I've got one of these GS650G motorcycles. I'm a big guy, 6'2" and I weigh 275lbs, this little rocket is incredible! Even at my weight, it rolls through the corners like a dream, especially for only a 650cc bike!
Bikes like this are living proof that 40+ year old UJM's can still be used as viable everyday transportation. As much as I love classic British motorcycles, I can't fully make the same statement about them. The only European exception to this is BMW. My everyday bike is a '76 75/6, it does everything well and never lets me down. Most UJM's fall into that same category. I almost bought a GS650G a few years back but it was too far gone to pull the trigger. I was unsure of the parts availability and aftermarket support so I ended up with a Yamaha XS650. Perhaps a video on which bikes have good parts supplies and which don't would be a good idea. Nothing worse than picking up a bike and discovering "yeah, nobody makes that part anymore, try Ebay". Great YT channel Jon, it's one of my favorites.
Thank you! Parts availability is always a concern on the classic bikes. The first generation Honda CB750 and the Kawasaki Z1/KZ900/KZ1000 have good aftermarket support (they're the Camaro and Mustang of the classic bike world). The XS650 has decent support as well. I've had to order parts from overseas at times. I try to stay away from one-year-only bikes or ones that didn't sell well. I passed on a nice-looking VF1000R recently due to parts concerns. Post covid, it's a bit of a crap shoot as to what parts are available for what bikes, so it is difficult to say what you can and can't get parts for. Getting someone qualified to work on your classic bike seems to be as much of a problem these days! Cheers!
Jon, your statement about the CB/KZ/XS parts availability confirms what I suspected. A guy is interested in my Suzuki TU250 thats for sale because a Honda mechanic told him he can't find the parts anymore to fix his Honda CM200. Such a shame. I can't imagine what a nightmare it will be to fix a fuel injected/computer controlled bike in 35 years from now.@@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538
I owned a GS650 Katana and the bigger Katana's plus maybe 20 more Suzuki's from way back when. Now? Aged 64, I absolutely love my 2020 Yamaha XSR900. It is what a modern version of these UJM's should be now. Older 70's and 80's bikes were low down torque monsters and my current ride replicates that "on steroids" PLUS a blistering top end the oldies never had. Mine is stock from Japan factory and will just sneak into the 10's over a 1/4 mile and redline in 6th going 155mph. It is truly bonkers for this old boy.
Yes, low down torque monsters. It’s taken me years to find a replacement that I could live with: currently a Triumph 1200 cc Bonneville that has accessible torque from idle, but lacks the Suzuki GS lightness and adjustability in the bends.
Wow this was my first four-cylinder machine when I was around 18 years old (now 51) I still remember it being so much more powerful than the twin cylinder Honda that I had come off of. I was amazed back then that it had a gear position indicator and a fuel gauge. I loved riding it at night because mine had the orange backlit gauges.
So cool! When you are coming from a smaller bike to a larger cc multi-cylinder machine, it's a game changer. I went from a Honda CB360T to a Kawasaki LTD 750 twin. The power difference was amazing, but I wanted a smoother 4-cylinder in the worst way. Cheers
Same here. It was my first motorcycle at around 19. Mine had a genesis exhaust and some carb work done. I loved that bike, right up until a guy in a bronco ii hit me, totaled the beast and put me in the hospital. Thanks for reviewing her.
Thank you so much, Jon! 68 y/o now. I had this exact bike for 15 years, same color & year. Loved it. Sold it to a friend 4 years ago who hasn't yet learned to ride & so is storing it along with all its riding gear. (My wife said she'd rather I have a sports car than a motorcycle so . . .) I often have dreams that I've bought it back and am riding again!
I'm glad you enjoyed the video! I really enjoyed the GS650G while I had it. I sold it to make room for new motorcycle projects. A time will come when I sell my bikes. Hopefully, I will still dream about riding them. Cheers!
Got one of these myself today, a gift from my father that just showed up after work today, it was one he had when he was just out of high school. He recently stopped riding and passed it on to me, I’m absolutely in love with this bike, it rides and handles better than i expected and man it’s fun to ride. CV carbs and shaft drive are amazing. Much more nimble than my 98 Kawasaki Voyager XII, while still having a very comfortable riding position and seat. A+ all around, get one if you have the chance
I bought my 81 GS650G back in late April '23 as a project bike, runs like a dream, plenty of power, fun bike. Don't think I'll ever part with it. Didn't need to much, rebuild carbs and finding a airbox, some cosmetics need done but all around my most favorite bike I've owned.
I have the 750 GS E, in this color, ❤...I think it's ( by far) the smoothest (of that era, & more so than many bikes now) from 1st , all the way through to redline in 5th. Smoooooth
@@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538 exactly right! I wish I had kept it but we needed a new dining room table. Should have parked the bike in the dining room and used the seat as a table!
Had one... with lower bars... wish I still have it... that wasn't DA bomb back then but a good all around bike... and pretty good classic looking ... even today... thanks for bringing back those memories...
I enjoyed the ride along and the narration. It's true that I've sort of overlooked this class of bike during my many years of casual riding. I started on the XS1100 and went to a V65Magna and then a VTX1800C. I believe I could now appreciate the different characteristics and "personality" of a bike like this. I like that it's shaft drive and electronic ignition. If I didn't just pay cash for my KLR, I'd be strongly considering this bike. Eric in NC
For its size that was one of the best street motors Suzuki ever made. It was kind of a cheater motor being slightly larger than 650cc but main advantages over similar class bikes came from its combustion chamber design that gave it superior low/mid range torque with equal high RPM HP all while being 20 to 70lbs. lighter (650E model) than most of its 750 and under competition. I only owned my 81 650E for a year but managed to put 20,000 mi. on it with one 1100 mi. day.
