Suzuki GS850
The bike was designed to be a bullet proofed "sports tourer" - in the thinking of the last 1970s - and Suzuki pooled the best of all the features, taking the engine from the Suzuki GS750, boring it to 850 providing more torque, the shaft drive from the 1100 and various other workings. The result was a solid, smooth and effortless tourer. It could run to 60mph in 4.2 seconds, but most riders snick it into high gear and let the torque cruise you up the speedo.
High bars limit the usable top speed, creating an upright "king of the road" feel. It is just fine in the mid 80s, but excursions to three figures are of short duration due to the upright position. The 5 speed box, together with digital read out is one of the best Japanese gearboxes of the era. It still feels good even by modern standards and is the smoothest of all the bikes I have ridden for many years.
It is quite heavy, as tourers with shaft drives are, but it feels deceptively light owing to relatively low center of gravity and steering geometry which makes it a pleasure to move in and out of traffic and obstacles. Economical, this example returns around 48 overall.
1979 GS850GN
- FRAME #: GS850-100370
- ENGINE #: ..... GS850-100393
- ENGINE TYPE: . . . 843cc Four-stroke Inline-four
- MODEL CODE: . . . 451
- COLOR: Black, Blue, Maroon
- Shaft drive
- Mag-type wheels
- Locking gas cap
- Rear disc brake
- Dual, front disc brakes
1980 GS850GT
- FRAME #: GS850-116457
- ENGINE #: GS850-116520
- ENGINE TYPE: 843cc Four-stroke Inline-four
- MODEL CODE: 451
- COLOR: Black, Maroon
- Slotted discs
- Shaft drive
1981 GS850GX
- V.I.N. #: JS1GS71G B 100001
- ENGINE PREFIX: GS850-
- ENGINE TYPE: 843cc Four-stroke Inline-four
- MODEL CODE: 451
- COLOR: Blue, Brown
- Rectangular turn signals
1982 GS850GZ
- V.I.N. #: JS1GS72G C 100001
- ENGINE PREFIX: GS850-
- ENGINE TYPE: 843cc Four-stroke Inline-four
- MODEL CODE: 451
- COLOR: Black, Blue
- Chrome turn signals
- Choke lever mounted under left hand switch assembly
1983 GS850GD
- V.I.N. #: JS1GS72G D 100001
- ENGINE PREFIX: GS850-
- ENGINE TYPE: 843cc Four-stroke Inline-four
- MODEL CODE: 451
- COLOR: Black & Maroon, Two Tone Blue
- Polished aluminum grab rail
- Black engine with polished right and left engine covers
1980 GS850GLT
- FRAME #: GS850- 700025
- ENGINE #: GS850- 116520
- ENGINE TYPE: 843cc Four-stroke Inline-four
- MODEL CODE: 453
- COLOR: Black, Blue
- Chrome fenders
- Pullback handlebars
- Leading axle forks
1981 GS850GLX
- V.I.N. #: JS1GS71L B 100001
- ENGINE PREFIX: GS850-
- ENGINE TYPE: 843cc Four-stroke Inline-four
- MODEL CODE: 453
- COLOR: Blue, Pearl Black
- Chrome air box covers with black at bottom
1982 GS850GLZ
- V.I.N. #: JS1GS71L C 100001
- ENGINE PREFIX: GS850-
- ENGINE TYPE: 843cc Four-stroke Inline-four
- MODEL CODE: 453
- COLOR: Black & Silver, Two Tone Maroon
- Polished aluminum grab rail
- Choke lever mounted under left hand switch assembly
1983 GS850GLD
- V.I.N. #: JS1GS71L D 100001
- ENGINE PREFIX: GS850-
- ENGINE TYPE: 843cc Four-stroke Inline-four
- MODEL CODE: 453
- COLOR: Black & Maroon, Two Tone Blue
- Black engine with polished right and left engine covers
1982
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