Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

GS850 is it worth it?

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

    GS850 is it worth it?

    I'm looking at a1979 GS850. It doesn't run, wiring is bad, possible compression issues... Seller is asking 550. Is it worth that?

    #2
    No.........
    Ed

    To measure is to know.

    Mikuni O-ring Kits For Sale...https://www.thegsresources.com/_foru...ts#post1703182

    Top Newbie Mistakes thread...http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...d.php?t=171846

    Carb rebuild tutorial...https://gsarchive.bwringer.com/mtsac...d_Tutorial.pdf

    KZ750E Rebuild Thread...http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...0-Resurrection

    Comment


      #3
      Ditto what Nessism said.
      Larry

      '79 GS 1000E
      '93 Honda ST 1100 SOLD-- now residing in Arizona.
      '18 Triumph Tiger 800 (gone too soon)
      '19 Triumph Tiger 800 Christmas 2018 to me from me.
      '01 BMW R1100RL project purchased from a friend, now for sale.

      Comment


        #4
        What's it worth?

        Comment


          #5
          It's probably worth that in parts if it hasn't been hacked up.

          Look through this thread. It was started with intent to answer the question you asked.

          This area is to be used only for general GS topics. For non-GS related topics, join the Off-Topic usergroup. <b>Technical questions are not to be posted here.</b>
          Roger

          Us states ridden (2024_10_06 18_48_44 UTC).png

          Comment


            #6
            Also, you're not too far away. Look at this. They say it's an 80 but I'm thinking 79. Hacked up but runs. Come grab it and the one you mentioned and maybe between the two you'll have a good bike.

            Roger

            Us states ridden (2024_10_06 18_48_44 UTC).png

            Comment


              #7
              Originally posted by Sam View Post
              What's it worth?
              You have provided very little information about the vehicle so there is no way for us to determine value. If forced to place a value I'd say it's a parts bike which is worth about $200, assuming it's close at hand.
              Last edited by Nessism; 05-16-2018, 01:20 PM.
              Ed

              To measure is to know.

              Mikuni O-ring Kits For Sale...https://www.thegsresources.com/_foru...ts#post1703182

              Top Newbie Mistakes thread...http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...d.php?t=171846

              Carb rebuild tutorial...https://gsarchive.bwringer.com/mtsac...d_Tutorial.pdf

              KZ750E Rebuild Thread...http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...0-Resurrection

              Comment


                #8
                Originally posted by Sam View Post
                I'm looking at a1979 GS850. It doesn't run, wiring is bad, possible compression issues... Seller is asking 550. Is it worth that?
                No. I paid $900 CAD ($700 USD) for a perfectly running GS650G.

                If it was me, and you liked the bike, I'd offer him $900 if he gets it running to a level your mechanic approves of. I tried that on my first GS650G lead, where there was an obvious hole in the exhaust and intermittent failures in the brake lights - I offered him $200 over asking to fix those issues (his son was a professional bike mechanic), and he refused, and I walked.
                Last edited by Admiral Beez; 05-16-2018, 12:05 PM.
                1982 Suzuki GS650G

                Comment


                  #9
                  I may get flamed for this, but if I were in the market for a GS850, I would definitely get a 1980 or later model. It's really a different bike with the CV carbs.

                  And $550 for a one-year model that's not running and hacked up... nope, that's fantasy land. If it's in the usual crappy condition with random stuff missing, that's "pay someone to haul it away" territory.

                  Of course, if it looks gorgeous and just needs a little wiring and carb sorting to get going, that's different. The wiring on these things isn't that complex.
                  1983 GS850G, Cosmos Blue.
                  2005 KLR685, Aztec Pink - Turd II.3, the ReReReTurdening
                  2015 Yamaha FJ-09, Magma Red Power Corrupts...
                  Eat more venison.

                  Please provide details. The GSR Hive Mind is nearly omniscient, but not yet clairvoyant.

                  Celeriter equita, converteque saepe.

                  SUPPORT THIS SITE! DONATE TODAY!

                  Co-host of "The Riding Obsession" sport-touring motorcycling podcast at tro.bike!

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Originally posted by bwringer View Post
                    I may get flamed for this, but if I were in the market for a GS850, I would definitely get a 1980 or later model. It's really a different bike with the CV carbs.

                    And $550 for a one-year model that's not running and hacked up... nope, that's fantasy land. If it's in the usual crappy condition with random stuff missing, that's "pay someone to haul it away" territory.

                    Of course, if it looks gorgeous and just needs a little wiring and carb sorting to get going, that's different. The wiring on these things isn't that complex.
                    People like the '79 for the kick start. I don't mind the points, either, but I'm not a giant fan of them. I don't like the incandescent light bulb, which is reasonably easy to update, and I certainly don't like the one year only stator and rotor. The throttle pull is much lighter and nicer on the CVs, which is important on a tour. The tendency for the CVs to compensate for elevation changes is also an improvement for touring. I've got a vrey pretty 850G in Maine that I haven't used for a number of years. 10000 miles. Ran perfectly when parked, after a coast to coast trip under my brother in law, but not seen since. Its in my nephew's garage. At worst a carb cleaning, battery, and who knows. It may have sat long enough to have developed braking issues. All extremely easy to remedy. I'll do $600 on that. Cosmetically brilliant, except for a Sargent seat cover, and a slightly tweeked front fender from a deer strike on Lolo Pass. It had 1300 miles when I bought it (for way too much money), and looked new. I let my brother in law put all the miles on it, on the family tours I was hosting at the time. I switched seats with my 1000G, because I didn't like the Sargent cover I had put on the 1000. A Pit Replica seat cover, which looks stock, will go with it.
                    sigpic Too old, too many bikes, too many cars, too many things

                    Comment

                    Working...
                    X