Restoring a Classic Motorcycle - 1982 Suzuki GS650G Part 2 - First Ride

[@erniewebster792]

I have a 1981 GS650L similar to the 1982 GS650G you have. Mine is a shaft drive as well. Which I love. Very little maintenance required. Just keep the gear oil changed and that's it! I have owned and ridden this bike over 30 years and 22,000 miles. No major issues at all. I've cleaned the carburetors thee times due to bad fuel. I am the second owner. Bought it from a friend who bought it new. Runs very well with no damage history. Kind of cool to see the one you are rescuing and noting the similarities including the sound of the engine. These bikes are getting pretty hard to find. At least the ones that are close to new looking.

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Right on, Ernie! The Suzuki GS bikes are such nice machines! Cheers

[@bigmanmoto9897]

Gorgeous motorcycle. Fabulous condition

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

I do like the styling on this one!

[@ronaldwhite7676]

Great little bike. Thx again Jon for keeping these beauties on the road.

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Right on! My pleasure.

[@aidenmornay]

An absolute classic, would sell my soul for one,i remember it well

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Right on!

[@firesurfer]

Immaculate condition. I have a 1981 650 that I'm currently working on. The tank rotted out from the inside. I finally got another one in decent shape, no dents. It needs to be painted. There are several other thing like tires and brakes that need to be done. I've owned it from day one. It currently has around 28k miles on it. I rode it without a speedometer for a year or so. I put a 3/4 fairing on it in the 80s. I had a custom touring seat made around the same time. Almost forgot, I put on a fork brace. Best thing I ever did. It makes the steering more solid and takes out some of the buzzing. It's the one thing every 650 owner should do.

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Nice! Thanks for sharing the insights. I'm sure a fork brace would improve the already good handling. Cheers!

[@ISLANDOUTDOORS1]

That was my first street bike I bought. I took my license test on it. I personally loved it. Foolishly, after someone in an old Chevelle passed me on a straight strech and I couldn't catch them, I thought I needed something with more power so I sold it. For everything except extended highway driving it was great and I wish I kept it. Great seeing one again in your videos. Keep up the good work!

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Right on! Thanks for sharing the memories!

[@aidenmornay]

This brings back wonderful memories

[@BrianKnect]

Beautiful motorcycle, wish it were in my garage. Awesome video, thank you

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Thank you! I may list this for sale when I finish it.

[@1vincej1]

Good morning Jon. It's funny to hear your list of what you've done to the bike. I did all that on my nighthawk. Right down to the right foot peg. My was bent upwards too. Funny thing though. Is other than the footpeg. It just lightly scraped the very end of the factory exhaust. No damage anywhere else. But as you know I put the Delkevic on it. Fixed the peg. Another great video! Thanks. Tty soon

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Right on, Vince!

[@cjc_0167]

Beautiful bike Jon! Nothing against any other motorcycle make or model but, IMO, the early 80's era of UJM bikes were the best. I'm partial to the Suzuki's out of all of them. This is what a motorcycle should look, sound and ride like.

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Right on! You'll get no argument from me!

[@aidenmornay]

Beautiful work my friend

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Thank you!

[@straightchad8059]

Truly a beautiful machine , a new seat would certanly make it more special . 💯

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Right on! Dropping the seat off on Monday to get recovered.

[@propdoctor21564]

Well this thing certainly cleaned up nice. Good job 👍👍

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Thanks!

[@shinethelight01]

I have a 1990 issue of Motorcyclist magazine with an article titled, "Great Bikes of the '80's". The Suzuki GS650G is one of the bikes featured in that article. They explain that it was of better build quality than the comparable GS650E (chain drive) model. Good pick up John! Nice bike!

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Right on! Suzuki was on the top of their game in the early 1980's. I've not tried the GS650E yet so I can't speak to any qualitative differences. Cheers!

[@texasj49]

Looking and sounding good, Jon. I need to replace the seat cover on my 650E, so I'll be interested in seeing your progress. Thanks!

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

I'll drop the seat off on Monday and let you know how it turns out.

[@bobbyverne9714]

I own one of these bikes. It's everything you've mentioned and more !

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Right on Bobby!

[@hankkauffman6612]

Very nice GS650G there. I have the same model, but an '81 I bought four years ago. Many unique things about the GS650 shaft drive models compared to other Suzuki's. The '81 has some of its own one-year little things. You likely know that, but the GS650 shaft models, G, L and Katana M are plain bearing crankshafts with high oil pressure. The fairly rare chain drive GS650E is a conventional roller bearing crank, based on the GS550 bottom. The engine crankcase oil also serves as the primary lube. The 5th gear drive set up is a direct drive. The '82 shaft Suzuki's, at least the 650 and 850, had a one-year rapid wear problem with the wheel cup drive splines. Corrected by '83 supposedly. My '81 had 90% + splines at 25k when I got it, but I had a new cup in hand, so changed it anyhow. I did a number of things, like nearly all the brake components, shocks, clutch springs, etc., etc. The 40+ year old R/R gave up, so replaced it with a series type R/R, a Shindegen SH775 and also eliminated the weird charge loop to handlebar light switch. Doesn't shunt the excess power/heat to the stator. The exhaust on yours is terrific! No aftermarket exhaust available for GS650. MAC, did, but they're gone. Used only. I think they're a nicely balanced middle weight bike. Cycle World's 1981 thorough test on this model loved it all around, even track.

