I'm in approaching lights, corners, or cruising on low-speed streets.  Who'da thunk it.

Kirk  

[The_Crippler]

First bike was a GS850:



I regret all the time that I sold it.

[kirkn]

Hey, that's the exact 850L I had, minus all the fairing/bags/trunk.  Same style, same color.  As said, great bikes, but maybe not the best 30 ~ 40mph commuter the Ninja is...

[The_Crippler]

Did yours have the welded-on bus-exhaust turndowns?  Really limited run on those sweet babies.

[dcil]

I had a 1982 gs750. Most reliable bike I've ever owned. Plenty of power, descent mpg, a blast to ride.

[MRieck]

 I always thought about boring that engine out, big valves, head work etc and making people crap themselves when you blew them away. That engine is an anvil.

[Sam Green Racing]

Hey Mike, are you thinking another Juha.

Sam