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GS 850 rebuild

  • Thread starter Thread starter wdavie
  • Start date Start date
W

wdavie

Guest
Hi Guys I'm looking at building a GS 850 from scratch, have the frame, engine wheels, swinging arm etc. I am now thinking of building it as an L model and wondered if the frame is the same on an L model, ie would the seat etc fit straight on. Cheers
Wayne
 
I'm pretty sure the frames are different between the G and the GL, but somebody may correct me. Why would you want to build the L(adies) model anyway.
 
I could compare two of the three I have at home, but I'm not sure it would be a valid comparison. There were changes made for the '82 model year and what I have to compare is an '82 L and two '81 Gs, so I won't be able to tell if any differences are due to the G vs L or '81 vs '82. :o

What I can tell you is that the two frames have different part numbers. Looking at the two fiche side by side, it appears that most of the differences are in mounting tabs for the stuff that hangs from it, basic frame and bracing appears to be the same.

.
 
Steve said:
I could compare two of the three I have at home, but I'm not sure it would be a valid comparison. There were changes made for the '82 model year and what I have to compare is an '82 L and two '81 Gs, so I won't be able to tell if any differences are due to the G vs L or '81 vs '82. :o

What I can tell you is that the two frames have different part numbers. Looking at the two fiche side by side, it appears that most of the differences are in mounting tabs for the stuff that hangs from it, basic frame and bracing appears to be the same.

.
Click to expand...

I always thought the headstock was a slightly different angle, but as usual, when I think bad things happen.
 
doctorgonzo said:
I always thought the headstock was a slightly different angle, ...
Click to expand...
That might be one of the differences, but I don't know why. They were after a certain "look" with the L models, and mostly acheived it with the leading-axle forks, teardrop tank, stepped seat and shorter mufflers.

.
 
Steve said:
They were after a certain "look" with the L models, and mostly acheived it with the leading-axle forks, teardrop tank, stepped seat and shorter mufflers.

.
Click to expand...

...pullback bars, and smaller rear wheel (16") too :)
 
The G and GL frames are most definitely different in several important ways.

Most driveline parts will interchange, of course, but forks, tank, sidecovers, seat, fenders, and airbox do not. The brake calipers will interchange, but the caliper brackets do not.
 
L & G are vastly different. G is a touring bike, L is more of a cruiser. L seat is lower than a G and is a king and queen seat whereas the G is mostly flat - only a slight rise between riders. Frame and body parts are not interchangeable, a few engine parts are. G tank is a bigger, different shape and mounts differently. Side covers and fenders are different - L is chrome, G is painted. Don't know what you have, but 80-81 are really only interchangeable mostly within those years/models depending on the part. Same with late 70's and 82's-83's. Babbitts.com has a good fiche with interchange.

Lots of parts on eBay. Also try the salvage yard search engines like Uneedapart.com, tricountymotorcycles.com, Mrcycleparts.com. I have an 81 GS850G (see pic below) and that's where I get my parts. PM me with any questions. Glad to help.

Jim
 
Last edited:
Depending on what you want to do, that's not entirely correct. There are some minor model year differences in the engines themselves, but any 1980+ GS850 G or GL engine will interchange with any other. The driveshaft flange is very slightly different on 1982-83 models, but as long as you get the driveshaft along with the engine, it will work.

The swingarms and final drives are the same between G and GL models, too.
 
Thanks for all the info guys looks like I'll just go with my original plan to build a standard G bike. I'm in the UK so sourcing GL parts is a bit more difficult. I've already encountered the problem Brian mentioned re the flange on a bobber I'm building, had to swap the flanges around from the two engines. I'll post pics of bobber once finished and the new build as and when I start it. Thanks again
icon14.gif

Wayne
 
Last edited:
If you run into specific interchange questions (will this fit that?), post them in the forum -- I left out a lot of details above, but these bikes are pretty well understood.
 
I have a 79 850G parts bike all torn down. Good tank, seatpan and foam, front end, rear end, switches ect. let me know what you might need.

Jim
 
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