I'm too tall

[ADW]

I just bought a 1980 GS850G. I'm 6'6 and I knew it would need some customization to be ridable but I was willing to take the chance because I've always wanted a GS.

Any and all ideas / suggestions on how I could get the GS fitting a 36" inseam are welcome. Thanks for your help!

 

[Steve]

I have the same bike, but I am 'only' 6' 5" and have no problem fitting on the bike.

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[ADW]

Well if you felt you needed more room, what might you do?

 

[Allie]

Study Yoga.

 

[Steve]

Well if you felt you needed more room, what might you do?

Well, since the bike fits so well, I have not felt that I needed any more room.

Note in my sig that my other bike is a GoldWing. Previous bike were a Kawasaki Voyager 1300 and a Kawasaki KZ1300. All HUGE bikes, but I don't feel cramped at all on the 850.

In fact, Allie has seen me on my bike, she made no comment about any size mis-match.

Oh, if you want to get a bigger GS for more room, that won't work. :-k
The 850G and the 1000G or 1100G of the matching year share the same frame and many other parts, so they are exactly the same size.

If you feel that you are sitting a bit too low, I can offer you a double-bucket seat from Saddlemen that I tried, but didn't like because I sat too high. Unfortunately, it will pretty much lock you into one position, but it's a comfortable position.

.

 

[posplayr]

get some longer rear shocks or extend the mounts

 

[Steve]

get some longer rear shocks or extend the mounts

You have to be careful doing that. Because of the simple design of the u-joint, it needs to stay as straight as possible while in operation.
Lengthening the shocks will increase the angle, which will aggravate the cyclic motion of the output shaft.

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[Allie]

In fact, Allie has seen me on my bike, she made no comment about any size mis-match.

.

That was an 850?? I thought it was a CT70...

 

[Guest]

A friend suggests that you could add some foam to he seat to increase the seat height. Yo might consider an optional bike that sits tall in the saddle. Mid 80s Honda V65 Sabre. Perfect for those with long legs, instead of big heads. They are quite fast and you could also get Honda Line sport touring Firing and bags like what came on the early 80s CBX Super Sport.

 

[Big T]

I just bought a 1980 GS850G. I'm 6'6 and I knew it would need some customization to be ridable but I was willing to take the chance because I've always wanted a GS.

Any and all ideas / suggestions on how I could get the GS fitting a 36" inseam are welcome. Thanks for your help!

If you're looking for legroom, you have 2 choices:

1. Taller seat
2. Rear set foot pegs

I'm only 6'4", but I fit on the GS pretty well with 35" inseam

My wife has 38-40" inseams and fits on the GPZ, but it has rearsets from the factory

 

[tkent02]

You sure you didn't get an 850GL?
The Ladies' model is definitely shorter.

 

[Steve]

That was an 850?? I thought it was a CT70...

You sure you didn't get an 850GL?
The Ladies' model is definitely shorter.

True enough. My wife is "vertically-challenged (5' 4") and barely fits her 850L.

.

 

[tkent02]

She's 5' 4'' and you're 7' 9''?? How does that work?

 

[bwringer]

It's also very possible that the seat foam has packed down over the years.

My GS850 started feeling mighty cramped until I rebuilt the front part of the seat with Supercell foam. I was basically sitting directly on the seat pan after a few minutes of riding.

Like so:

The '79-81 GS850G is actually better suited to tall folks than the '82-83 versions -- the seat is flatter and taller.

And of course, make sure you've got a G and not a GL.

 

[Tamara]

True enough. My wife is "vertically-challenged (5' 4") and barely fits her 850L.

.

I'm like that on my 450.

 

[Steve]

She's 5' 4'' and you're 7' 9''?? How does that work?

Quite well, thank you very much.

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[ADW]

Thank you all for the suggestions!

I didn't know about the GL. I'm pretty sure it's an G not GL. The side cover says GS850G.

I've attached a picture if that helps.

 

[Steve]

Yep, it's a "G".

That's the way mine started.
You can see how it ended up by clicking the link in my sig.

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[850 Combat]

It's also very possible that the seat foam has packed down over the years.

My GS850 started feeling mighty cramped until I rebuilt the front part of the seat with Supercell foam. I was basically sitting directly on the seat pan after a few minutes of riding.

Like so:

The '79-81 GS850G is actually better suited to tall folks than the '82-83 versions -- the seat is flatter and taller.

And of course, make sure you've got a G and not a GL.

Yes, and the '83 is much worse than the 1982. More dished and L like. It holds you in one spot. I bought an '83 brand new. It was much much worse than the '81 I owned at the same time. My brother's '82 1100G has a much better seat than my old '83 850G. What was Suzuki thinking?

 

[ADW]

Phew.

Thanks gents.