October 2026 Bike Of The Month
1982 Suzuki GS650E
Owner: Randall Painter
Sketchyemailaddress29@gmail.com
ID #437
A Note From The Owner...
This, is Lifeline. She's a resurrected 1982 GS650E. When I found her, she hadn't been started since 1992. 6174 original miles on the motor. The original owner bought her new, rode her for a year or two, then got sick and parked her in the garage for a few years, then, in 1992, put it in the bed of his truck and parked the truck in the back yard.
That's where she sat, uncovered, undisturbed for about ten years, until the floor of the truck bed rotted away and she fell over into the mud.
I saw a post on CraigsList - Free Bike so I went out.
When I got there, she was sunk in about a foot of mud, vines growing over her and an honest to god tree sprouting from somewhere in the frame. After digging her out, I loaded her into my truck, went to a car wash and pressure washed the last 25 years off of her.
While I was still in the car wash, just for Giggles, I decided to run some jumper cables to her from the truck. I was sure the motor was locked up but tried it anyway. Hit the starter with a wrench and low and behold, she turned over smooth.
It was like she was saying she still had fight in her. Still had a spark.
Right then and there I decided she'd live again.
Ive spent the last year and a half or so bringing her back to life.
I had to chop about six inches off the back of the frame as it was just paint and wishful thinking holding the rust together. Rewired everything from scratch. Then started piecing things together from spare parts I had around.
When I first got her, I was in a dark place in my life. Having something to work on and be able to see the progress of what I was doing. Honestly I think thats the only reason im still here to tell you about her now.
Thank yoy for your consideration.
-EmmCee