GS Final Drive

[Ken Read]

Hi all could anybody help i have bought a 1981 GS 850GX in the uk,it is an import from the USA.The speedometer only goes to 85mph is there any difference in the final drive ratios over a UK speck model as the exceleration is good but at 70/80 mph the engine seems to be reving very hard at 5500rpm or do i need to get a uk spec revcounter

[emjay]

That's just the way they run. Don't worry, just ride it. That engine will take a lot more. After 6K RPMs is when the fun begins!

Even you want lower RPMs at the top end you can swap the final drive from some of the 1100s.

[SqDancerLynn1]

The differential swap would involve finding a late 82-83 GK one with the 2.90 ratio Not worth the expense. Will change about 300 RPM from what I have heard. My normal freeway RPM is 5500-6K The bike will do that all day without any problems. If you have a 16" rear wheel ? you could go to a 17" wheel for about the same change

[Nessism]

The 2.90 rear end came in all the '83 - '84 1100G's. I put a 1100GL rear end in my 850 and as Lynn said, it was good for about 300 rpm.

[seuadr]

what does the 82 1100G have? and if i happened upon the 2.9 one, assuming i don't have the 2.9 one, if i happened to have it, would it be worth it to make the swap?

[Nessism]

what does the 82 1100G have? and if i happened upon the 2.9 one, assuming i don't have the 2.9 one, if i happened to have it, would it be worth it to make the swap?

Define "worth it"?

[hikermikem]

what does the 82 1100G have? and if i happened upon the 2.9 one, assuming i don't have the 2.9 one, if i happened to have it, would it be worth it to make the swap?

I don't know about swapping Mr. seuadr, our bikes alreday have the lowest RPMs at 70 MPH on the list.