I owned a '77 GS750B and what a great bike that was. I had the bike for 13 years and never once did that bike let me down. It even got much better when I swapped out the dual points for the Dyna S electronic ignition along with the Dyna high energy coils. I never seen one of these GS650 bikes but it sounds like it was comparable to my 750 on HP and handling. My GS750 also topped out at around 125 mph. You always put out pretty good videos and look forwad to more!!
Just picked one up for 800 buck,been sitting for little while,but very clean bike 12000 miles on it guy cleaning out his garage lives 2 streets over,thanks for video will be picking it up on friday
I had the Katana GS 650 G and loved the accessible torque from low through mid range. Loved the ‘space ship’ sound it made when pulling away and coming to stop. It kind of set expectations of future bikes too high as accessing torque in modern bikes required screaming around the place. I gave up until Triumph put out the 1200 cc Bonneville which captures that old spirit of a fun ride from idle.
@@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538 your channel is a real tonic. I thought that the changes over the years were just me growing old and demented, but seems what I have been missing is real. Thank you.
Seat cover looks good. This is a good 1 up person all around ride. If it had a 6 th gear overdrive , you could add some wind protection and literally tour with it ( 1 person ) and be more comfortable than new crotch rocket style riding positions of later year 650's.
Right on! It is smooth enough to tour on as-is. It came with a windshield but that spoiled the classic lines of the bike. The windshield and a sissy bar will go with the bike when I sell it. Cheers!
Jon, what a great video! I know you wanted to go longer than normal on this one...To me this motorcycle checks all the boxes. It really is the best balance of power and handling. Mine is the E model I do not have the shaft drive or the fuel gauge. I have an 81 Goldwing and a 2021 Motoguzzi V7 850 special and I've owned an 1982 Honda CB 900 C and I think the GS 650 E is my favorite go to bike. Its just so much fun, it encourages spirited riding. Can you come up with some versus videos? The GS 650 G vs other bikes in its class. What bikes did Suzuki build this bike to go head to head? I know you mentioned the Yamaha, but how about a comparison video?
Thank you! I would love to have a garage full of mid-sized bikes to compare this with, but currently, it's the only one in the stable. I might compare it with my 1100G if I get the chance. Cheers!
I own a 1983 GS650G I picked up on Bring A Trailer a year ago and use as a commuter bike. I agree with everything you said here, although the one thing I miss is having a sixth gear for high speed freeway cruising. That was one definite advantage of the 1983 Honda Nighthawk 650 I rode in my youth.
I had a brand new maroon GS650GT Suzuki back in 1981 in the uk. 673cc I could cruise at 95mph all day 2 up. I had it upto 130mph on the speedo once going downhill into the red in top gear. I used to get between 47mpg to 62mpg no matter how I Rode it. 3.5 gallon fuel tank. Used to handle very well as well.
Excellent video! I just dug my '82 GS650G out of the shed - been sitting for years unfortunately. I plan to get some time and clean her up and get her running again. Mine has the full front fairing with storage plus the big windshield, crash bars, and rear saddle box that can fit at least a 12-pack. I haven't seen one like mine ever and it's been a great bike. Only thing I had was an issue with it idling well - never figured that out. Also it's pretty hard to corner but per your video I see it must be my big fairing and windshield plus I'm sure it's a ton of weight, it's pretty top heavy. Was thinking of selling it but after your video maybe I'll hold onto it. Won't be long and it'll be 50 years old. Thanks for the video!
Right on! This one came with a windshield, but I pulled it off. I like the clean lines of the original. You're correct about the fairing making it handle wierd. They weren't designed for the weight. I hope you're inspired to get yous running again. Cheers!
Hola Jon. La verdad no conocia este modelo .. aca en Argentina vinieron la 550/ 750 y con eje( cardan) la 850. Me parece que Suzuki dio en el punto exacto!! Tal vez hizo ese modelo para competir con las kawasaki?( Z/KZ/ SR).De estos modelos se vendieron muchos por acá ya que 650 cc era un modelo rapido/ agil y potente para la epoca...Excelente modelo .tiene detalles de calidad que la marca tenia en esa epoca. Puedes hacer un comparativo con algna Kawasaki 650? Te felicito y Saludos jon
Hola Ricardo! Tampoco conocía este modelo de Suzuki hasta que vi este a la venta. Anteriormente, tuve una KZ650 de finales de los 70 y también era una buena motocicleta. Pero este Suzuki tiene algunas ventajas reales en los carbohidratos CV, frenos, suspensión, indicador de gas, transmisión por eje, encendido electrónico e indicador de marcha. Creo que la calidad del Suzuki también fue un poco mejor.
Back in the mid 80's, I had a co-worker who was really into motorcycles. We would go around to some shops to just look at the bikes. Was at the Suzuki dealer and fell in love with a new 82 black and gold 650G that was on the floor for a couple of years. Good part, i got it for around $1500. bad part, I had never ridden a motorcycle before and the seat height was a little high, I probably put about 50 miles on it before i sold it to another co-worker who wanted a sportbike but couldn't get financing. Sure wish I still had it.
Another excellent video as always. I have been and most likely always will be a fan of machines from the '70s through the '90s and your videos never disappoint... I am a 59-year-old white male from the Springfield Missouri area and have owned about 30 motorcycles throughout my life. Some cruisers some touring bikes some crotch rockets and my current ride is a black 1992 Honda Nighthawk 750 with only 10,000 miles. Which I am enjoying very much...