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Great comments - Thanks for the info Frank! I rode mine about 50 miles yesterday. It really is a nice mid-size bike. Cheers!

[@petev.9357]

Love any bike in red! Looks great, in great condition. This was a bike I considered before I bought my 650 Nighthawk back in 83. Never rode one but I'm sure the Honda was the correct decision.

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Right on, Pete! The Nighthawk 650 was a nice one too!

[@henryhawk978]

Sweet ride, 650 4cyl with performance and shaft drive. Enjoyed the video and RIDE SAFE OUT THERE JON!

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Thanks, Henry! You too!

[@Shagnasty-bo5bj]

Way back in 1991 I came across a '77 GS750 barn find. The stock foam filter had rotted away and thinking it would be better to install a K&N filter...WRONG!! The thing ran like crap and constantly fouled every spark plug I put in it with that K&N filter. For anyone out there wanting to keep your old Suzuki mostly bone stock and want to get rid of the top gear stumble at around 4 grand on the tach, GET THE STOCK FOAM SUZUKI FILTER!! Ya don't have to rejet or retune anything with the stock factory foam filter and the bike will run great for years. I owned the bike from '91 till 2003 and never had anymore runability problems ever again.😁

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

@@Shagnasty-bo5bj Right on! Thanks for sharing your experiences. As you point out, most performance mods require other performance mods!

[@blipco5]

To me, at least with Suzuki and Kawasaki, the 650 UJM's had the best proportions when viewed from a short distance. We’ll find out how well it fits from your review.

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Working on a review video now...

[@jak230769]

Nice bike. Look a lot like mine GS500e from 81'

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Right on! It was based on the 550.

[@JK-yu7hj]

Had to sell mine after a divorce, a sweet bike, probably my favorite of the 6 I have owned actually. Wish I had kept it.

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

@JK-yu7hj Sorry you had to sell yours.

[@flexjay87]

Man that bike sounds smooth as butter ! Also, this bike is a good example of the stark contrast in the handle bar position, compared to todays bent over crotch rocket style of riding. Suzuki bikes of this era were quite well equipped with the little things that make it better to ride, like shaft drive and gear position indicator . Got a question though, is the G model a 6 speed transmission ?

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

It's a neutral seating position for sure. The 650G is a 5-speed.

[@rogermcadams8806]

Dang it Jon why can't I have you for a neighbor!!!😃 The biggest thing on these old Suzuki's is one must have a doctorate degree on CV carbs.... Once you learn how to pull and put them back on blindfolded you're good! 🤔🙄😷🤭🙂

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

The 850G, 850L, 1100G, and 1100L are an absolute breeze to get the carbs on and off. Just remove the airbox, and you have all the room in the world. Others kinda stink. Even the GS1100E is a pain with what seems like not quite enough room to easily do the job. What gives?

[@rogermcadams8806]

@@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538 I like having the O.E.M. airbox versus pods ( they're okay with flat slides ) pods can be a bugger to dail in on stock carbs. Like you said it's about having the room on some bikes that make it difficult. I have used a heat gun on low to limber up the rubber boots before. The 650 is sounding nice and quiet, very smooth little knock around the countryside bike. Can't beat the CV carbs for smoothness on these G models when they're working properly!

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

@@rogermcadams8806 For sure! Cheers!

[@VictorCastillo-jc5to]

I watched both videos, but I did not see any restoration process, what the heck!

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Sorry, Victor. I don't always have time to film all the work while doing it. Plus, even when I do, the videos don't get the views to justify the time they take to put together. I will try to show more of the process in upcoming videos, but as a one-man show, I have to manage my time carefully. Cheers!

[@tonypate9174]

The GS650 G for the day the GS850G/N and later 1000 G/N size and bulk hits home ...."conti KR" or "metzeler M" on the back end both better than slide in the damp Japlops came with as standard even if they lasted longer better around a Dartboard than on rear a big old boat with a hint of "shaft jolt" if got paws of ham working the grip ...No a GS650G nails the less is more ...and way more butch than a Yam XJ650 ...Just my view ...that GS650 find a home in my shed at the drop of a Suz Wobble Head TL ....wonder if any non shaft ones to be found/had still resting up to ride again ...gave up on The Bmw k75 hunt...and yes Jon its a INLINE 3/Triple..

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

I agree. And the K75 has a longitudinally mounted inline triple at that. Cheers!

[@jeremywilson7198]

Just bought same color and everything yesterday, mines not that pretty yet

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

Very cool 😎, Jeremy!

[@darkroomignite8264]

How fast can these go without becoming uncomfortable as far as vibration goes?

[@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538]

@darkroomignite8264 That's a great question. I didn't ride it for any extended periods on the highway, so I can't answer from experience. Maybe someone else can chime in here?