Updated photos of my '82 GS850L

[Rocketman]

Here's some new photos of my '82 GS850L. Thanks to Steve from Southwest Ohio for suggesting the new GIVI windshield. I bought the 16" one, and wish I got the 19" model, but it looks and works great. Thanks to RenoBruce for the VDO Oil guage. Thanks to Chris at FlatOut Motorcycles for the new triple mount chrome case guards, and the SHINY new "Gold" Suzuki tank and side cover emblems. And thanks to all the GS members for your help and advice over this past summer helping to resurrect my baby. Enjoy!

 

[Rocketman]

Here's a couple more....

Here's a couple more....

 

[beby99]

She's a looker thats for sure....nice job man.

 

[KGB]

Nice looking bike!!

What horns did you use?

 

[Deesel]

Nice looking GLZ!

 

[bwringer]

I always liked the color combos on the 82-83 GS shafties. The black/gray is sooooo elegant!

 

[Guest]

That looks great! I love those 850's!! I used to have one back in the day, same year. I beat the snot out of that bike and never had a problem.
Nice job!!

 

[Rocketman]

Thanks for the compliments everyone. I bought those horns to replace the wimpy factory ones the first day I got the bike. Can't recall the manufacturer, but later today if I get a minute to breath I'll see whose name is on them. They're loud as hell anyway! I also liked the black & gray combo, rather than the maroon or blue (which aren't bad, but black always works). Have some minor chips on one side of the frame cover. I don't need a new cover, but the gray decal with the gold pinstripes is no longer available. Once the snow comes, I might bring it to my local body shop guy and see what he can do to match the other side which is in perfect shape. After all this time, can't think of much more the bike needs, so time to settle down and ride...........finally.

 

[bgmart450]

Looks very nice (for an 'L') :-D Maybe mine will come to close 1/2 of that cosmetically.....

Way to go keeping the classics on the road!

 

[jimcor]

Looks very nice (for an 'L') :-D Maybe mine will come to close 1/2 of that cosmetically.....

Way to go keeping the classics on the road!

It really is a beauty. I really love the 850 color schemes. Gotta luv a factory choppa

 

[ron bayless]

Looks very nice (for an 'L') :-D Maybe mine will come to close 1/2 of that cosmetically.....

Way to go keeping the classics on the road!

WHATS THE "L" COMMENT! I RIDE AN L MYSELF.THYE ARE THE MOST CRUISER LOOKING WHICH IS MORE TO MY TASTE.I GOT RID OT THE HUMP ON MY SEAT THOUGH.

 

[Road_Clam]

Thanks for the compliments everyone. I bought those horns to replace the wimpy factory ones the first day I got the bike. Can't recall the manufacturer, but later today if I get a minute to breath I'll see whose name is on them. They're loud as hell anyway! I also liked the black & gray combo, rather than the maroon or blue (which aren't bad, but black always works). Have some minor chips on one side of the frame cover. I don't need a new cover, but the gray decal with the gold pinstripes is no longer available. Once the snow comes, I might bring it to my local body shop guy and see what he can do to match the other side which is in perfect shape. After all this time, can't think of much more the bike needs, so time to settle down and ride...........finally.

Great job dude! Feels kinda cool zipping around on a fresh, clean 25 year old bike huh?! People always aske me "what year is your bike?" When I tell them 1982, they just look at my bike in disbelief.
Can you explain the deal with that trick oil temp guage?

 

[Rocketman]

First, to Ron Bayliss-I too like the cruiser look of the "L" model, but to tell the truth, its way more uncomfortable to ride than the "G" model. My lower back and wrists hurt after a while, just because of the seat and handle bar design. I know that can all be changed, and some guys on this forum have done it to perfection, but I'll live with the discomfort to keep the stock look.

Next, to Road_Clam, RenoBruce turned me on to the VDO oil pressure guage. He sells them in chrome, and also (in limited supply) in black. Price was great, and not that you can't live without it, but it dresses the lower end of the bike up a little, looks pretty sharp, and works! Look back under a Search for Oil Pressure Guages and you'll find out how to get one. He also sells them on EBAY, but gives GS-ers a break (like a family discount I guess).