I thought your comments were interesting. I bought the 81 when it came out. I immediately changed the bars to a slightly smaller set because the stock ones were too large I felt. I put on a fork brace and it took some of the twang out of the steering. It felt like a different bike. Different grips, and stainless brake lines with Dot 5 fluid so that the braking stays predictable. I like your idea of putting spacers in the forks. I may do that. I was surprised when you said the bike does not have much shaft jacking. It certainly does. It's just something you have to get used to. It definitely restricts what you can do in corners. There is a flat spot between 70-90 mph. It needs 10 more horsepower. I put a 3/4 fairing and rear rack on it for touring. My fog lights are way obsolete now but there is so much work I need to do on it they will have to wait. I'm in the middle of changing the tank to a 82 with the gauge.
I ran the rear suspension on the stiff side for my weight. It helped with the handling. If you're running into shaft jacking issues, you may want to replace the rear shocks with ones that have more damping. The smaller bikes are more prone to having noticeable flat spots in the mid-range. Tuning may help. The fuel guage is a nice option. Cheers!
I put 23,000 miles on a suzuki 550tx 1981. kinda wish I still had it but I do like the shaft drive on the 650 and the twin front discs that my 550 didn't have.
Right on! Did you see my GS550 playlist? You can check it out here if you missed it: th-cam.com/play/PL0gjN9hf6pSqtxyaBvq5jmz3EdBWp40NQ.html&si=VNUEhsmmWOS1vVQB
Another nice one Jon! How's it compare power wise to my 750 Nighthawk? I should give you my bike again to test, has more power since I made a few changes. 1 is the air filter was dirtier than it looked, which was restricting the bike.
I looked for that bike, before I came across the mint 350 Honda, & then shortly after the Suzuki 750GS E. I still love those nighthawks.... Oh yah the Honda was gone as fast as I thought it would,400 miles, needed complete going thru, from sitting...I'm grateful I bought the Suzuki instead.
It's funny looking back 40 years at my youth. I assembled, serviced and rode many GS650's but today barely remember them. I just viewed them as slow, and boring motorcycles. Of course they're capable, reliable machines. Kids are so dumb. 😂
Thanks for all your knowledge of this great motorcycle. I just got a 1984 GS650G with 2000 miles and is all original. I need help on getting it started and an oil change. Any advise would help greatly
First, get a good shop manual. Use 10w40 motorcycle specific oil. Also a good idea to check the charging system once the bike is warmed up and before heading out on the road. It's an old machine, so go through each system carefully before hitting the road. Carbs, electrical, brakes, etc. Best of luck with it!
I just bought '83 model from a buddy for $200 and I look forward restoring it. Mine is the GS650L and can't find much on it or how it differs from the G. Any thoughts? Great video.
The L is the cruiser style. It has a different frame, suspension, and bodywork than the G. The brakes, engine, transmission, and shaft-drive are the same. Cheers!
Hi Jon. I just put a 650 motor into a 550T frame. I used the 550 carb bodies and put the 650 idle and main jets in as well as switched the needles out with the 650 needles. I took it out for the first shake down ride around the block yesterday. It starts on choke and idles well. Accelerating from idle there's a little bit of a flat spot between 2 and 3000 revs and then it seems to pull out of that. I'm wondering if I need to adjust the jetting although it may be a little early to do that. I'm going to check the plugs tonight when I get home after doing a cut off at the end of my ride at 3000 rpm. Will see what they tell me about the burn. Engine seemed pretty hot after the ride, hopefully it's not running too lean. Any thoughts about carb tuning would be welcomed!
Right on, Scott! That sounds like an ambitious project. I'm not sure what differences there between the two carb sets. I would use the 650 carbs if possible. There may be differences with the slides, air jets, ID of the carbs, airbox volume and flow, etc. that aren't easily spotted. I wish you luck with it! Let me know how it turns out. Cheers!
I had Two of them, one I bought new in 84 and a low mileage one I bought in 95. I enjoyed them both until the cam chain wore and jumped teeth, a common problem when they hit 70K + miles as mine did.
If they're the ones with the grooved round thing on the cam chain tensioner, part of the service routine was to unstick the tensioner. You turn that round thing anti clockwise and let it go.
@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538 no problem Jon. I forgot until this guy said about the cam chain. 70K miles is pretty great mileage imo. A British bike would fall apart in 7K.
Hey John I was wondering if you knew the color of that paint on that gs650g end if the tank stickers are available?? I could sure use a hand she's trying to find those two items as that's all that my bike needs to be complete other than a headlight that I bought second hand after my fiance had thrown mine in the trash. What a shame I have a lot of extras with this bike like a better front fairing a sissy bar with a bag in the back and so on I'm looking to sell the bike it has just a little over 10,000 mi on it original and I'm having a hard time riding anymore due to a blood clot surgery in my left leg if you also know anybody looking for that type of bike she will be coming up for sale very soon and I will do a TH-cam video of the bike
@@josephdangelo1503 You can check with Suzuki on the paint color and pinstripe availability. That size and color of pinstripe is available through almost any auto parts store. www.colorrite.com may also sell that paint color. Good luck with the GS650G!
Most bikes die from lack of use and abuse, not from high mileage. Depending on how it was cared for before you bought it and how well you maintain it, there's no real limit to how many miles you can put on it. I've seen many 650s with over 50k miles and a few over 100k miles. I've also seen bikes killed by abuse with very low mileage. Cheers!
@@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538 I have never rode the 1100 but I know you're right about it being same. Going by knowing the 850 was no slouch by any means I can only imagine the 1100 would be crazy.
As long as the vibration and throttle pickup are not too harsh, I don't mind a 5-speed. I've had a few bikes that really needed a six-speed to feel comfortable at highway speeds.
@kannermw My usual rides are liter bikes with ample power from 2500 rpm and up. Since they're older, they were designed for a 55 mph speed limit. I'm often wishing for a 6th gear. I like having it - you don't need to use it if you don't want to. Cheers!
