79 GS850G Brakes

[Guest]

I am looking at replacing the original discs with slotted discs from an 80 on.
Is the hole pattern the same? Will the 1980 discs line up with the 79 calipers?
Have you found the slotted discs to be better than the original 79 solid ones?
Thankyou

[Grandpa]

Solid discs and slotted discs for GS850's, etc., are interchangeable.

Slot pattern is the same. I have a front wheel, off an '80 GS850, which interchanges perfectly with the stock wheel of my GS1100GK. Both sets of discs are identical.

The calipers are interchangeable also, by the way. The '79 calipers and the later ones have the same mounting holes on the forks.

The difference between the solid and the slotted discs is marginal in feel and braking power.

[Piston720]

79 GS850 Brakes

Thankyou for your help.
I will change pads first before changing to the slotted discs of the 80's.
I am able to lock the rear wheel, but the front is not possible to lock.
The slower response may have something to do with the added weight of a full windjammer and stereo.

[Grandpa]

Thankyou for your help.
I will change pads first before changing to the slotted discs of the 80's.
I am able to lock the rear wheel, but the front is not possible to lock.
The slower response may have something to do with the added weight of a full windjammer and stereo.

The front brakes on our GS bikes are very difficult to lock (not that you'd want to lock them). The braking power of the big GS bikes is not that good, compared to that of more modern bikes. That's why GS riders should use both front and rear brakes simultaneously, regardless of conditions. Where many people on modern bikes get away with using just front brakes at times, we should use them both.

Try it some time: Come to a stop using just the front brake; then come to the same stop, at the same speed, using both. Big difference, eh? On more modern bikes, the front is all you need.

I have a GK, with full fairing and lowers. Well before that, I had a GS850G with just a Plexifairing III. No difference in braking power from the light clear shield to the full-boat fairing.

What does make a difference is braided steel brake lines. I've been using them for years on my GS bikes. Try them, if you haven't already.