Suzuki GS850GZ. Thoughts?

[UnspeedySam]

A good mate of mine has got his DAS booked in and is after a cheap reliable first bike that won't complain too much about being ridden to Belgium and back on a regular basis (his other half lives there).

We've spotted a 1983 GS850GZ with 51,000 miles on the clock but in regular use and from the photos it looks pretty clean.

I would hope that the electrical system has been sorted 30 years later but I'll look carefully for any evidence of bodging. Anything to watch out for, other than the usual odd engine noises and knackered bearings?
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Riding: BMW R1150RT `02 bought mildly crashed
Fixing: Also the BMW as I get less broken bits
Gone: ZZR600 '00, TRX850 '97, RXS100 '93, JS125-6B '07, BMW R1100RS '93, Kawasaki ZX-6R-J2 '01, Honda Bros NT400 NC25 '88

[nowhere.elysium]

Exhaust rot, and electrical failure. Those are the main things I'd expect. Electrical failure's fixable, though, and there are replacement exhaust systems available which sound awesome. I'm told that they start to suffer from a bit of excess camshaft movement around the 60K mark, but I have no idea as to the validity of that statement, since I'm the only person I know that actually still has a bike of this series.

If you want a hand looking at it, I'm around, and know the insides of my GS650 far too well by now
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'10 SV650SF, '83 GS650GT (it lives!), Questionable DIY dash project, 3D Printer project, Lasercutter project

[UnspeedySam]

[P.]

[UnspeedySam]

[nowhere.elysium]

[UnspeedySam]

[nowhere.elysium]

Comfy is a good word for the GS. It's like a turbine-powered sofa. Pretty much the only naked where I've been actually comfortable doing ~ton speeds for any length of time.

For the money, I'd go for it, no question.
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'10 SV650SF, '83 GS650GT (it lives!), Questionable DIY dash project, 3D Printer project, Lasercutter project

[UnspeedySam]

[nowhere.elysium]

Well, I've seen good 650s going for £1600 before now, and although the 850s come up a bit cheaper (thanks to being a bit more common), I'd expect to be looking at around £800-1000, depending on condition and how original it was. Has the seller replaced the shocks at all? I'd imagine that they're pretty damn tired by now, if they're original.

There's some retard trying to sell a butchered 850 on eBay at the moment, listed as a "lowrider custom", or as I like to think of it, "Fritzl'd frankenbike". He's asking for a grand, so if your mate's looking at a £500 price tag, it's definitely a good deal; on the assumption that everything's sound, it's a winner.
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'10 SV650SF, '83 GS650GT (it lives!), Questionable DIY dash project, 3D Printer project, Lasercutter project

[UnspeedySam]

[P.]

Hmm, I see your point. I just wouldn't trust anything that was of that vintage. Maybe just my perception of older electrics and stuff

[nowhere.elysium]

Chicken

:edit: beechbone - the Hagon shocks are very good, if the ones that are on there need replacing. I can't remember how much they are off the top of my head. Wemoto do pattern ones for ~£80, if money's tight, but it's worth shelling out for the Hagons if he can afford it.

Any chance of posting a few photos?
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'10 SV650SF, '83 GS650GT (it lives!), Questionable DIY dash project, 3D Printer project, Lasercutter project

[Rogerborg]

I wouldn't want unfaired for motorway work, is my only informed comment.

But since this is BCF, why stop there? WeMoto have plenty of parts, OK, but a 30 year old, quarter ton (dry) Suzuki would seem to be getting more into concourse than workhorse territory.

Just off the top of my head, I'd be thinking shaftie: Dullsville, Divvy 900, BMWs. Given what he'll be spunking on fuel and maintenance, cheaping out on the bike would be a false economy.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[UnspeedySam]

[UnspeedySam]

[Shaft]

If it's in good nick, do it, they're bombproof.

Bit on the lardy side, but if it's for motorway cruising, bung a screen on it and you're laughing.
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[UnspeedySam]

[nowhere.elysium]

[Shaft]

[stinkwheel]

[UnspeedySam]

[nowhere.elysium]

Um, I tend to go with every 2K on most of the bikes I've owned, although I've been a bit more frequent with my GS, due to it having been laid up for so long.

Google BassCliff GS850 - the guy's got a ton of information about maintenance and so forth, pertaining to these bikes. It's also worth having a look at www.thegsresources.com - there's a fairly active forum on there; it's not as lively as BCF, and people are generally a bit softer in their tone, but it's a goldmine of information.

Ask the seller when he last did the diff oil, too - that should be every 15k, IIRC.
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'10 SV650SF, '83 GS650GT (it lives!), Questionable DIY dash project, 3D Printer project, Lasercutter project

[UnspeedySam]

[garth]

Oi, monkeynuts, look at this one, and it's only 15 miles away.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HONDA-CBR1000F-L-1990-/281049486939?pt=UK_Motorcycles&hash=item416fdad65b
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