You have to ask yourself if these were such great bikes then why do any exist with < 15K miles after over 40 years? That's less than 350 miles per year. LOL i ride more than that in a typical weekend. It is a putter around bike now and conversation starter versus a serious bike for riding any distance. Modern 650 twins put this bike to shame in all ways except maybe the shaft drive.
I'm very happy to find nice-condition, low-mileage classics. We'll see how many of the plastic fantastic new bikes will be around in 41 years. I can't imagine trying to find a digital display for an FZ07 in 20 years. I ride new bikes as well and enjoy them. But, I'm happier on a classic 😌. Cheers!
@@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538 I've owned from new 2013 Vstrom 650, 2018 VStrom 1000XT, and now 2022 Versys 1000. All of these bikes are well-documented in public forums to easily exceed 100K miles without any major engine rebuild. Modern water-cooled engine technology is far superior to air-cooled as the operating temperatures are more stable, consistent throughout, and not highly elevated when stationary or operating in high ambient conditions. The VStrom 1000 had over 22K miles (50% more than this restored Suzuki inline 4) when I sold it. It had zero detectable oil consumption, and ran flawlessly like new while delivering fuel economy 48-51 mpg even riding 2-up. Even the current VStrom 650s with v-twin engine and bigger heavier chassis would likely outrun this inline 4 650, plus handle and brake much better on the road. A lot has changed for the better in past 40 years of motorcycles except the price. Riding older bikes is more about nostalgia, low price, maybe feeling you are cheating "the man" while reflecting on the past versus experiencing the superior performance and safety of modern tech motorcycle. Most sane individuals would never think about handing their offspring a car or truck without ABS or airbags. Yet they willfully jump on a motorcycle even without ABS when statistically it is proven this tech reduces fatality rates by over 25%🤯? I'm a mechanical engineer who doesn't mind wrenching to save a few bucks to offset some of the cost of my expensive toys. However, riding is way more enjoyable then wrenching especially in upper midwest with long cold winters and short riding season.
Rode one of these throughout British Columbia, owned it for years, and it was just a fabulous do-all machine.
@@altoncrane9714 Right on! I love Suzuki's GS line of motorcycles. Cheers!
I've got one of these GS650G motorcycles. I'm a big guy, 6'2" and I weigh 275lbs, this little rocket is incredible! Even at my weight, it rolls through the corners like a dream, especially for only a 650cc bike!
Right on!
Nice. I'm 5'10" 260 lbs and might pick one up tomorrow. That makes me feel better about it.
Bikes like this are living proof that 40+ year old UJM's can still be used as viable everyday transportation. As much as I love classic British motorcycles, I can't fully make the same statement about them. The only European exception to this is BMW. My everyday bike is a '76 75/6, it does everything well and never lets me down. Most UJM's fall into that same category. I almost bought a GS650G a few years back but it was too far gone to pull the trigger. I was unsure of the parts availability and aftermarket support so I ended up with a Yamaha XS650. Perhaps a video on which bikes have good parts supplies and which don't would be a good idea. Nothing worse than picking up a bike and discovering "yeah, nobody makes that part anymore, try Ebay". Great YT channel Jon, it's one of my favorites.
Thank you! Parts availability is always a concern on the classic bikes. The first generation Honda CB750 and the Kawasaki Z1/KZ900/KZ1000 have good aftermarket support (they're the Camaro and Mustang of the classic bike world). The XS650 has decent support as well. I've had to order parts from overseas at times. I try to stay away from one-year-only bikes or ones that didn't sell well. I passed on a nice-looking VF1000R recently due to parts concerns. Post covid, it's a bit of a crap shoot as to what parts are available for what bikes, so it is difficult to say what you can and can't get parts for. Getting someone qualified to work on your classic bike seems to be as much of a problem these days! Cheers!
Jon, your statement about the CB/KZ/XS parts availability confirms what I suspected. A guy is interested in my Suzuki TU250 thats for sale because a Honda mechanic told him he can't find the parts anymore to fix his Honda CM200. Such a shame. I can't imagine what a nightmare it will be to fix a fuel injected/computer controlled bike in 35 years from now.@@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538
@@classicmusclecarexhaust1988 I don't think you'll see them on the road. They are designed to be throw away items. Cheers!
I owned a GS650 Katana and the bigger Katana's plus maybe 20 more Suzuki's from way back when. Now? Aged 64, I absolutely love my 2020 Yamaha XSR900. It is what a modern version of these UJM's should be now. Older 70's and 80's bikes were low down torque monsters and my current ride replicates that "on steroids" PLUS a blistering top end the oldies never had. Mine is stock from Japan factory and will just sneak into the 10's over a 1/4 mile and redline in 6th going 155mph. It is truly bonkers for this old boy.
Right on! I've owned the FZ-09 and FJ-09. Of those two, I prefer the FJ. What a motor! The XSR900 has to be a blast! Cheers!
That engine actually started out in 1985 as a 4 cylinder across the frame. It was the FZ-750. Cheers!@@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538
Yes, low down torque monsters. It’s taken me years to find a replacement that I could live with: currently a Triumph 1200 cc Bonneville that has accessible torque from idle, but lacks the Suzuki GS lightness and adjustability in the bends.
Wow this was my first four-cylinder machine when I was around 18 years old (now 51) I still remember it being so much more powerful than the twin cylinder Honda that I had come off of. I was amazed back then that it had a gear position indicator and a fuel gauge. I loved riding it at night because mine had the orange backlit gauges.
