Faults:

Joining gear on rear drive, teeth worn down, had to replace gear for $92.00.

General Comments:

This is by far the most comfortable bike I ever owned, not to mention its reliability. I owned a 1982 GS850G and lost it in a fire. I bought the above Kawi and had it for a year.

I was unhappy with its physical size and found the 82 Suzi online. I traded the Kawi (a 95) for the 82 and have been riding it for over 7 years.

The 5.8 gallon tank is a great asset. I get 45-49 MPG. The biggest thing to do is change the oil and adjust the valves every 4K. Do this and you will ride forever.

I doubt I will ever sell this bike. Why would I, it's been trouble free since I've owned it. Best machine on the road. It will always get you home...

Faults:

Small tear in seat when I bought it (will re-cover the seat).

Slow leak on left fork seal since 32,100, have parts, but not urgent.

General Comments:

This is my second GS850, and first G model. The seat height is a bit high for my 31 inch inseam, but I plan to rectify that when I have the seat rebuilt (I'm looking at a Bill Mayer custom build).

This bike has by far the best seating position of any motorcycle I've ever ridden.

Absolutely reliable even at 30-years-old.

Handles very well for a late 1970s design, though not up to 2010 standards.

Brakes are a bit weak by modern standards, though adequate giving the handling limits of the late 1970s suspension and skinny tires.

This is one luxurious ride. An accurate fuel gauge, self-cancelling turn signals, gear position indicator, huge 5.8 gallon tank and the above-mention comfortable ergos make this one of the best touring bikes of any size.

No real plastic to speak of, this is an honest, real-steel motorcycle that tends to draw admiring glances everywhere it goes, even though it was the most generic of the generic in 1980.