engine question

[Truirish78]

looking to pick up some spare parts for my bike, do the 1980 and 1981 GS850 use the same motor? Found a 1980 GS850 motor in my area on ebay for $100 and was thinking of grabbing it if they are the same.

[tkent02]

Should be close enough, go for it.

[Grandpa]

I agree with tkent02. Go for it. The engines are practically identical.

[TheCafeKid]

I think they ARE identical, except as ive been told and read, at some point right around then, they retimed the cams just a bit to give the motor more bottom end grunt. Not sure EXACTLY when that was, but as far as bolt up and go, they should be identical.

[psyguy]

you MAY have a prob with the secondary gear / drive shaft connection (this changed for the 82 model)
in that case though, all you need is a shaft drive from the later model

but the engine bolts right in