So cool! When you are coming from a smaller bike to a larger cc multi-cylinder machine, it's a game changer. I went from a Honda CB360T to a Kawasaki LTD 750 twin. The power difference was amazing, but I wanted a smoother 4-cylinder in the worst way. Cheers
Same here. It was my first motorcycle at around 19. Mine had a genesis exhaust and some carb work done. I loved that bike, right up until a guy in a bronco ii hit me, totaled the beast and put me in the hospital. Thanks for reviewing her.
Thank you so much, Jon! 68 y/o now. I had this exact bike for 15 years, same color & year. Loved it. Sold it to a friend 4 years ago who hasn't yet learned to ride & so is storing it along with all its riding gear. (My wife said she'd rather I have a sports car than a motorcycle so . . .) I often have dreams that I've bought it back and am riding again!
I'm glad you enjoyed the video! I really enjoyed the GS650G while I had it. I sold it to make room for new motorcycle projects. A time will come when I sell my bikes. Hopefully, I will still dream about riding them. Cheers!
Got one of these myself today, a gift from my father that just showed up after work today, it was one he had when he was just out of high school. He recently stopped riding and passed it on to me, I’m absolutely in love with this bike, it rides and handles better than i expected and man it’s fun to ride. CV carbs and shaft drive are amazing. Much more nimble than my 98 Kawasaki Voyager XII, while still having a very comfortable riding position and seat. A+ all around, get one if you have the chance
Right on! The GS650G is still a nice ride if you can find a nice one. Cheers!
Seems like a well balanced machine , not too big -not too weak .
Right on!
I bought my 81 GS650G back in late April '23 as a project bike, runs like a dream, plenty of power, fun bike. Don't think I'll ever part with it. Didn't need to much, rebuild carbs and finding a airbox, some cosmetics need done but all around my most favorite bike I've owned.
Very cool, Brent! The GS650G is a great mid-sized classic. Cheers!
Enjoyed the review Jon. Very nice bike and always like the bike with the clean operating shaft drive. RIDE SAFE OUT THERE!
Right on Henry!
She's a keeper, Jon!
Right on!
What a great trip down memory lane! I had one of these back in the 80's and I loved it! Wish I still had it! Great video!
@@chuckvt5196 Right on, Chuck! I'm glad you enjoyed the video. Cheers!
This one brings back great memories, my first steer bike was a red GS750E, loved that bike! Thanks for the upload
Glad you enjoyed it! Cheers
I have the 750 GS E, in this color, ❤...I think it's ( by far) the smoothest (of that era, & more so than many bikes now) from 1st , all the way through to redline in 5th. Smoooooth
14 k, stock clean. Go.
That was my first motorcycle. I bought it used for $900 and sold it 12 years later for $900, great bike!
Nice! Sounds like you got a free ride for 12 years! You can't complain about that. Cheers!
@@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538 exactly right! I wish I had kept it but we needed a new dining room table. Should have parked the bike in the dining room and used the seat as a table!
@pistolpete6321 That's a sad story ☹️!
Had one... with lower bars... wish I still have it... that wasn't DA bomb back then but a good all around bike... and pretty good classic looking ... even today... thanks for bringing back those memories...
@@cornemuse61 Very cool! You're welcome.
I enjoyed the ride along and the narration. It's true that I've sort of overlooked this class of bike during my many years of casual riding. I started on the XS1100 and went to a V65Magna and then a VTX1800C. I believe I could now appreciate the different characteristics and "personality" of a bike like this. I like that it's shaft drive and electronic ignition. If I didn't just pay cash for my KLR, I'd be strongly considering this bike.
Eric in NC
Right on! Although it's an adjustment for me to ride the smaller cc bikes, I can enjoy them while I own them. Cheers!
Nice bike indeed Jon. Thanks for taking me along for the ride. Take care and keep the rubber side down bud.
Thanks Rick!
For its size that was one of the best street motors Suzuki ever made. It was kind of a cheater motor being slightly larger than 650cc but main advantages over similar class bikes came from its combustion chamber design that gave it superior low/mid range torque with equal high RPM HP all while being 20 to 70lbs. lighter (650E model) than most of its 750 and under competition. I only owned my 81 650E for a year but managed to put 20,000 mi. on it with one 1100 mi. day.
Right on! I like that it feels smaller than the 750s of the time - very nimble and not far off performance-wise either!
I owned a '77 GS750B and what a great bike that was. I had the bike for 13 years and never once did that bike let me down. It even got much better when I swapped out the dual points for the Dyna S electronic ignition along with the Dyna high energy coils. I never seen one of these GS650 bikes but it sounds like it was comparable to my 750 on HP and handling. My GS750 also topped out at around 125 mph. You always put out pretty good videos and look forwad to more!!
Thank you!
Just picked one up for 800 buck,been sitting for little while,but very clean bike 12000 miles on it guy cleaning out his garage lives 2 streets over,thanks for video will be picking it up on friday
@@richford2514 Awesome! Good luck with your GS650G.
I had the Katana GS 650 G and loved the accessible torque from low through mid range. Loved the ‘space ship’ sound it made when pulling away and coming to stop. It kind of set expectations of future bikes too high as accessing torque in modern bikes required screaming around the place. I gave up until Triumph put out the 1200 cc Bonneville which captures that old spirit of a fun ride from idle.
Right on, Sean! Real-world power delivery is one reason I love the classic bikes. I would love to try the new Triumph 1200 as well. Cheers!
@@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538 your channel is a real tonic. I thought that the changes over the years were just me growing old and demented, but seems what I have been missing is real. Thank you.
@@seneca000 You're welcome!
I bought one exactly like this one in 1992 for $1k CAD.Very nice bike with enough power and a lot of fun! It was my second bike after my Honda CB 500.
@@joannewilson6577 Very cool!
