1980 GS850 valve question

[2WheelEnthusiast]

Hi all, new to the site, but ive been cruising for info for a few weeks. Just bought my first gs, a 1980 gs850 with 22K on the ticker. I got it very cheap from some meth heads desperate for cash But it does run, tho I think it needs larger mains (came with pods and straight exhaust... diff post another day)

anyway I am tearing the bike apart to clean carbs, change oil, check valves etc.. because I dont think this bike was taken care of the way it should be.

That being said, what are the accepted valve clearances for this bike? I have all the tools to do it, and have done it before on other bikes(tho its definately not something I enjoy)

[tkent02]

.03mm - .08 mm, a lot of us will go up to .10mm.
Where are the pictures?

[2WheelEnthusiast]

this is it when I bought it

[Nessism]

Tons of info here including a factory service manual download and valve adjustment and carb cleaning tutorial... http://members.dslextreme.com/users/bikecliff/

Short cuts are long cuts when it comes to wrenching on old bikes. Consider yourself warned and welcome!!!

[2WheelEnthusiast]

and this is it how it sits in my shop now. Going to make it look like an old dirt tracker, only had a few hours to start cutting and hacking. I will be adding a washer in the pipes for some back pressure and cutting them behind the pegs at an angle and grinding them to a point to bend out, kind of a flare look. Getting dirt bike bars that I have laying around. Rims, fenders, tank and bars are all getting the finest rattle can flat black and the pipes will be getting hi temp black and the headers wrapped so they dont have the chance to flake.

[BassCliff]

Greetings and Salutations!!

Hi Mr. TwoWheelEnthusiast,

Click the links below and read everything. Take your time. You won't be sorry.

Let me dump a TON of information on you and share some GS lovin'.

I just stopped by to welcome you to the forum in my own, special way.

If there's anything you'd like to know about the Suzuki GS model bikes, and most others actually, you've come to the right place. There's a lot of knowledge and experience here in the community. Come on in and let me say "HOoooowwwDY!"....

Here is your very own magical, mystical, mythical, mind-expanding "mega-welcome". Please take notice of the "Top 10 Common Issues", "Top 15 Tips For GS Happiness", the Carb Cleanup Series, and the Stator Papers. All of these tasks must be addressed in order to have a safe, reliable machine. This is what NOT to do: Top 10 Newbie Mistakes. Now let me roll out the welcome mat for you...



Please click here for your mega-welcome, chock full of tips, suggestions, links to vendors, and other information. Then feel free to visit my little BikeCliff website where I've been collecting the wisdom of this generous community. Don't forget, we like pictures! Not you, your bike!

Thanks for joining us. Keep us informed.

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[2WheelEnthusiast]

thanks for all the welcomes and info.

BassCliff, I found your site on a google search and favorited it immediately

manuals, stock carb settings, and the how tos were exactly what I was looking for.

My new tires should be in today (nothing nice, just some cheap Kenda challengers) but that gives me an excuse to go to my old mans shop and continue working on my bike. Should have some new pics as well. Hopefully get started on painting.

hopefully i will have this bike roadworthy by the weekend and mostly finished as a project in the next week or two. We are starting to get some motorcycle worthy weather here in MN so the itch to ride has begun.

[tkent02]

Another fine use for an L.

[2WheelEnthusiast]

L? I guess I'm missing out on something

[tkent02]

That's the Ladies model, but that's OK you have cut off most of it already.

[2WheelEnthusiast]

haha. Ya this bike will be a single seat bike, with little to no extras at all. Kind of a rat bike, since my total investment won't break $600

[whiterabbitt]

since my total investment won't break $600

you'll see about that by the time you finish maintenence!

[Steve]

L? I guess I'm missing out on something

That bike started life as an 850L, which was the "cruiser" model. Some of the distinguishing features included the leading-axle fork, higher, pull-back handlebars, smaller gas tank, stepped seat, shorter mufflers and chrome fenders.

Some on the forum don't care much for chrome, and the "L" had too much for them.

The stepped seat and pull-back bars also tended to lock you into a rather uncomfortable riding position. You have changed that to fit YOU.

.

[bwringer]

I think a bad man riding an L model did something horrible to tkent long ago.

[2WheelEnthusiast]

ha well i dont think my maintenance costs will be too much. I can do all the work myself. Fortunately for me, my old man has a shop with every tool you can think of. So the cost of maintenance will strictly be parts, and I dont think many will need replacing.

Ill get some new pics up this weekend by the latest. I've repainted the rims, dirtbike handlebars, gas tank, and fenders flat black. The pipes received high temp black and will be getting a header wrap to avoid any flaking as high temp says its good to 1200 degrees but still flaked on my other street bike.

Dissassembled and cleaned all brake calipers (they were real dirty) and got new fluids in it. Replaced rear brake pads (front ones still had plenty of wear left).

Just got my new tires and seat in the mail today. Also got my new tach cable. and only $550 into the bike thus far. I cannot wait to get it onto the road, but im guessing larger main jets will be needed. Its running pods and straight pipes, but I did some redneck engineering and made some baffles to cut down on noise and provide a little back pressure.