19th Jul 2013, 21:32

I had a GS850 when stationed in Colorado Springs in 1986. Hit the throttle on a long straightaway, and at 110 mph and climbing, I got scared and backed out. Loved that bike. Should have never sold it after a small wreck that broke my hand. The new owner fixed the dent in the tank and new forks, and away he went. Good luck with yours.

7th Mar 2016, 21:47

I got my 1982 GSL850 cafe racer up to 150! It was still as smooth as it is at 70.

11th May 2016, 01:17

The GS850 is a great bike. Top speed for a good runner is between 125mph to 130mph... Also quarter mile times around 12.3 @ 108mph. A true classic then and now.

11th Aug 2016, 01:46

I live in the land of OZ. My only problem was when the bolts that go into the cush drive snapped. They do not have a part number, 1979 model. I had to manufacture a new set out of some I got from a Kawasaki shaft drive.

Other than that, bullet proof, handled like a dream. I am looking to buy another. Suzuki told me they don't make spares because they don't break. Even when I showed them the parts, they refused to believe me.

16th Sep 2016, 16:09

Good story, but on my 82 GS850G the speedo topped out at 85 mph. How do you knew you "hit" 100 mph?

28th Oct 2017, 15:47

Look at the speedometer, that's how you tell.

21st Jun 2019, 13:54

Actually there was I recall on that; had mine replaced by the dealer in August of 1980 when it had less than 8,000 km. Now has about 160,000 km, starting to use a bit of oil. No major repairs - clutch springs once, a couple of sets of mufflers, lots of tires, stator at about 120,000 km (suspect bad connection after too much riding in the rain caused failure) and set the valves once in a while. Forty years this weekend since my best purchase ever.

Bought another lower mileage 79 for future long distance touring and an 82 L model with 18,000 km for around town.