Hi, I've just finished restoring one of these exact same bikes, same colour. Mines got air pods and a 4 into 1 exhaust. Runs great.
Nice! Sometimes pods and a pipe can be difficult to set up. Cheers!
Grat video and bike!! Greetings from Argentina 🇦🇷
Thank you! Cheers
Nice bike in 1980 i had a gs 1000 s in red and white loved it
Right on! I love the look of the GS1000S! I had a nice black and white GS1000E years ago and enjoyed it. Did your GS1000S have the CV carbs?
@@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538 i cant remember it was long time i sold it and bought a yam 350 lc and honda xl 250 s
What is not to like with this bike excellent.
Right on!
I love the older bikes,my first bike was a 79 GS550,I recently sold my 05 VStar and bought a 86 Venture Royale, I love it!
Very cool 😎!
Truly a fabulous machine. Got it for my wife; she loves it. Always happy to take it for a spin myself.
Very cool 😎! That's a win-win! Cheers
Seat cover looks good. This is a good 1 up person all around ride. If it had a 6 th gear overdrive , you could add some wind protection and literally tour with it ( 1 person ) and be more comfortable than new crotch rocket style riding positions of later year 650's.
Right on! It is smooth enough to tour on as-is. It came with a windshield but that spoiled the classic lines of the bike. The windshield and a sissy bar will go with the bike when I sell it. Cheers!
Great review. All the information you could want. Appreciate it!
Thanks for the feedback! Cheers
Another great UJM. Thank you!
You're welcome!
Always Great Video s 👍😊
Thanks, Eric!
Jon, what a great video! I know you wanted to go longer than normal on this one...To me this motorcycle checks all the boxes. It really is the best balance of power and handling. Mine is the E model I do not have the shaft drive or the fuel gauge. I have an 81 Goldwing and a 2021 Motoguzzi V7 850 special and I've owned an 1982 Honda CB 900 C and I think the GS 650 E is my favorite go to bike. Its just so much fun, it encourages spirited riding. Can you come up with some versus videos? The GS 650 G vs other bikes in its class. What bikes did Suzuki build this bike to go head to head? I know you mentioned the Yamaha, but how about a comparison video?
Thank you! I would love to have a garage full of mid-sized bikes to compare this with, but currently, it's the only one in the stable. I might compare it with my 1100G if I get the chance. Cheers!
+1 on more bike comparisons with this one @@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538
How about comparing it to the 82 GS 750 E? I love your ch. 🎉
I own a 1983 GS650G I picked up on Bring A Trailer a year ago and use as a commuter bike. I agree with everything you said here, although the one thing I miss is having a sixth gear for high speed freeway cruising. That was one definite advantage of the 1983 Honda Nighthawk 650 I rode in my youth.
Right on! Suzuki seemed to resist the 6-speed for some reason. All of the GS bikes would have benefitted from an extra gear. Cheers!
Excellent, this was and is a great motorcycle, fast, solid and I wish I still had mine. Best $800.00 I ever spent.
Right on!
I had a brand new maroon GS650GT Suzuki back in 1981 in the uk. 673cc I could cruise at 95mph all day 2 up. I had it upto 130mph on the speedo once going downhill into the red in top gear. I used to get between 47mpg to 62mpg no matter how I Rode it. 3.5 gallon fuel tank. Used to handle very well as well.
They are a fantastic mid-range motorcycle. Cheers!
Excellent video! I just dug my '82 GS650G out of the shed - been sitting for years unfortunately. I plan to get some time and clean her up and get her running again. Mine has the full front fairing with storage plus the big windshield, crash bars, and rear saddle box that can fit at least a 12-pack. I haven't seen one like mine ever and it's been a great bike. Only thing I had was an issue with it idling well - never figured that out. Also it's pretty hard to corner but per your video I see it must be my big fairing and windshield plus I'm sure it's a ton of weight, it's pretty top heavy. Was thinking of selling it but after your video maybe I'll hold onto it. Won't be long and it'll be 50 years old. Thanks for the video!
Right on! This one came with a windshield, but I pulled it off. I like the clean lines of the original. You're correct about the fairing making it handle wierd. They weren't designed for the weight. I hope you're inspired to get yous running again. Cheers!
I had one in 1987 it was great !
Very Cool!
Hola Jon. La verdad no conocia este modelo .. aca en Argentina vinieron la 550/ 750 y con eje( cardan) la 850. Me parece que Suzuki dio en el punto exacto!! Tal vez hizo ese modelo para competir con las kawasaki?( Z/KZ/ SR).De estos modelos se vendieron muchos por acá ya que 650 cc era un modelo rapido/ agil y potente para la epoca...Excelente modelo .tiene detalles de calidad que la marca tenia en esa epoca. Puedes hacer un comparativo con algna Kawasaki 650? Te felicito y Saludos jon
Hola Ricardo! Tampoco conocía este modelo de Suzuki hasta que vi este a la venta. Anteriormente, tuve una KZ650 de finales de los 70 y también era una buena motocicleta. Pero este Suzuki tiene algunas ventajas reales en los carbohidratos CV, frenos, suspensión, indicador de gas, transmisión por eje, encendido electrónico e indicador de marcha. Creo que la calidad del Suzuki también fue un poco mejor.
@@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538 gracias Jon por tu respuesta y seguro tienes razón.
@ricardoberterame5950 You're welcome Ricardo!
Back in the mid 80's, I had a co-worker who was really into motorcycles. We would go around to some shops to just look at the bikes. Was at the Suzuki dealer and fell in love with a new 82 black and gold 650G that was on the floor for a couple of years. Good part, i got it for around $1500. bad part, I had never ridden a motorcycle before and the seat height was a little high, I probably put about 50 miles on it before i sold it to another co-worker who wanted a sportbike but couldn't get financing. Sure wish I still had it.
