Older GS's....whats your opinion?

[newrider]

I have been looking at some used bikes in my area, and a few have caught my eye as my first street bike.  Wondering what your expert advice on these bikes would be.  

1980 and 1981 GS400 ( I know, old old, but cheap!!!)
1986 GS400S
1982 GS550

Thanks Guys!!

[My Name Is Dave]

I don't know specifics on them, but I agree that any of those would make a great first bike. They should all be cheap, easy to work on, and fun to ride. But that's just my opinion, so see what some of the experts have to say.

D  

[davipu]

wrench ride wrench ride wrench wrench ride  sound like fun?

[Church6360]

old gs's are awesome, if memory serves the 550 is a 4 cylinder.

a friend of mine bought a late 70's or early 80's gs450 t

it came from a field for $100. new battery and gas and it ran. topped out around 80mph without even cleaning the carbs, it was pretty beat, but still disturbingly functional.

but old gs bikes are great, go for it, and do buy a manual as davipu suggests there may be a bit of wrenching involved.

[Church6360]

looked alot like this
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1981-SUZUKI-GS450-T-GS-450_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ35599QQitemZ4569860607QQrdZ1

[mjm]

I have been looking at some used bikes in my area, and a few have caught my eye as my first street bike.  Wondering what your expert advice on these bikes would be.  

1980 and 1981 GS400 ( I know, old old, but cheap!!!)
1986 GS400S
1982 GS550

Thanks Guys!!

As far as I know the GS400 was replaced by the GS425 in the late 70's and the GS450 replaced that in 1980 - (I bought one of those new in 1980 - first year of the 450) so I have no idea where you would find an 80, 81 and 86 GS400.  

Other than that, these bikes are direct ancestors of the GS500 (89 on) and are good bikes - but so old that parts will be a bit hard to find - except for those parts that are still in use on the GS500 - For a collector any of the  bikes would be good chioces - for a first bike, you might find them to have a lot of frustrating problems that will be hard to fix because of age.

I loved the 450 for about 20,000 miles - it was actually a lot more comfortable than I find my 2001 500 - then again, my but was a lot younger then.

[newrider]

so you don't think that it would be worth it in the long run to get an older GS series bike then??

[fettcols]

Man... I was so close to buying an old school GS1100 last month. Kind of regret passing on that deal.

[Cal Price]

A 1982 GS550 is well on the way to becoming a classic, kept in good nick it could be an investment that will appreciate. I would think that it is likely that any selection of bikes of that age may have some issues, depends how much time you want to spend with a wrench etc but given a bit of luck they should all be workable and once in shape reliable. If they have been regularly used to date you are probably on a winner.

The 550 is an in-line four that sounds great, I am still smarting about missing a '77 GS550 last year. On the plus side, I recently bought a '81/82 Yamaha that had been garaged since '97 and with very little work got it running. Fork seals had perished and some other not-too-big jobs and I hope to have it on the road fairly soon, whichever you go for, good luck with it.

[mp183]

Man... I was so close to buying an old school GS1100 last month. Kind of regret passing on that deal.

If you want to ride stay away from them.
If you like grease on your hands day in and day out go for it.
Old is old and newer is newer.  
Old seals deteriorate and leak, old wire connections corrode etc.
It's not jus about the engine.
Good luck.

[Chuck]

I was in the same boat as you last year when I was shopping.  I figured I'd get a cheap rat bike for my first bike, but then I got a great deal on a 2001 GS500.  I figured, okay... I'll just ride it until it's an old rat bike!  It's nice to know you won't have any mechanical problems when you're just starting out.  Two years and 7500 miles later all I've had to do is 2 oil changes and one set of new tires.  And a used Airtech fairing I couldn't resist...

Not saying that's what you should do, but it certainly worked for me.

[newrider]

ya i would like to buy a newer GS, but right now with a new baby, and my wife home from work, just can't seem to fit it in the budget.  If anyone knows about a good deal on a bike you think would be a good starter in the Vancouver BC Canada - Northern Washington area, let me know!!

[denman]

most all jap bikes from 1975-1985 are the best ever.   oh yea i love the early 80's bikes.   have fun.