Also I run into the same thing where people can't believe my bike is going on 25 years old, and (sometimes-but not as often as I'd like) runs as good as their bikes. The other night, me and my son went for a ride, and met a guy in a parking lot with a bike so clean and shiny, you almost needed shades on to look at it. To my amazement, it was a 1978 Kawasaki 1100 that looked like it just came of the showroom floor. Perfect from front to back and in between, and the owner was so proud to tell me all about its history and all the sweat and labor he invested to get it that way. Its weird, but guys (or people, not to slight the lady GS-ers!) like us have much more of an emotional attachment to our bikes I think than the guys who just go to the dealer and drop $10-15,000 on rocket racers. I'm sure they love their bikes too, and I take nothing away from their enjoyment of the sport, but not the same way we do having nursed these things back to health, scoured the planet and junkyards for obsolete parts, and kept them alive over the years. Great to be a part of such a great bunch of folks.

Be well, and stay vertical.

Larry

 

[ron bayless]

yes,these old bikes do look very modern.i hated the handlebars, so i changed them.i hated the seat,so i got rid of the hump.but your bike is pristine.most people would probably expect a bike like that to sell for about 5 grand or so.i probably am going to have a couple more of them someday.

 

[bwringer]

A friend of mine here in Indy has an equally immaculate 1982 GS850GL, in the maroon and copper paint scheme.

Anyway, he HAD to change the handlebars -- there's just no other way to actually ride the thing for more than 15 minutes without crippling yourself.

With lower bars, your hips rotate forward a bit, and the seat magically becomes much more comfortable. You're also able to control the bike much better, since your're leaning into the wind a bit instead of hanging on for dear life. The grips on the stock bar are also swept back way too much, leading to severe wrist pain.

As great as these bikes are, they are not collector's items, so feel free to make the modifications needed so you can ride the snot out of it. If it really bothers you, just wrap the original handlebar in something and stash it in your attic so you could switch back if you wanted to for some strange reason.

It's the same story with just about every GS - the stock handlebars were carefully designed to cause agony in a wide variety of people. No one really knows why.

Also, stainless brake lines and upgraded suspension (Progressive shocks) are other modifications that are visible but are really mandatory if you plan to ride the bike hard and/or to and from far away places. If the aesthetics bug you, carefully store the original pieces if you must. But I doubt you'll ever want them back...

 

[Road_Clam]

It's the same story with just about every GS - the stock handlebars were carefully designed to cause agony in a wide variety of people. No one really knows why.

.

Funny comment! I to was peticularly puzzled by the stock, "superbike/buckhorn" wrist wrencher bars......talk about forcing the rider into an ugly riding position.....

 

[Rocketman]

Sorry it took so long to get back to you. The aftermarket horns I've had on my bike for almost 25 years are manufactured by STEBEL. Google the name and I'm sure you'll find a wide variety to choose from. No compressor, just used spade terminals from existing stock horn wires, and mounting holes existing in frame. Loud as the day I bought them.

 

[jimcor]

Funny comment! I to was peticularly puzzled by the stock, "superbike/buckhorn" wrist wrencher bars......talk about forcing the rider into an ugly riding position.....

I like the stock L bars a lot. I guess I'm the only one. Now, I admit it took a couple of years, and two surgeries to feel this way and my arms hang kinda funny, but them really are nice bars. For God sakes don't start talking about the L seat...you'll really hear more than you want to... (jk...after all these years tho' I like the stock L bars just fine.) 8-[

 

[ifly85]

SWEET RIDE Rocketman! Excellent job with that bike.

Do you get any helmet wind buffeting with that windshield? I certainly like the looks without them, but they make long rides so much more comfortable. Yours is pretty good looking too.

 

[Tarbash 27]

Looking good dude, I like my "L" model gs750.