Did 1980 GS1000G have black or chrome engine covers?

[Guest]

Did 1980 GS1000G have black or chrome engine covers? I saw a bike on craigslist that looks pretty nice but I checked the bike against http://ronh.org/suz1000g.htm Ronh's bikes (beautiful collection if you have never been to his page) and his are chrome, the one in the listings are black? Which is the truth?

Thanks!

[850 Combat]

They are neither chrome nor black. They are polished aluminum (not that highly polished) with clear(ish) paint over it. The crank cases should be silver in color. One of mine has black cases and black fins because it has a 1983 1100G motor in it.

Those bikes are not worth any money, and probably never will be. I wouldn't worry too much about it.

[estcstm3]

pic is worth a 1000 words so do we think this is a different motor in this bike. Thanks for the clarification (chrome vs polished).

[850 Combat]

None of them came like that. You could change it easily enough. Powder coating might be the ticket. The clear enamel fails due to age. I got a 3500 mile 850G a few years back with perfect enamel. 11000 miles now, and it looks like any old bike, with big patches of the clear coat missing.

Not a bad looking old bike. The missing seat trim and grab rail mean it probably had luggage in its past. That and the relocated turn signals. Those are crappy turn signals. You can buy OEM looking ones I think still from Emgo. For 1980 I'm sure you can.

[Nessism]

Looks like someone rattlecan'ed the engine black.

[estcstm3]

So you wont let this scare you off?

[Ghostgs1]

Looks nice from the pics, if you buy it and decide you don't like the paint, it wouldn't be that big of a job to go back to polished look. I like it in black by the way. Ray