Gs850g vs 650g

[GSXR7ED]

I've enjoyed reading this thread. Thanks to everyone for their input.

My bike history is short and I've only ever ridden a 750. Definitely, middle of the road and great for long trips and nimble.

Ed

[Admiral Beez]

Well, that's a bit of apples to mangos, as any air-cooled bike these days is not a performance driven design.

I'm not bashing the GS650 at all, I think it's a great bike. I just don't think that it makes close to 72hp.

True, though I never considered my GS650G as a performance machine.

I can't find dyno results for the GS650G, but here they are for the GS750

https://www.totalmotorcycle.com/downloads/dynocharts/dynocharts-suzuki-80-85GS750?d=1

Maximum power output: 72 hp/ 8.500 rpm

But the claimed hp is only 63? https://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/mo...gs750%2076.htm

[Nessism]

I’ve never ridden a GS850G, but find me an air-cooled bike made in the 21st century of 850cc or less that makes more power than a GS650G. I certainly can’t find one.

I think you are referring to shaft drive bikes right? Anyway, the shaft drive Kawasaki 750N makes more power than the GS650. Displacement is about 50cc more so it's logical for it to. https://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/mo...%20Spectre.htm

[Admiral Beez]

Let's consider the technical differences of the GS650G and GS850G. For one, the GS650G has plain bearings while the 850 has roller bearings. I assume the plain ones are more at risk if oil gets low or dirty. And the GS650G has its drive shaft to transmission output more compactly located in order to reduce weight and length. Given the latter, I am surprised that the 650 isn't much shorter than the 850.

If you want the heavier frame of the GS850G, why not go for the GS1100G engine?

[GSXR7ED]

^^That bike looks delicious! Lol


Ed

[Steve]

If you want the heavier frame of the GS850G, why not go for the GS1100G engine?

If you really want to get down to details, keep in mind that the '80/'81 GS850G and the '80/'81 GS1000G share the same frame part number. The "L" versions also share their own part numbers.

Along the same line, the '82/'83 850 and the '82/'83 1100G also share the same frame number, but it's different than the earlier years.

This means that there is the same amount of room on the 850s and 1000/1100s.

To add a little spice to the mix, the larger bike of each year actually weighs 10-15 pounds LESS than the 850.
Factor in more power, the larger bike is actually the better deal. Many think that the 1100G (and the fully-equipped GK) were probably the best of what was available.

But, ... your original question was 650 vs. 850, and here we are, spending even MORE of your money.

.

[wymple]

I searched around the net some, and almost all reliable sources had the GS850g running around 12.32 in the quarter mile. The best I saw on a GS650G was above 13 seconds, I saw chain drive GS650's as low as 12.7-12.9.
So feeling punchier, weight or not, doesn't make it so. My nephew has an all electric car that FEELS really fast on acceleration. My son has a 1/2 ton Chevy extended cab pickup that FEELS slower. When they squared off the truck kicked the EV's butt, pulled away clean. The market for the 850 was never the high performance bunch, anyway. It was touted as a gentleman's touring bike and the market target was conservative riders middle age and up. The GS650 was well faster than my XS Yamaha twins, but not in a high gear roll on. My GS850 pulls away from the Yamaha in a high gear roll on. The GS850 is torquier with a wider power band and I find it better on the road. It is heavier than the 1100's to be sure, but that was never a concern at Suzuki to begin with. Their priority was reliability, and I haven't seen any bike more reliable out of the gate. Lots of us like our GS850 just fine.

[razorbacksrule]

I've owned an 1100g but it was 30 years ago so it's hard to compare it to the 650s I owned a few years back. Also I know where there's an 1100g with full windjammer package for sale . It's in decent shape but it's been setting several years and he wants $2000 for it and won't budge a dime . Here in the last week two more 850l models have been posted for sale in my area really leaning towards an 850 right now .

[Burque73]

I've owned an 1100g but it was 30 years ago so it's hard to compare it to the 650s I owned a few years back. Also I know where there's an 1100g with full windjammer package for sale . It's in decent shape but it's been setting several years and he wants $2000 for it and won't budge a dime . Here in the last week two more 850l models have been posted for sale in my area really leaning towards an 850 right now .

I've owned three 850 G's, two rideable, and an 1100L and there is a world of difference to me more so between the L and G style, let alone an 1100 and an 850. I love the girth and feel of a G. Either displacement is adequate for my use alone or two up, but I'd like a little more power so I'm on the lookout for an 82 1100 engine. Not avidly searching, just casually looking at this point. Ideally I stumble onto an 1100 GK with stock bags and fairing, in similar condition to my current 850, and just trade. Nobody in their right mind would do that but a guy can dream right?

The heavier presence of an 850 not being blown around as easily on the freeway would appeal to me as a comparison between these two bikes. I had a KLR 650 or two over the years but that's not really a good comparison for this discussion. I will say that my passengers have preferred the L's seat which leaves them more in a position to see over my head though.

[razorbacksrule]

Been doing a lot off online searching and found a super nice 1980
550l it's the closest to me by far . Might go look at it too !

[Steve]

Hopefully you are not a very large person. The 550L is a bit smaller than the 650, and has about 2/3 the power. I know there are several that really like them, but the lack of power and higher engine speeds on the road pretty much relegate them to commuter use for me.

.

[GSXR7ED]

Hopefully you are not a very large person. The 550L is a bit smaller than the 650, and has about 2/3 the power. I know there are several that really like them, but the lack of power and higher engine speeds on the road pretty much relegate them to commuter use for me.

.

I sat on Cheryl's 550 and it felt tiny...I'm 5'7" and weigh 190+ and prefer a 750.

I could handle an 850 since my "T" is close to 500 lbs. But I do like streamline...so the 850 may have too much girth.


Ed

[Admiral Beez]

I like the GS650G for its relative light weight, shaft drive, air cooling and power over 60 hp. That’s about all I need. When I was looking for a GS bike I saw a GS850G, but thought it was much heavier, and to my taste the squared tail on the 850 isn’t as nice as the sloping tail on the 650.

[GSJim]

I agree with the Admiral. When I bought the 650G new in 1983, McBride Cycle (long gone) had the 650G and the 850G sitting side by side on the sales floor. I'm a small guy so the 650G just fit better. At the time I planned to use it mostly for commuting and occasional weekend runs with a bag full of camera stuff. I did a few two-up rides with my wife and it was OK for the back roads, but not the expressways. Solo riding was OK everywhere and I used to do a couple of 600 mile a day trips every summer. I always thought that if I was planning to do a lot of expressway riding that I would skip the 850 and go all the way to a faired and bagged 1100G.

Jim

[razorbacksrule]

Well the more I look the more I see for sale an 1100g just turned up. So many different ones close enough to go look at now .