Front Brake calipers

[jammy5152]

Was wondering what years of brake calipers will fit on a 1979 Suzuki GS 850 motorcycle?
Need some help people...thanks
Jim

[salty_monk]

850G or 850GL?

L model brakes only fit L bikes. If it's the G you can use any of the calipers off of the E or G models from any year (but not from an 1150).

You can also upgrade an 850G to use twinpot Kawasaki calipers & Honda CBR rotors (or GS550 rotors) if you wanted to go that route.

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=185121

[hampshirehog]

The L bikes have a leading axle as do the early 16 valve bikes (roughly 79,80, 81 but the UK years differ slightly to the US years). All the other bikes don't (I think 'all' ...). So, if your bike has a leading axle you need calipers from a bike with a leading axle and vice versa.

[jammy5152]

My bike is a 1979 GS850G bike so this is why I was asking the question about the calipers and master cylinder.
Really like the 80's master cylinder which looks like a baby car master cylinder plus it is not plastic which deteriates
Jammy5152

[Steve]

Was wondering what years of brake calipers will fit on a 1979 Suzuki GS 850 motorcycle?

850G or 850GL?

The 850L did not show up until 1980.

My bike is a 1979 GS850G bike so this is why I was asking the question about the calipers and master cylinder.
Really like the 80's master cylinder which looks like a baby car master cylinder plus it is not plastic which deteriates
Jammy5152

Well, the original question only asked about the calipers. They were typical of what was used on most, if not all, of the GS line (except the few "L"s that existed) until the 1979 model year. The calipers were changed in 1980 to a much better design.

The master cylinder, however, is totally separate. If you want to change the master cylinder to something that is more pleasing to your eye, go ahead, you don't need to change the calipers to match. The only cautions on changing the master cylinder would be to make sure it's NOT from an L model, as they are angled to match the higher, pull-back bars, and to make sure it is from a system with two disks, as the piston is larger for the two-disk models.

.

[jammy5152]

Thanks Steve...wow!!! Lotta help!!!! Will do