Okay guys, help me out here. The 2k Savage I have is my first bike ever. I've run it on a couple of round trips to Miami and one to NC and, although it handled the trips just fine, it's not the most comfortable thing at highway speeds for 400-600 miles a day. Which brings up my interest in a second, (or different) smoother ride.

I'm going to go look at a '79 Suzuki GS 850 tomorrow afternoon. It's a two owner bike, the first being this guys father in-law. It's shaft drive, 4cyl, air cooled, front & back disc brakes, can do tubeless tires, has a Vetters full fairing, detachable hard side bags, a hard trunk/backrest, hitch and newly re-covered seat. I wished it got a bit a bit better gas mileage, but . . .    I figure even if it turned out to be a bad deal and fell apart on me I would still have a lot of good hardware to adapt for the 650.

I know some of you guys my have owned a couple of other rides. What do we know about this bike. All the reviews I've looked up today claim it's a good road bike with enough power and comfort for the long rides two up. Anyone on here know this bike up close and personal? Inform me quick!

Jack

The GS850 was a very good bike in its day, but heed serowboat's warning. Things do age on an old bike and a '79 is an OLD bike. Good hunting!

Did I just say "master cylinder"? Been listening to too much Click 'n Clack. It was the front brake master.

The 1979 GS850 has a points ignition. It changed to electronic ignition in 1980 but retained the advance unit under where the points were. By adding the ignition module instead of the points it is an easy upgrade. Gene

I had an '82 GS850G that I bought new in '84. Outstanding bike. Good handling and definitely fast enough. Zero to 60 in 4 seconds and a top speed of around 120MPH. Add a windshield and saddlebags, and you've got a great sport touring bike. The wide, flat saddle was good for the long haul. As I recall, it won Motorcyclist magazine's sport touring shootout in '79.  

I think walking away was a good idea. That $500.00 was just the beginning. Old bikes tug at my heart, too, but, the parts availability is an issue &, as noted, that stuff's getting old. There is a point where "Low Mileage" is not really a benefit , but a documented lack of attention. The brake fluid may be from the factory & the plastic that looks a deep rich black right now may have been almost white the day before the ad went in the paper.

I finally got the time to treat the 4 wheeler with the restect it has earned. After testing the fuser oil on it in a hidden spot for a few weeks, 2 boys & I cleaned & wiped that thing down. The grill was almost white in some places. Now, it's a shiny, dark black. Fuser oil out of a copier lasts much longer than Armor All, costs less & has ZERO
VOC's, so, it doesnt evaporate & doesnt actually cause cracks.

I think it revitalizes rubber & plastic. I use it on steering & other rubber boots & bike gaitors, too.


Things that sit & rot are just as messed up as things that are wore out. There's a healthy amount of use that things seem to need.