1982 gs650gl

[Whim Pickens]

Been helping a friend wrench and restore Harleys and haven't been on a bike since a teen...my friend was apparently listening to my comments and found me an 82 650Gl which I've been riding and restoring for the past year.


I'll be paying college tuition(s) for the next decade so $600 for my 650 with new tires and a replacement handlebar sounded like a deal with almost 15000 miles.

Had to join if only to express my appreciation for the site.

Thanks.

 

[Guest]

Nice looking bike. At 600.00 you did well.

 

[Steve]

Nice looking bike. At 600.00 you did well.

On the contrary, at $600,00 you STOLE that thing. :encouragement:

.

 

[VintageLad]

Hey, nice looking bike for the money! I just picked up an identical bike back in april, for $450. Definitely looked a bit rougher than that, and needed a new tire and battery right off the bat.
Fun bike though, and I've learned a lot wrenching on mine so far. Good luck with the new ride, hopefully it doesn't take too much work!

 

[kerrfunk]

Nice bike. I found my way to GSResources Forum when I got my first motorcycle, an 82 GS 550L, in 2008. I lived in the Philly burbs then and rode it year-round. I got an 82 1100GL after a year or so, and later an 85 700EF before settling on my 83 650GL. My only complaint about the 650GL is the tiny gas tank. I get about a hundred miles. But I love my 650GL!!

Welcome!

 

[Whim Pickens]

Thanks.

All credit to my friend who sussed it out...

 

[Whim Pickens]

So far it's been fine mechanically, I can see fixing / replacing the seat and the other cosmetic issues driving that number up.

 

[Whim Pickens]

Thanks. It's been fun so far.

The gentleman I got it from had spare tires and I had to replace the battery, find a clip for the air box, redo the fork seals...the tank is dimpled. The list goes on, but so far nothing too crazy.

 

[Whim Pickens]

Thanks!

I'm really interested in an 1100GL, curious about the difference in the ride.

Would LOVE the black / grey colors...having a hard time finding out if the 650 came in black / grey.

My friend found a pair of black / grey sides with the 650 badges but I suspect they are 1100s with the badges swapped.

In any event, I'm psyched with the look of the 650 GL. After digging through the various models and their differences I think its the best style - wise.

 

[Who Dat?]

Thanks!

I'm really interested in an 1100GL, curious about the difference in the ride.

Would LOVE the black / grey colors...having a hard time finding out if the 650 came in black / grey.

My friend found a pair of black / grey sides with the 650 badges but I suspect they are 1100s with the badges swapped.

In any event, I'm psyched with the look of the 650 GL. After digging through the various models and their differences I think its the best style - wise.

I don't know if the 650 ever came in black and gray, but I can guarantee that the 1100 side covers will NOT fit on a 650.

 

[Whim Pickens]

I don't know if the 650 ever came in black and gray, but I can guarantee that the 1100 side covers will NOT fit on a 650.

Thanks, it's been a bear trying to find anything definitive on the subject...

...I can cross off THAT possibility.

 

[kerrfunk]

Kerrfunk compares the 650GL and 1100GL

Kerrfunk compares the 650GL and 1100GL

I'm really interested in an 1100GL, curious about the difference in the ride.

1. My history: I learned how to ride on a 550L, in 2008. I loved it, and after about a year I was hungry for more power. ddaniels was selling his 1100GL, so I bought it.

Three major differences: the 1100 is much more massive than the 550. The 1100 is much more powerful than the 550. And the 550 is a chain, and the 1100G is a shaft.

I liked the 1100GL, but as time went on I missed the nimbleness of the 550. A good part of that was the increase in weight. And nothing can stop an 1100 shaftie. After a while I just decided the 1100 was more power than I cared for, and I found a 650GL (I'll skip over the 85 700EF part of my history... sport bike, and I discovered I preferred the cruiser).

By now I knew I liked the L style, and I knew I liked the shaft (G) (although someone else will have to explain how the chain and shaft drives feel different). Power-wise, I know the 850 is very popular, but I looked up the specs and saw that the 850 and the 1100 are very similar in weight. The 650 is much closer to the 550.

Knowing what I know now, I would like to actually TRY somebody's 850GL or 850G.
I know Suzuki made a 750GL, and I think that might be the best one for my checklist of power and drive and weight, but as far as I know the 750GL is a pretty rare bird. And so a 650GL is what I ride.

I rented a 200* Suzuki DL-650 V-Strom a few weeks ago, so I got to compare a few other characteristics. The biggest thing I noticed, I think, was the fuel injection. You look at the throttle funny and the fuel injector knows it and it feeds the carbs and you jump forward. I also think I missed my shaftie.

In any event, I'm psyched with the look of the 650 GL. After digging through the various models and their differences I think its the best style - wise.

I love the L. I like the stepped seat, the chrome (not too much, not too little), and the position of the infamous buckhorn handlebars.
My only complaint about the 650GL is its tiny gas tank. I get about a hundred miles.

Did I cover your questions?

 

[Whim Pickens]

1. My history: I learned how to ride on a 550L, in 2008. I loved it, and after about a year I was hungry for more power. ddaniels was selling his 1100GL, so I bought it.

Three major differences: the 1100 is much more massive than the 550. The 1100 is much more powerful than the 550. And the 550 is a chain, and the 1100G is a shaft.

I liked the 1100GL, but as time went on I missed the nimbleness of the 550. A good part of that was the increase in weight. And nothing can stop an 1100 shaftie. After a while I just decided the 1100 was more power than I cared for, and I found a 650GL (I'll skip over the 85 700EF part of my history... sport bike, and I discovered I preferred the cruiser).

By now I knew I liked the L style, and I knew I liked the shaft (G) (although someone else will have to explain how the chain and shaft drives feel different). Power-wise, I know the 850 is very popular, but I looked up the specs and saw that the 850 and the 1100 are very similar in weight. The 650 is much closer to the 550.

Knowing what I know now, I would like to actually TRY somebody's 850GL or 850G.
I know Suzuki made a 750GL, and I think that might be the best one for my checklist of power and drive and weight, but as far as I know the 750GL is a pretty rare bird. And so a 650GL is what I ride.

I rented a 200* Suzuki DL-650 V-Strom a few weeks ago, so I got to compare a few other characteristics. The biggest thing I noticed, I think, was the fuel injection. You look at the throttle funny and the fuel injector knows it and it feeds the carbs and you jump forward. I also think I missed my shaftie.

I love the L. I like the stepped seat, the chrome (not too much, not too little), and the position of the infamous buckhorn handlebars.
My only complaint about the 650GL is its tiny gas tank. I get about a hundred miles.

Did I cover your questions?

So far so good, thanks.

Interested to read about the weight difference of the 1100...

...also your preference (?) for the stock handlebars. Feels like a wheelbarrow to me!

 

[Whim Pickens]

Some pictures...

Some pictures...

Had access to a polishing wheel so I took a few pieces off...

What a difference.

 

[Whim Pickens]

Progress...

 

[Whim Pickens]

May seem silly, but I really like this sticker on the shaft!

An 82 with an 84 Olympic sticker...? Stock?