Is the GS850G and the GS1000G the same bike?

[Noreg]

I am looking at a GS850G, looks pretty original, and it has hardbags and luggage rack. Can I take the bags and the mirrors of the other bike?

Can the exhaust from a GS850 be used on a GS1000G?

https://www.finn.no/mc/all/ad.html?finnkode=157652066 <- this is the bike in question. Is the exhaust and mirrors original?

Its the same year as mine too.

If like, most of the parts are interchangable then it would probably be a great second bike.

Need to wait until Im back at work.

And is the saddle the same? I think I have a 650g on mine.

[Grimly]

Prettty much the same bikes apart from the obvious.
To the best of my knowledge the frame, cycle parts (wheels, suspension, bodywork), electrics and just about everything is the same between them in the same years.
Unfortunately, the obvious compatability stops short of being able to upgrade the 850 engine to 1000 simply by swapping anything on the engines. It requires an entire engine swap to do that.

[2BRacing]

The mirrors are original, and they even have the vibration dampers as well. The exhausts are not original, the end pieces are not the same as original mufflers (silencers). There is a clamp-joint onto the header pipes, whereas the originals were welded there.

The luggage rack will fit onto your 1000G with no problems. Not 100% sure about the exhaust - the spacing between the exhaust ports may be wider on your bike, but in general fitting should be close between the two models.

The saddle is the same on the two models.

[salty_monk]

It's possible the head pipes will be a different diameter from yours. Spacing should be about the same.

Apart from the engine I think everything else is exactly the same for a given year...

[Noreg]

Prettty much the same bikes apart from the obvious.
To the best of my knowledge the frame, cycle parts (wheels, suspension, bodywork), electrics and just about everything is the same between them in the same years.
Unfortunately, the obvious compatability stops short of being able to upgrade the 850 engine to 1000 simply by swapping anything on the engines. It requires an entire engine swap to do that.

Is the carbs the same?

Upgrading a 850 to 1000 would be hard legally in Norway. But having spare sets of everything in decent conditions would be good.

I think I would put the bags on my gs1000g and then have the 850 for town strolls.

[Grimly]

I think the same carbs, different jetting, so yes, good for spares.

[2BRacing]

No, the carbs are not the same. The CV carbs on 850's are 32mm, and 34mm on 1000's. The spacing on the carb racks is also different.

[Grimly]

No, the carbs are not the same. The CV carbs on 850's are 32mm, and 34mm on 1000's. The spacing on the carb racks is also different.

I stand corrected, thanks to ACME heel inserts.

[Steve]

The exhaust pipes are ever so slightly different, too. The pipes themselves will fit either bike, but the bolt holes in the collars that hold them to the head are spaced differently. If you elongate the holes and use washers, you could make the 'other' set of pipes work. The 850 collars would need to be elongated outward to fit on the 1000, the 1000 collars would need to be elongated inward to fit on the 850.

I agree that the carbs are different sizes, not sure that the spacing is different, though. I do know that both engines use the same head gasket, so the cylinder spacing is the same.

Both bikes share the same frame part number. It would be possible to put the 1000 engine in the 850 frame, but you will also need to change the motor mounts, airbox and propeller shaft (drive shaft). The 1000 uses a different flange at the back of the secondary drive, so you need the 1000 shaft to mate with the 1000 engine. The rest of the swingarm and final drive is the same.

Other items, like the seat, fuel tank, handlebars, tail cowl, saddlebags, luggage rack, yeah, everything that bolts onto the frame are the same for both bikes.

I have verified many of these items, as I have the '80 versions of both bikes, which are virtually identical to your '81s.