Identify part

[cranemonkey]

1983 GS 850 GL
On any parts fiche for the rear swingarm, there is a piece of (?) something in line with the left shock that seems to go on to the mounting stud for the shock. This paart has no #, and I don't have anything that looks like that. I am trying to get the rear shocks mounted back up, and am concerned about the spacing with different thickness washers and some that slide over the studs, and some that don't. I know how to determine bolt size by part #; are washers, spacers and nuts similar to identify? Does it matter on the shocks/springs? How critical are the sizes? Any info is useful...THANKS!

[doctorgonzo]

The eyelet on the shock is considerably larger than the stud. There is a shim I guess you would call it that slides over the stud to make a tight fit. That what you're talking abnout?

[cranemonkey]

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll248/cranemonkey/swingarm.gif

No, this is what I am confused abot (among many things)...

[cranemonkey]

Rats--wrong pic--look between 13 and 13 on the left shock.

[doctorgonzo]

Without my bike sitting here I can't even remember if mine has that, but it's some kind of a grab bar for the rider. If you don't have it I'd think a washer would replace it just fine just to take up that space on the stud length.

[DMB]

Is this the part that you are talking about?



If so, it is a handle to help put your bike onto the center stand. It stumped me too for a little while when I first got the bike because it was only on one side. I thought it was for part of a luggage rack but it is just a handle.

If you are searching the online schematics of your bike it should show up in the frame one. Here is the frame scematic for my '80 GS550E.




11: GRIP FRAME HANDLE 496326-001 $18.63

This is the part name, number, and price from BikeBandit.com for my '80 GS550E.

[cranemonkey]

Here is what mine looks like--no place for small bar, no holes to mount...

[BassCliff]

Do these pics help? I found them at Cyclechaos.

Here's the parts fiche pic from alphasports.com (the SEAT section).



Looks like just the rail and a couple of bolts on each side for the stock setup.

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[psyguy]

L models dont have the frame grip handle

[Pete Logan]

You may also find that if you want to fit panniers the handle would have to go anyway. My 750E panniers cover the place where the grab handle would normally fit.

[cranemonkey]

Thanks Pete, Psyguy, BassCliff--it may be the first time I have run across the schematic specifically for my year bike that doesn't make sense. I'm now thinking the drawing was used for easy sake and not to accurately reflect the parts breakdown. Live and learn...again, I appreciate your efforts. BTW, BassCliff; yes, I looked at those pics and even have the one of the blue model as my screen saver--kind of an incentive for me to get off the internet and pick up a wrench and a rag!