Switching Gauges between different GS models

[Nessism]

Seen quite a few threads over the years from people asking what model gauges interchange between models, so thought some of you guys may find this interesting....

Blueblocker's '82 850G's gauges got smashed so he bought a set from a second generation 750L to replace them. It took us a few hours of fiddling but in the end we got them mounted up and working.

There were three multi pin connectors on the gauges, plus a few added bullet type terminals. One of the three connectors was the same so we didn't have to mess with that one, but two others were different so we had to swap them over from the old gauge set to the new because we didn't want to mess with the bikes wiring harness.

Using a small terminal tool (basically a small screwdriver) we were able to remove the terminals from the plastic plug shell on both gauge sets, and then reinstall the electrical terminals into 850 shell. There were a couple of terminals that were different, bullets on the 750 but we needed the small terminals to fit into the 850 shell, so we chopped them off the old 850 gauge harness and spliced them onto the 750 gauge harness so the terminal in need could be plugged into the shell. In the end we were able to get all the wires where they need to be.

For the most part Suzuki used the same wire colors for each function on the different bikes so that really helps find the wires you need. Only real issue we had were those brought on by ourselves (me), plus the 850 has auto cancel turn signals and the 750 gauges don't, so the appropriate harness wires had to be left disconnected.

Last little challenge was that the 750 gauges angled back too much, plus the 850 gauge cluster has integrated attachment studs but the 750 gauges use shoulder bolts to attach. A little bending in the vice "corrected" the 750 gauge angle, and Blueblocker (Kevin) got lucky since my ever growing spare hardware bucket contained a set of the correct gauge bolts.

In total it took us about 3.5 hours to get everything hooked up and tweaked in. Need to talk to Kevin but it appears everything was working as it should, save the auto cancel turn signals.

I suspect the interchange between other model bikes would work out similarly. The spacing between the gauge mounting holes was common so no problem there, plus as mentioned, the wire colors are common so that greatly simplifies getting all the electrons where they need to be.

Good fun!

[81GS750]

great info, thanks! I used gauges from a 79 model GS?? on my 81 750E. Just wanted the 140mph speedo.

[waterman]

This is some timely advice. I am in process of fixing up an 82 1100g that had been in a front end collision at some point. The previous owner had successfully replaced clocks with some other gs model believe it was 550 though I can't confirm. I didn't exactly care for look and the angle was not quite correct so I found stock replacement 1100 g tach and center cluster from Ebay. Obviously, the stock parts fit together properly, but surprisingly, the only wiring difference from replacement clocks was the connector for the speedometer lights. Everything else was pretty much plug and play. At least on this bike which may have been altered before my purchase.

I think you are correct in that most of the wiring around the gauges was somewhat standardized and the differences are mostly in the connectors used.

One noticeable difference between clocks is the physical size of the gauges. The individual style gauges of the 1100 are larger than the 550/650 gauges I am more familiar with.

Does anyone know if the L model use the same size speedometers within a model size? Meaning does a gauge from a 850GL swap onto a plain 850G. I am in the market for a 850/1100 G speedometer and would like to know what options may work.

[DanTheMan]

Does anyone know if the L model use the same size speedometers within a model size? Meaning does a gauge from a 850GL swap onto a plain 850G. I am in the market for a 850/1100 G speedometer and would like to know what options may work.

Yes the 850GL gauges (at least between 80 & 81) will work on the 850G. I wanted to retain my original gauges on my L when I put the triple off my parts G on it to fit in the 650G tank on my L frame. The only thing I had to do to mount them on that tree was to put the gauges in the vise and bend the mounting brackets down a bit so they weren't quite so vertical (the mounting point on the tree is angled differently between the G and the L). Yes, it can be done!

[Nessism]

This is some timely advice. I am in process of fixing up an 82 1100g that had been in a front end collision at some point. The previous owner had successfully replaced clocks with some other gs model believe it was 550 though I can't confirm. I didn't exactly care for look and the angle was not quite correct so I found stock replacement 1100 g tach and center cluster from Ebay. Obviously, the stock parts fit together properly, but surprisingly, the only wiring difference from replacement clocks was the connector for the speedometer lights. Everything else was pretty much plug and play. At least on this bike which may have been altered before my purchase.

I think you are correct in that most of the wiring around the gauges was somewhat standardized and the differences are mostly in the connectors used.

One noticeable difference between clocks is the physical size of the gauges. The individual style gauges of the 1100 are larger than the 550/650 gauges I am more familiar with.

Does anyone know if the L model use the same size speedometers within a model size? Meaning does a gauge from a 850GL swap onto a plain 850G. I am in the market for a 850/1100 G speedometer and would like to know what options may work.

The 850/1100GL gauges are smaller than the regular 850/1100G gauges so they won't interchange. And those G speedometers are hard to come by so good luck finding one.

[DanTheMan]

The 850/1100GL gauges are smaller than the regular 850/1100G gauges so they won't interchange. And those G speedometers are hard to come by so good luck finding one.

The difference is in the fact that the L gauges are individually mounted and the G gauges are in a pod. I have a set of the 850 G gauges intact. If the mileage on the G gauge odometer had been closer to mine I would have just used the G gauges when I transplanted the triple to mine.

[Nessism]

The difference is in the fact that the L gauges are individually mounted and the G gauges are in a pod. I have a set of the 850 G gauges intact. If the mileage on the G gauge odometer had been closer to mine I would have just used the G gauges when I transplanted the triple to mine.

Starting in 1982, the 850/1100 gauges are individually mounted as well...and larger than the L model version. The later gauges are housed in a white plastic housing whereas the early gauges are in an orange housing. Unfortunately, they won't interchange either.

[ChicagoBob]

A lot of those wires relate to the neutral/gear position indicator. The rest are pretty simple and universal to most bikes (backlight, oil, high beam, turn), so not too difficult to deal with.

[DanTheMan]

Starting in 1982, the 850/1100 gauges are individually mounted as well...and larger than the L model version. The later gauges are housed in a white plastic housing whereas the early gauges are in an orange housing. Unfortunately, they won't interchange either.

OOPS! Guess I missed reading the '82 part of the posting. My bad. All kinds of things changed in '82 I know. Some of them not for the better...

[waterman]

The 850/1100GL gauges are smaller than the regular 850/1100G gauges so they won't interchange. And those G speedometers are hard to come by so good luck finding one.

That is what I thought, they are not quite the same. In a pinch, I am sure I can rig up the smaller speedo, but I will continue the hunt. I have seen a few sets on eBay but most are getting fairly pricey.

Thanks for the quick responses guys, you are what makes this forum so great!

[wmhudgens]

Three weeks ago I switched out a '79 850G (orange) 140mph speedo for the white '82 1100gk 85mph unit. The diameters are the same but the 850 orange one is 1) shorter (~1/4" less long from face plate to back face of the speedo body) than the 1100 white one, requiring drilling out the holes in the 1100's chrome cover plate to receive a short (homemade) threaded sleeve onto the orange's two mounting studs, & then adding a short threaded stud into each sleeve so the mounting nuts coulkd "get a grip" on the speedo's studs... and 2) 850 orange one has 2 small "ears" that require filing comparable notches in the 1100's housing so the orange unit will slide in. It was aggravating but at least I gained 0.25hp just by showing 140mph on the speedo and using new chrome cap nuts on the studs!