Hello from Nebraska

[Buffalo]

Hello all! I am getting back into bikes after a 20 year hiatus. Picking up a project this weekend a few hours east of here, a 1981 GS850G. Looking forward to tinkering with it and getting some ride time under my belt. It's been so long since I had a motorcycle endorsement, the laws have changed here. We are now required to take a BRC prior to getting our endorsement, but I am using it as an opportunity to not only clean the dust and cobwebs out of my head but my oldest son will be attending with me as well.
I've got two sons, a 17 year old and a 14 year old. My wife and I have been married for 18 years and we have a 5 year old yellow lab. I own a collision repair shop in my hometown, prior to that, we lived and worked all over the country, Missouri, Florida, Kentucky.... I'm really pleased to have found this forum, as I am sure all of yours knowledge on these bikes is going to come in handy! Hopefully I can contribute more than I partake!

[Eli69]

HI. Glad you found the GSR. Many old Suzuki have been brought back to life because of this site. I had an 850 for a while and I often miss it. Very sturdy and reliable bike.

[Rich82GS750TZ]

Welcome to the forum.

I, for one, believe the the state requiring the completion of a safety course for motorcycle endorsement is a good thing. My younger son wants to take it this summer, I may take it with him, even though I've taken two beginner courses (different states, and the first time, MA didn't give the endorsement on completing the course. I didn't own a bike at the time, and the permit expired), and and advanced rider course.

Good luck with your project. All the knowledge you need is here and on BikeCliff's Website, where you'll find shop manuals, wiring diagrams and all manner of DIY tutorials to help you clean or fix just about everything on your bike. - link in my signature. Bookmark that site, you'll reference it often.

And we like pictures. Best way to put pictures in your forum posts is to use a pic hosting site like Imgur or Flickr. Copy the BBCOde of the image and paste in in your post. It can be a bit tricky until you get used to it. Instructions also linked in my signature.

One last bit - Please create a signature with at least your bike year and model info in it. That way, no one will have to ask you that info when you forget to mention it in a post. To do this, pull down your username at the top of any page, go to user setting, then the ACCOUNT tab, half-way down the page you will see a blue link to Edit Post Signature. Create your info, and click save. Be sure to check the boxes to Show Signature, and Show Avatars.



Another Last bit - In order to see others' signatures, you have to view the forum as POSTS and not LATEST ACTIVITY (I dont' know why).
On a pc/tablet, it looks like this:


On Mobile, it looks like this:


not this:

[rphillips]

Back after 20 yrs.? I's out for appx. 12 yrs., kind'f nervous at first but all came back pretty quick... Project? Big or small?

[Buffalo]

Back after 20 yrs.? I's out for appx. 12 yrs., kind'f nervous at first but all came back pretty quick... Project? Big or small?

Yep. It's been almost two decades since I've been on a bike. I had a 97 GSXR when I moved from rural Nebraska to Kansas City for work. I rode that bike a few times there, and honestly, it scared the living crap out of me. I met my now wife soon thereafter, sold the bike to buy an engagement ring and help pay for a wedding. It's been 18 years since we tied the knot. Now that our boys are close to being grown, I figured it is a good time to get back into riding.

The wife and I are taking a trip over by Des Moines this weekend to pick up an 81 GS850G. At first, I just want to get this one cleaned up and running well. We will see where the project goes from there. I like the look of the cafe racer and brat style bikes, but I'm also a realist and know that riding those kind of bikes, for any distance, at 42 is probably not going to be all that enjoyable! Generally, like cars, I find there are two distinct groups of people on forums. Group A says: don't change a thing on them, keep them nice for the next generation and Group B says, do what you want with them, half the fun of having a bike is making it yours. I'm somewhere in the middle I suppose. I used to favor lowered trucks, loud stereos and all out customization of your vehicle, now I roll around in a bone stock 2015 F-150. I suppose priorities change!

[Big T]

Welcome!
We tend to be more on the purist end of the scale, but technology has gifted us better suspension, tires, fuseboxes, etc.
We actually ride our bikes, some from Montana to the Arctic to Tierra del Fuego to Paraguay.

[alke46]

Welcome to the forum. My 1st Suzuki was an 850 as well. Bullet proof bike in spite of it's weight, is a great model for touring.

I see your location is posted as central Nebraska. I am located on the western edge of the Omaha metropolitan area and would enjoy meeting up in person sometime. Shoot me a PM and we can perhaps get to know each other and discuss all matters relating to the wonderful world of Suzuki.

[Suzukian]

I didn't know this site was on the purist end of the scale? Geeze, I hope that's not some Orwellian doublespeak!

[Rich82GS750TZ]

I didn't know this site was on the purist end of the scale? Geeze, I hope that's not some Orwellian doublespeak!

Pretty much.
The heavy modders are over at oldschoolsuzuki.info. Some wild stuff there.

[Suzukian]

Yeah, I'm over there too.

[Buffalo]

Welcome to the forum. My 1st Suzuki was an 850 as well. Bullet proof bike in spite of it's weight, is a great model for touring.

I see your location is posted as central Nebraska. I am located on the western edge of the Omaha metropolitan area and would enjoy meeting up in person sometime. Shoot me a PM and we can perhaps get to know each other and discuss all matters relating to the wonderful world of Suzuki.

I'm a couple hours west of you. I lived off 144th and Giles when we lived there. I was the collision center manager at Plaza Buick GMC for 7 years before I bought my own shop in my hometown and we moved!

[Buffalo]

Pretty much.
The heavy modders are over at oldschoolsuzuki.info. Some wild stuff there.

Well now my curiosity is peaked, here we go down the rabbit hole!

[alke46]

I'm a couple hours west of you. I lived off 144th and Giles when we lived there. I was the collision center manager at Plaza Buick GMC for 7 years before I bought my own shop in my hometown and we moved!

What a small world eh? I live just a 1/4 mile north of 168th and Giles. Couple hours west of here huh? That would be in the G.I. area I guess. I do get out there quite often.

[Buffalo]

What a small world eh? I live just a 1/4 mile north of 168th and Giles. Couple hours west of here huh? That would be in the G.I. area I guess. I do get out there quite often.

It is a small world! We lived in the neighborhood across the street from Chalco Hills, now we live Aurora, about 20 miles east of GI. If you get out this way or I head that way, we'll have to meet up! I mean, I will be heading that way next weekend, but just passing through on my way to Urbandale, IA to pick up a project bike.

[alke46]

It is a small world! We lived in the neighborhood across the street from Chalco Hills, now we live Aurora, about 20 miles east of GI. If you get out this way or I head that way, we'll have to meet up! I mean, I will be heading that way next weekend, but just passing through on my way to Urbandale, IA to pick up a project bike.

sounds like a plan to me.