can i install a sixth gear

[bdalameda]

I am fairly sure they will fit if the entire bevel gear housings with shafts etc are used. The bevel gears by themselves will not replace the 850 gearset. The housing and shafts are cut differently to allow the different gear sizes to fit properly in the cases. If the entire assembly is used from a GS1000G I think it will fit. If you just look at the gears alone it appears that they wont interchange. If you look at the entire assembly meshed together I believe it will fit.

[makenzie71]

nesdez07...this may not be your kind of fix, but it worked great for me. I spent 3 years on a CX500...a bike notorious for it's short gears and rev-happy engine. 70mph was using 3/4 of it's designed operating range...according to the tach. My solution was to remove the tach and wear earplugs (under my helmet). Out of site and out of mind.

[TheCafeKid]

nesdez07...this may not be your kind of fix, but it worked great for me. I spent 3 years on a CX500...a bike notorious for it's short gears and rev-happy engine. 70mph was using 3/4 of it's designed operating range...according to the tach. My solution was to remove the tach and wear earplugs (under my helmet). Out of site and out of mind.

Good point there Makenzie. It took me a while to adjust myself to the rev-happiness of the GSs. I felt like sustained 5500RPM would be doing damage. Nope. They're just getting into happy-land there. In all seriousness to those who may be concerned: Run your bike up to redline a couple times in every gear. Get used to what it sounds like. That motor (especially the rollerbearing ones) can handle way more than you're likely to ever put it thru, unless you're a Cooley wanna-be on the street (which is not advisable anyway) Keep in mind that guys STILL use these motors, blocks and all, and punch them out well oversized before really having to worry about the bottom end. And as far as the top end, well, if you keep up your maintainence on it, you cant really hurt it, and if you do, its easy as "pah" to fix.

[TheCafeKid]

I am fairly sure they will fit if the entire bevel gear housings with shafts etc are used. The bevel gears by themselves will not replace the 850 gearset. The housing and shafts are cut differently to allow the different gear sizes to fit properly in the cases. If the entire assembly is used from a GS1000G I think it will fit. If you just look at the gears alone it appears that they wont interchange. If you look at the entire assembly meshed together I believe it will fit.

The 1000G perhaps, as it was more or less an overbore of the 850. The 1100G on the other hand has beefier components in it. For instance (aside from the bevel gears, as i am almost positive they wont even fit in the 850 housing) the stator is larger, thus the cover is different. Same bolt pattern, bigger "pot" for the stator to sit in. The final drive is a bit different from the 850 as well, but IS interchangeable. If you were to ask MY advice (and much easier than experimenting with bevel gears that may not fit, as you have to partially split the cases to get them in and out) find an 1100G or even better, an 1100GK final drive (or pumpkin) and swap it out. The ratio is different there too, especially so on the GK. You'll drop 3-500 RPM. Doesnt sound like much, but the difference between cruising at 5000RPM and 4700RPM will be suprising.

[SqDancerLynn1]

Good question! I don't know if it would work, the main shafts are a different length. You would have to replace the complete transmission, That requires major disassembly of the engine. The beveled gear assemblies by themselfs will not fit.. Easies way to make change with a GL is to go to the 17" rear wheel
I run my 850 5K-6K all the time

[Suzuki_Don]

its is a shafty. but on my gear indicator it has a number six on it.
its weird

That's because the same gear indicator is used on the 550 which does have six gears, as does the 450.

[TheCafeKid]

That's because the same gear indicator is used on the 550 which does have six gears, as does the 450.

This is pretty common in the early "L" model gauges. They all must have used the same set for a little bit.

[bdalameda]

The final drive ratios on the specs I have found for the Gs1000G and GS1100G are the same as well as the transmission ratios. The only difference I could find were the secondary bevel gear ratios. I will check this out again to make sure. The Gs1100 G bevel gear set I have has the exact same bolt pattern and outer cap as the 850G I have. You don't have to split the cases to remove the bevel gears just remove the swingarm and drive shaft. I may go ahead and try it even though I may sell off my 850. I'll let you know what I find out. It is true about the 850. When I first got an 850G I thought the motor was really revving too high at cruise speed. Especially after riding a Gs1100G. After you get used to it and since the 850 is so smooth and willing to purr along at these rpms, it begins to feel natural for the bike.
Dan

[TheCafeKid]

The final drive ratios on the specs I have found for the Gs1000G and GS1100G are the same as well as the transmission ratios. The only difference I could find were the secondary bevel gear ratios. I will check this out again to make sure. The Gs1100 G bevel gear set I have has the exact same bolt pattern and outer cap as the 850G I have. You don't have to split the cases to remove the bevel gears just remove the swingarm and drive shaft. I may go ahead and try it even though I may sell off my 850. I'll let you know what I find out. It is true about the 850. When I first got an 850G I thought the motor was really revving too high at cruise speed. Especially after riding a Gs1100G. After you get used to it and since the 850 is so smooth and willing to purr along at these rpms, it begins to feel natural for the bike.
Dan

And I am telling you that you are dead wrong. the patterns may be the same, but it WONT fit. its too big. And you DO have to PARTIALLY split the cases to install them correctly. Not take the cases apart, but that side has to be pried apart. Also, the GK for a FACT has a different final drive ratio than any of the others. You're talking about picking up less than 500RPM, there are easier ways to do it, and you're going to be mad when you realize it wont work how you think it will...

Im done talking about that.

[bdalameda]

I looked up the part numbers for the GS1100G, GS1000G and GS850G

The output transmission shaft is the same part number for all three bikes, the final drive ratios are all the same (11/34) The secondary drive bevel gear drive shaft bearing housing is the same part number, All the shims are the same part numbers, the output shock drive is the same part numbers the only difference is the outer bevel gear bearing housing and the seals, spacers and bevel gears and shafts. All the dimensions are identical. This has to be different to accomodate the different size gear and shaft length. The factory manual shows how to remove the housings and check the gear backlash and gear tooth centering with the cases not split or loosened and still mounted on a unassembled bike. These can be removed to adjust the backlash and this has to be done with the cases together. I don't want to get anybody upset and I am not a casual mechanic as I have been working on bikes since 1969. Just check it out for yourself. Look in the parts manual - It looks like everything will fit fine.

[bdalameda]

You are right about one thing - the gs1100GK in 1983 does have a different final drive ratio. It is 11/32 vs 11/34 for the Gs850/1000/1100 pre 1983.

[BassCliff]

[Nessism]

BassCliff has the data...good job! No more guessing.

I have a '83 1100G rear end on my 850 and it does drop the rpm a smig. The unit itself seems identical to the 850 part other than gearing.

[BassCliff]

You know, I forget where I got that chart. I think Mr. Matchless compiled the data and made up the chart.

In looking over the chart, my mind wanders......

Hmmm. Can I transplant 5th gear from an "L" model, along with a final drive unit from a GK, and further lower my RPMs at 70mph? I would think that would be more trouble than it's worth.

On my ride a couple weekends ago (over 400 miles), during the leg home I was running at or above 6000rpm most of the way, keeping up with "Harley" Joe (likes to go fast in a straight line). I still got over 40mpg from that tank of gas.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[first timer]

it seems hardly worth all the work for just 1k in rpm drops, you will end up giving up acceration grunt while highway cruising. Which makes this even more unappealing especailly if you need to scoot around something quickly.