1982 Suzuki GS850G from United States of America

Summary:

Best machine on the road

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...

Would you buy another motorcycle from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 6th November, 2016

13th Nov 2016, 22:43

Totally agree, best machine to be harnessed by man... I had a clean 79 one that I eventually turned into a café racer... twas my best friend until she was stolen from outside my apartment... but please don't fret, I'm actually back in the market for another... maybe keep it original or maybe a bobber conversion.

Anyway, safe riding to you and you friends... greetings from Ireland.

1979 Suzuki GS850G from Canada

Summary:

Great old Geezer!

General Comments:

Bought the bike from the original owner's wife in the summer of 2014. It had been sitting in a garage under a tarp, on the centre stand for 25 years. It wasn't seized. The paint and seat were mint. The tires were surprisingly good.

Rebuilt the carbs, forks, calipers, master cylinders, new points and condensers, new plugs, lots of other little things, lots of elbow grease.

This summer I've finally got it running well after replacing the rings and gaskets and honing the cylinders, which were pretty glazed. I love this bike! I was 18 years old when it was built. I need to replace the original exhaust soon, but overall it's been a great restoration project. Bought it for $500.00, put about $1000.00 into it in new parts. I ride along and grin at those guys who spend $20,000.00 on their Harley's which everyone and their grandmother has. Not too many good old Geezers out there. I'm going to enjoy mine for a long time, God willing!

Would you buy another motorcycle from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 11th June, 2016

1980 Suzuki GS850G from Republic of Ireland

Summary:

I'd buy another, but I don't need to

Faults:

There were many miles on this bike when I got it, but it had been well maintained by the previous owners, so there wasn't a particular downside to that. I already knew the mileage wasn't a real factor, it was how often the oil had been changed that counted. I knew the previous owners didn't thrash the bike very much.

In the 100,000 miles or so I put on it, the original cycle parts; frame, driveline, forks, electrics, etc, just carried on doing what they do. Only now are the front forks at the end of life, and they can be re-bushed and re-chromed if I want to do that.

I have a stock of spares built up, so will swap out the forks.

The usual Achilles heel on these is the reg-rec, and from what I found on the GSResources site, it's caused by the form of shunt regulation that causes excess current to be dumped back through the stator windings, thus ensuring the stator is under maximum load, especially when you run with no lights on. Paradoxically, you have to have the headlamp on to give the stator an easier time, by using some of its output and not letting the reg-rec dump it all back into the windings. A thirty year old stator doesn't take kindly to this.

There is now a newer design of reg-rec from Shindengen, known as the SH-775, made for Polaris ATVs, which gets around this problem and makes the stator run cooler. I've fitted one of these so will see how it pans out.

Owner stupidity can kill the engine - I was in the habit of letting it warm up for five minutes on the centre stand every morning, but one day I went to leave too quickly, jammed it into gear and twisted a crank journal (pressed-together crank) because of cold oil clutch drag.

That engine awaits stripdown, and the bike now has an American import engine that came over in a container full of Mid-West cruisers. The replacement engine now has over 30K on it, and many years of life in it yet.

General Comments:

1980 saw the rectification of the dreadful brakes of the late 70s models. Slotted discs, larger calipers and sintered pads finally put paid to the dreaded wet weather braking syndrome. It was really bad on the '70s bikes, but while not perfect on the 80s ones, it was much improved and predictable.

Would you buy another motorcycle from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 12th June, 2014

13th Nov 2016, 22:38

I also had the pleasure of owning this beauty of a bike, it was indeed my favourite of all the bikes I've had over many years and many different styles of riding. I had lost the back end on this crappy road I travelled on to work, but other than that I could not fault the machine, it started every morning cold or wet (the only weather we Irish know) and delivered me wherever and before time haha.

But the saddest thing I've experienced was having her stolen from outside my flat... I hope they went face first into a lamp post f***in scum... but I've been finding it hard to find a nice one since I've come back to the market for one again... all hail the mighty 850...

30th Jun 2018, 04:09

Have a 1979 GS 850 G in mint condition. Looks like a 3 year old bike. Thinking of buying another one, a 1980 that does not have the chrome fender or the kick starter.