questions

[zookie81]

OK, so I just got done riding my 1982 GS850G to work, and I have a question.
Why does my cluster have a 6th speed indicator, but not allow me to shift into 6th?
I think the previous owner put a newer guage cluster on at some point. What do you guys think?

[Larry D]

OK, so I just got done riding my 1982 GS850G to work, and I have a question.
Why does my cluster have a 6th speed indicator, but not allow me to shift into 6th?
I think the previous owner put a newer guage cluster on at some point. What do you guys think?

I think you're right. Probably from a 550.

[Suzuki_Don]

All the clusters have the 6th speed on them. It just does not show up on the models with only 5 gears. I bought one off an 850 for my 550 and it has the sixth gear on it which illuminates when in sixth.

[bwringer]

Suzuki is the undisputed champion of parts bin engineering. It's amazing how many GS parts are still in use on current models, or were used for several years on many other models.

This is one big reason it's a little easier to keep a GS on the road.

Honda especially seemed to change everything every year, and since the death of the company founder, their famed 100% parts availability policy has gone out the window.