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New Member: 81 GS850 Cafe / Tracker style build

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    New Member: 81 GS850 Cafe / Tracker style build

    Been lurking the forums for years, finally decided to sign up. ok so, I purchased a bone stock 1981 GS850 with 3.2k original miles back in 2015. The bike has been a passion project ever since. Below are the mods that have been done up until this point.


    FRAME

    • Shock dust boot covers
    • Custom rear hoop section / seat pan
    • 15' Progressive shocks / springs ( Raised the bike 2 inches from stock height )
    • Renthal handle bars
    • Honda CB1000 handle bar switches
    • Custom front brake lines
    • 17 inch rear rim from 1979 GS850 ( 1981 came with a 16 inch rear from factory in the U.S )
    • Dual Sport Knobby tires
    • Custom Headlight bracket for front forks.
    • 7 inch LED headlight ( Not installed yet)
    • Front forks rebuilt and powder coated ( gloss black )
    • Engine painted flat black


    Engine

    *Dynatek S ignition system
    *NGK Plugs / Z1 ENT. Plug wires
    *K N pod air filters
    *Delkevic 4-1 stainless exhaust
    *Clutch

    Future mods will include, Motogadget M-Unit blue, 08 GSXR front fork swap, leather seat, digital Tach/speedo combo gauge.<br><br></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: &quot;Proxima Nova Regular&quot;, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre; background-color: rgb(46, 48, 53);"><br><br></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: &quot;Proxima Nova Regular&quot;, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre; background-color: rgb(46, 48, 53);"><br><br></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: &quot;Proxima Nova Regular&quot;, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre; background-color: rgb(46, 48, 53);"><br><br></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: &quot;Proxima Nova Regular&quot;, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre; background-color: rgb(46, 48, 53);"><br><br></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: &quot;Proxima Nova Regular&quot;, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre; background-color: rgb(46, 48, 53);"></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: &quot;Proxima Nova Regular&quot;, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre; background-color: rgb(46, 48, 53);"><br><br><br></span>
    Last edited by Guest; 10-25-2020, 12:19 AM. Reason: typos

    #2
    Welcome mate
    Mike

    Harley Davidson Fatboy
    BMW R1200GT
    GS550 1978 Project bike
    Yamaha Virago 535 bobber project
    Honday VFR 750 1995 restoration project
    https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...0fb80604_s.jpg

    Comment


      #3
      Thank you bruv!

      Comment


        #4
        Nice progress, will be nice to see the completed project.

        Just so you know, your '81 850 is actually an 850GL. That "L" is important at times, but you are likely reducing the number of times that will be a matter of concern.

        Originally posted by Lucky__Lefty View Post
        • 15' Progressive shocks / springs ( Raised the bike 2 inches from stock height )
        • 17 inch rear rim from 1979 GS850 ( 1981 came with a 16 inch rear from factory in the U.S )

        15-foot shocks are a bit extreme, I presume you meant 15-inch (15") shocks. On a chain-driven bike you could get away with that, but with a shaft-driven bike you are changing the angle of the u-joint in the driveshaft. The stock angle is just below level with a single rider and just above level with a passenger aboard. Raising the bike two inches will increase the angle to the point where it might cause problems. In fact, you might be getting close to a mechanical contact point between the frame and swingarm.

        The size of the stock rear wheel depended on which model you got. All of the 850G models and the '80 850GL came with 17" rear wheels. The '81-'83 850GL came with 16" wheels. There is no problem swapping them, just that the larger wheel/tire will yields slightly slower engine speeds for a given road speed. Your GL engine had a slightly taller transmission ratio to allow for the 16" wheel, so your engine will be turning a bit slower than most 850s. The difference will only be a couple hundred RPM at 70 mph, so there is no real problem there.

        .
        sigpic
        mine: 2000 Honda GoldWing GL1500SE and 1980 GS850G'K' "Junior"
        hers: 1982 GS850GL - "Angel" and 1969 Suzuki T250 Scrambler
        #1 son: 1986 Yamaha Venture Royale 1300 and 1982 GS650GL "Rat Bagger"
        #2 son: 1980 GS1000G
        Family Portrait
        Siblings and Spouses
        Mom's first ride
        Want a copy of my valve adjust spreadsheet for your 2-valve per cylinder engine? Send me an e-mail request (not a PM)
        (Click on my username in the upper-left corner for e-mail info.)

        Comment


          #5
          ' or " , an important distinction, as the boys of Spinal Tap found out.

          Rich
          1982 GS 750TZ
          2015 Triumph Tiger 1200

          BikeCliff's / Charging System Sorted / Posting Pics
          Destroy-Rebuild 750T/ Destroy-Rebuild part deux

          Comment

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