New Forum Member

[BobbyGS]

Welcome.

God that is a beutifull bike. Sometimes I wonder if I should get mine professionally restored.

Your first gs?

thanks, I’m really pleased with it-he did a great job on the restoration.
i think this age GS850G normally has a black engine but ( as rphillips says) I think the bare engine looks good against the black.
It’s my first gs and my first bike for 20 years so I’m going easy!
originally liked the idea of a gs1000 but prices and riding inexperience led me to the 850g.

[Noreg]

thanks, I’m really pleased with it-he did a great job on the restoration.
i think this age GS850G normally has a black engine but ( as rphillips says) I think the bare engine looks good against the black.
It’s my first gs and my first bike for 20 years so I’m going easy!
originally liked the idea of a gs1000 but prices and riding inexperience led me to the 850g.

Is it the original exhaust? If not, what brand is it?

I think I agree that the bare engine looks good, I like it unpainted. Are the clutch/tranmission panels just polished or are they clearcoated?

Is there a big difference in power in the 1000 and the 850? I considered buying a 850 for parts, but it costed more than my 1000, and it seemed to be in a worse condition, so I never go around to it. I believe the 850 and 1000 is pretty equal, and I just LOVE long trips on mine (although it is a bit older so maybe yours have improvements). I also find it suprisingly easy to ride despite being a lot more heavy than the modern bikes Im used to (Tracer 700 mostly).

[BobbyGS]

Is it the original exhaust? If not, what brand is it?

I think I agree that the bare engine looks good, I like it unpainted. Are the clutch/tranmission panels just polished or are they clearcoated?

Is there a big difference in power in the 1000 and the 850? I considered buying a 850 for parts, but it costed more than my 1000, and it seemed to be in a worse condition, so I never go around to it. I believe the 850 and 1000 is pretty equal, and I just LOVE long trips on mine (although it is a bit older so maybe yours have improvements). I also find it suprisingly easy to ride despite being a lot more heavy than the modern bikes Im used to (Tracer 700 mostly).

its a Delkavic exhaust-sounds great without being silly.
the panels don’t have clearcoat - Not sure if that would be a good idea or not?
i agree with you about the weight, i was nervous it would be too much after so long without a bike but it is surprisingly easy to ride. Having not ridden for a while I don’t notice the difference compared to modern bikes! The only thing I notice is that it would be nice to have an extra gear for the motorway, sometimes feels like I’m revving it too high.

[Noreg]

its a Delkavic exhaust-sounds great without being silly.
the panels don’t have clearcoat - Not sure if that would be a good idea or not?
i agree with you about the weight, i was nervous it would be too much after so long without a bike but it is surprisingly easy to ride. Having not ridden for a while I don’t notice the difference compared to modern bikes! The only thing I notice is that it would be nice to have an extra gear for the motorway, sometimes feels like I’m revving it too high.

I have only had my bike since december, and I have only been able to ride it since april/march (in between the snow days). I was initially looking at Kawasakis but another traffic teacher tipped me about this bike and I couldnt be happier with it. Having it stuck in the garage for months was torture. So I am pretty new to these bikes myself, but the people on this forum is truley amazing. I don't think I've ever experienced an online community that is as helpfull.

I have some aftermarket 4-1 exhaust, I really want 2-1. I don't want a lot of sound (feel bad enough starting it up in the night when it revs because of the choke), but I like the look of the original exhaust. When riding I will normally wear earbuds (like noise removing ones) or earbuds (music type), so I don't hear a ton.

No idea if painting the panels is a good idea or not. Mine still has remains of the original silver paint (black paint? not sure what it was called), so I want to remove that and make them as shiny as possible. Ive seen some great results by just sanding them and polishing. And yours looks good.

Is the speed limits high there? Here the highest speed limit is 90 kmph, and you lose your licence at 126kmph (in the 90). But its mostly just 80. I find the lack of gears refreshing, I am done with all the shifting so quickly when Im just casually touring through a city. If I am not mistaken bikes are happy with more rpm than cars. The fuel consumption on mine is great too (5.36L/100km) on average the last 5700 kilometers I rode.

If I were to give one piece of advice, it would be to not drive the bike into snow to take a cool picture, its heavy and getting it out is a pain. And if there is sand make a plan for how to turn around.

[rphillips]

GS 1000G = 90HP & 850G = 78 HP. Both very close in dry wgt., between 550 & 560 lbs. Wet wgt. right at 600 to 610 lbs.

[BobbyGS]

GS 1000G = 90HP & 850G = 78 HP. Both very close in dry wgt., between 550 & 560 lbs. Wet wgt. right at 600 to 610 lbs.

That’s less of a difference than I imagined but i bet the extra hp makes a difference.

[BobbyGS]

I

If I were to give one piece of advice, it would be to not drive the bike into snow to take a cool picture, its heavy and getting it out is a pain. And if there is sand.

that is the greatest advice 😂 even better than “don’t eat yellow snow”. Cheers

[Rob S.]

GS 1000G = 90HP & 850G = 78 HP.

Those sound like 'manufacturer's claims,' not rear wheel horsepower. Am I correct?

[Grimly]

Those sound like 'manufacturer's claims,' not rear wheel horsepower. Am I correct?

Crankshaft horsepower, and who knows whether it was measured to SAE standards of the day or not. Ie, with ancillaries not in place or maybe on, depending.

[ddaniels]

GS850G is actually heavier than GS1000G. Both have basically the same engine but the 1000 is bored out more so less weight.

[rphillips]

Correct dd, GS850 = 69mm vs GS1000 = 70mm, 1mm less metal in the bore should weigh less. Now remember the emblems on the side covers, the 7 digits on the GS1000G, must weigh more than the only 6 digits on the GS850G, may get wgt. back closer to equal.

[Grimly]

GS850G is actually heavier than GS1000G. Both have basically the same engine but the 1000 is bored out more so less weight.

Superficially the same, but very different in many ways - the factory went on a weight-reduction exercise with the 1000 engine.

Not having a set of cases or even a lower end for a 1000G in my possession, I'm still unknowing about one vital question - is it possible to fit the longer throw crank of the 1000G into the 850G cases? Nobody's ever addressed that on here or anywhere else, as far as I know.
Might be the crank and clutch centre lines are too different, also. Maybe the bearing positions are different. Who knows?

If I knew it could be done, I'd go out and buy a 1000G crank and barrels tomorrow.