GS850 Extended swingarm

[trinitysj]

Question.

Could you or would you put an extended swingarm on an 80 GS850 G. And if you could/would, how would you actually go about doing it?


Pros, Cons, Suggestions?

[BassCliff]

Hi,

You'd have to fabricate your own extended drive shaft and other associated parts. It doesn't sound practical. The drive shaft is encased in the left tube of the swingarm.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[trinitysj]

i thought so... looks like you would have to make a new shaft as well.. was just wondering it you could/would on this type of bike.

[Nessism]

Why would anyone want an extended swingarm on an 850? Extended swingarms are for high powered bikes being drag raced since the longer wheelbase reduces wheelies (not a problem on GS850's).

[trinitysj]

it was just a question.. don't know that much about this particular bike and wanted some feedback on what other people thought.

[SqDancerLynn1]

Anything is possible if you have the fab skills. BUT WHY?

[bwringer]

I think we have a new record-holder for the "strangest GS question ever".





To the OP: the only possible reason one would do this would be purely for questionable styling purposes.

A GS850 is a gorgeous, very sweet-handling bike that will barely wheelie, and certainly is in no danger of flipping over backwards. (Seriously -- did you know before asking this that it's shaft drive bike?) You can't just slap on a longer swingarm and install a longer chain as you would with a chain drive bike -- you would need to fabricate and balance a new driveshaft, a highly stressed component that rotates at high speed.

An extended swinger is a common styling affectation on vintage chain-drive GS and KZ models, and is common amongst the baggy-pantsers who have never visited a dragstrip on many modern sportbikes.

But on this particular shaft-drive bike, extending the swingarm is enormously counterproductive from every functional standpoint and it would be very, very expensive to do right. The bike would weigh more, handle poorly, break more easily, and it would even become slower in a straight line. Plus, it would look goofy as hell.

Could it be done? Sure, with an unlimited budget, access to a complete production machine shop, a heat-treating facility, and a metallurgist on speed-dial. People have spent more on sillier things.

[Octain]

I think any classic UJM looks goofy as hell with an extended swingarm.

[lurch12_2000]

Question.

Could you or would you put an extended swingarm on an 80 GS850 G. And if you could/would, how would you actually go about doing it?


Pros, Cons, Suggestions?

Well you got your answers....
could you? maybe with time and $
would you? no way

But don't worry, most of us have asked a question here that invoked some scorn!

But if you do attempt this "project" and post up pics on this forum, be ready for some ridicule....

...but this forum is a good place to get your bike on the road again, if that helps.

[tkent02]

I think any classic UJM looks goofy as hell with an extended swingarm.

Anything not on a dragstrip looks goofy as hell with an extended swingarm.

[trinitysj]

I agree it might be the goofiest question to date... it was asked by another rider that I know so i thought it would be "fun" food for thought.

I in no way would attempt this on my bike at all.. I told him that it was ridiculous to start with. I will keep the sweet lines that this bike already has.

again, it was just a "fun" and "in jest" question.

R

[Viperman300]

Some of us like to design and achieve for principle. I have a similar goal with my gs650 and I have found a few pics to show a finished product using a chain drive. Obviously, the same idea would be achieved using a shaft drive extension.





Hope these links work.

[Nessism]

Some of us like to design and achieve for principle. I have a similar goal with my gs650 and I have found a few pics to show a finished product using a chain drive. Obviously, the same idea would be achieved using a shaft drive extension.


.

And what "principle" would that be? That you can?

BTW, that girl looks hawt, but the bike(s) are stupid.


.

[wdavie]

I actually posses an extended swingarm for the 850, came with a project that I bought. It has been extended by 6" and has had the shaft and caliper carrier extended as well. Never fitted it to the bike though but might one day just to see what it looks like

[mighty13d]

I think this would be a blast to do. It probably wouldn't be nearly as difficult as everyone is suggesting.

If it's done for the look, then I say ''okay, not my cup of tea, but go ahead and do it." If it's for any sort of handling 'improvement' or to keep the front tire down, I would suggest it not be touched because it will not improve the handling at all.