Right on! Thanks for sharing the memories!
I had the 650 E whatta little bike, they had a badass acceleration from just a 650! I miss that bike.
Right on, Luis! The 650 captured the feel of the original GS750E. Cheers!
Another excellent video as always. I have been and most likely always will be a fan of machines from the '70s through the '90s and your videos never disappoint... I am a 59-year-old white male from the Springfield Missouri area and have owned about 30 motorcycles throughout my life. Some cruisers some touring bikes some crotch rockets and my current ride is a black 1992 Honda Nighthawk 750 with only 10,000 miles. Which I am enjoying very much...
Very cool! Maybe my friend will let me do a comparison with his Nighthawk 750 and the GS650G...
@@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538 that would be interesting to see 👍👍
I thought your comments were interesting. I bought the 81 when it came out. I immediately changed the bars to a slightly smaller set because the stock ones were too large I felt. I put on a fork brace and it took some of the twang out of the steering. It felt like a different bike. Different grips, and stainless brake lines with Dot 5 fluid so that the braking stays predictable. I like your idea of putting spacers in the forks. I may do that. I was surprised when you said the bike does not have much shaft jacking. It certainly does. It's just something you have to get used to. It definitely restricts what you can do in corners. There is a flat spot between 70-90 mph. It needs 10 more horsepower. I put a 3/4 fairing and rear rack on it for touring. My fog lights are way obsolete now but there is so much work I need to do on it they will have to wait. I'm in the middle of changing the tank to a 82 with the gauge.
I ran the rear suspension on the stiff side for my weight. It helped with the handling. If you're running into shaft jacking issues, you may want to replace the rear shocks with ones that have more damping. The smaller bikes are more prone to having noticeable flat spots in the mid-range. Tuning may help. The fuel guage is a nice option. Cheers!
I bought one new, mostly because of the shaft drive. I rode 12 months the a year and didn't want to deal with a chain. I loved the bike.
They are great bikes!
Luv your reviews thank you!
Thanks, Brian! I appreciate the feedback. Cheers!
I put 23,000 miles on a suzuki 550tx 1981. kinda wish I still had it but I do like the shaft drive on the 650 and the twin front discs that my 550 didn't have.
Right on! Did you see my GS550 playlist? You can check it out here if you missed it: th-cam.com/play/PL0gjN9hf6pSqtxyaBvq5jmz3EdBWp40NQ.html&si=VNUEhsmmWOS1vVQB
❤ love that bike 😊
It's a neat one!
Another nice one Jon! How's it compare power wise to my 750 Nighthawk? I should give you my bike again to test, has more power since I made a few changes. 1 is the air filter was dirtier than it looked, which was restricting the bike.
Thanks Pete! I would love to do a comparison with the GS if you're interested.
I looked for that bike, before I came across the mint 350 Honda, & then shortly after the Suzuki 750GS E. I still love those nighthawks.... Oh yah the Honda was gone as fast as I thought it would,400 miles, needed complete going thru, from sitting...I'm grateful I bought the Suzuki instead.
It's funny looking back 40 years at my youth. I assembled, serviced and rode many GS650's but today barely remember them. I just viewed them as slow, and boring motorcycles.
Of course they're capable, reliable machines.
Kids are so dumb. 😂
Right on! I've always been a big bike addict - at 6'-4" it makes sense - but there are some really nice mid-size bikes out there. Cheers!
I had the 71 kaw h1 500. Nothing could touch it.😊
@@neatstuff1988 Those were fast bikes in their day!
Thanks for all your knowledge of this great motorcycle. I just got a 1984 GS650G with 2000 miles and is all original. I need help on getting it started and an oil change. Any advise would help greatly
First, get a good shop manual. Use 10w40 motorcycle specific oil. Also a good idea to check the charging system once the bike is warmed up and before heading out on the road. It's an old machine, so go through each system carefully before hitting the road. Carbs, electrical, brakes, etc. Best of luck with it!
I just bought '83 model from a buddy for $200 and I look forward restoring it. Mine is the GS650L and can't find much on it or how it differs from the G. Any thoughts? Great video.
The L is the cruiser style. It has a different frame, suspension, and bodywork than the G. The brakes, engine, transmission, and shaft-drive are the same. Cheers!
@@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538 good to know since I can’t find a manual for the L. So a G manual should work fine for the mechanical stuff. Thanks
@@cwbaldwin61 It may cover both models.
Hi Jon. I just put a 650 motor into a 550T frame. I used the 550 carb bodies and put the 650 idle and main jets in as well as switched the needles out with the 650 needles. I took it out for the first shake down ride around the block yesterday. It starts on choke and idles well. Accelerating from idle there's a little bit of a flat spot between 2 and 3000 revs and then it seems to pull out of that. I'm wondering if I need to adjust the jetting although it may be a little early to do that. I'm going to check the plugs tonight when I get home after doing a cut off at the end of my ride at 3000 rpm. Will see what they tell me about the burn. Engine seemed pretty hot after the ride, hopefully it's not running too lean. Any thoughts about carb tuning would be welcomed!
Right on, Scott! That sounds like an ambitious project. I'm not sure what differences there between the two carb sets. I would use the 650 carbs if possible. There may be differences with the slides, air jets, ID of the carbs, airbox volume and flow, etc. that aren't easily spotted. I wish you luck with it! Let me know how it turns out. Cheers!
I had Two of them, one I bought new in 84 and a low mileage one I bought in 95. I enjoyed them both until the cam chain wore and jumped teeth, a common problem when they hit 70K + miles as mine did.
Sounds like you got some good use out of yours!
