Is it a Standard GS850 or an L model (the crusier version)? Nice bikes once you can get past the shaft drive. Depending on the year some of the 850s top ends (barrels to valve cover) swap over to the GS750 (I think the 77-79) and you can built a hella cool cafe out of the chain drive 750. I had a friend with a gs850 L and that bike boogied, even for a crusier. Ate my cb750's lunch all the time on the straights - Ironically I own that very same GS850L now and I am considering selling.quote:
Anyone ever seen, or built, a GS850 cafe? My buddy is wanting a cafe project and we stumbled on a late 70's 850 today for crazy cheap. Just wondering if this is worth messing with, and if there were any parts out there for them.
better handeling? unless it was the L model, the 850G is a pretty decenlt handeling ride in and ove itself. When looking at old bikes they all handle like crap anyway compared to the new sport bikes so if that is your benchmark I doubt you'll be happy. Do yourself a favor, go out and buy a couple of used zrx's - handle like a modern bike, look like an Eddie Lawson replica from the late 70's early 80's. Or a new ducati sport classic.quote:
Thanks for the info, he decided to pass on it in favor of a better handling ride. He and I are both coming off sport bikes and still want to enjoy the curves, only on something with allot more class/uniqueness. I'm building a Supermoto for myself at the moment...but that is neither here nor there...thanks again.
Been there, done that, got the shirt that said it didn't scare me...once I got used to it.quote:you are going to drag so many hard parts it will scare the crap out of you.
I paid $300 for my 77 GS750 and it ran (needed everything else but the motor was sound). The GS engine is bulletproof because the crank actually rides on roller bearings instead of shell type bearings so you don;t have to worry about the bottom end. Compared to modern bikes or the later 80's GS and katana the early ones just don't handle, just like the cb750 doesn't even come close to handeling like a cbr600 or hurricane. For the times I think they handle as good as a cb750 and better than the kz.quote:
Been there, done that, got the shirt that said it didn't scare me...once I got used to it.quote:you are going to drag so many hard parts it will scare the crap out of you.
Maybe we jumped to conclusions on the handling based on the posts on that GS board. Everyone seemed to agree that is was great in a straight line but weak in the corners (kinda like the modern busa...and that = stupid to us).
The one for sale is not running and the guy has been offered $200 for it so far. It has good compression, but just won't turn over. May still be worth it I guess.