If they're the ones with the grooved round thing on the cam chain tensioner, part of the service routine was to unstick the tensioner. You turn that round thing anti clockwise and let it go.
@@redtobertshateshandles Thanks for the tip!
@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538 no problem Jon. I forgot until this guy said about the cam chain. 70K
miles is pretty great mileage imo. A British bike would fall apart in 7K.
Nice machine. Surprised it's not a 6 speed. If you were to put a windscreen on . What would you go with? As always a great review.
Thanks, James. I would go with an Emgo Viper fairing and paint it to match the bike. Cheers!
These GS650G engines are 673 cc displacement, which helps the midrange a tad.
Right on!
Nice and quiet.😊
@@neatstuff1988 Yep. It's a smooth running machine. Cheers!
Hey John I was wondering if you knew the color of that paint on that gs650g end if the tank stickers are available?? I could sure use a hand she's trying to find those two items as that's all that my bike needs to be complete other than a headlight that I bought second hand after my fiance had thrown mine in the trash. What a shame I have a lot of extras with this bike like a better front fairing a sissy bar with a bag in the back and so on I'm looking to sell the bike it has just a little over 10,000 mi on it original and I'm having a hard time riding anymore due to a blood clot surgery in my left leg if you also know anybody looking for that type of bike she will be coming up for sale very soon and I will do a TH-cam video of the bike
@@josephdangelo1503 You can check with Suzuki on the paint color and pinstripe availability. That size and color of pinstripe is available through almost any auto parts store. www.colorrite.com may also sell that paint color. Good luck with the GS650G!
How many miles can I expect from one of these
Most bikes die from lack of use and abuse, not from high mileage. Depending on how it was cared for before you bought it and how well you maintain it, there's no real limit to how many miles you can put on it. I've seen many 650s with over 50k miles and a few over 100k miles. I've also seen bikes killed by abuse with very low mileage. Cheers!
@@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538 thanks I just bought my first 1981, 650 tonight with 33,000 miles on it
Maintained...imo 100 k plus
GS650E, GS650 Katana and XN85 turbo in Europe.
Right on! Did you get the shaft-drive GS650G?
@@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538 Only with GS650 Katana.
@@fabbri4497 Those were also nice bikes. Cheers!
Great bikes but i prefer the ES chain drive. Had an 82 850 was a beast but gearing was all wrong. All the same grewat content.
Thanks! My only gripe with the 850G is that it was the same bike as the 1100G with much less motor. It's literally the same frame and all.
@@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538 I have never rode the 1100 but I know you're right about it being same. Going by knowing the 850 was no slouch by any means I can only imagine the 1100 would be crazy.
@@thesenutz77 They are. My GS1100G is slightly quicker 40-80mph than my GS1100E.
I owned the 850G & 1000G and they were nice bikes.@@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538
That looks like MO Bottom road
@@stevenschacher9614 It was filmed in Lancaster County, PA. Cheers!
I strongly feel that unless a motorcycle is intended to go much faster than 100 mph, a five speed transmission makes more sense than a six speed.
As long as the vibration and throttle pickup are not too harsh, I don't mind a 5-speed. I've had a few bikes that really needed a six-speed to feel comfortable at highway speeds.
@@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538 That's alright as long as the sixth gear is a long-legged highway overdrive.
@@peterwilson8039 Right on!
Not a chance. Most riders typicaly operate bikes in too low a gear to avoid downshifting for suitable acceleration.
@kannermw My usual rides are liter bikes with ample power from 2500 rpm and up. Since they're older, they were designed for a 55 mph speed limit. I'm often wishing for a 6th gear. I like having it - you don't need to use it if you don't want to. Cheers!
👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽
Right on!
You have to ask yourself if these were such great bikes then why do any exist with < 15K miles after over 40 years? That's less than 350 miles per year. LOL i ride more than that in a typical weekend. It is a putter around bike now and conversation starter versus a serious bike for riding any distance. Modern 650 twins put this bike to shame in all ways except maybe the shaft drive.
I'm very happy to find nice-condition, low-mileage classics. We'll see how many of the plastic fantastic new bikes will be around in 41 years. I can't imagine trying to find a digital display for an FZ07 in 20 years. I ride new bikes as well and enjoy them. But, I'm happier on a classic 😌. Cheers!
@@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538 I've owned from new 2013 Vstrom 650, 2018 VStrom 1000XT, and now 2022 Versys 1000. All of these bikes are well-documented in public forums to easily exceed 100K miles without any major engine rebuild. Modern water-cooled engine technology is far superior to air-cooled as the operating temperatures are more stable, consistent throughout, and not highly elevated when stationary or operating in high ambient conditions.
The VStrom 1000 had over 22K miles (50% more than this restored Suzuki inline 4) when I sold it. It had zero detectable oil consumption, and ran flawlessly like new while delivering fuel economy 48-51 mpg even riding 2-up. Even the current VStrom 650s with v-twin engine and bigger heavier chassis would likely outrun this inline 4 650, plus handle and brake much better on the road.
A lot has changed for the better in past 40 years of motorcycles except the price. Riding older bikes is more about nostalgia, low price, maybe feeling you are cheating "the man" while reflecting on the past versus experiencing the superior performance and safety of modern tech motorcycle. Most sane individuals would never think about handing their offspring a car or truck without ABS or airbags. Yet they willfully jump on a motorcycle even without ABS when statistically it is proven this tech reduces fatality rates by over 25%🤯?
I'm a mechanical engineer who doesn't mind wrenching to save a few bucks to offset some of the cost of my expensive toys. However, riding is way more enjoyable then wrenching especially in upper midwest with long cold winters and short riding season.
@@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538 Ditto ❤🎉