Faults:

Stator & regulator broke the year I bought it.

Brake pads replaced a few times.

Rear tire difficult to replace due to rusted exhaust mounting bolts.

Battery a few times due to broken stator.

Speedometer.

General Comments:

Aside from the charging system this bike is pretty solid, no major repairs needed.

Excellent touring bike. It's been Coast (NW) to Coast (NE) to Coast (SW) of North America, and my commuter bike for work for 7 years.

Please bug Suzuki to reissue this bike, I would buy it without hesitation (note speedometer cable broke at 54000 km and has not been fixed properly, this bike has been well over 100,000 kilometers with NO MAJOR WORK NEEDED!!!)

Faults:

Nothing yet.

General Comments:

I must specify that I own the "G" model as opposed to the "L" model. The G is a standard, whereas the L is a custom.

The GS850G's attributes can be summed-up in one word: balance. Nothing to really brag about, but nothing to criticise.

It is a low tech bike by today's standards, but that doesn't take away its charm. The motor has only two valves per piston. Okay, that isn't up to date with modern bikes, but it makes it utterly bullet proof. The motor is over built, which makes it heavy and reliable. It is one of the most reliable bikes ever built.

At low speeds you've got to treat her with respect, but as soon as you go over 20mph, the bike handles like a dream. Great in twisties, and comfy on the highway, it is a perfect "lets go for a day's ride" type of bike.

The L model is probably not as good in the handling department. I love the G. I could ride it across the continent without a worry. There is something mysteriously satisfying about riding a GS850G. You feel happy, confident, and comfortable. Further more, for the money it costs you to own one, you accept that it isn't a rocket ship, and you focus on having fun. Great bike. I mean GREAT bike.

Faults:

- Fuel petcock diaphragm stuck open, fuel overflowed & spilled everywhere.

- Head gasket blew in 1999, potentially weakened by the petcock problem.

- Original seat wore out; seat pan rusted to bits, both needed to be replaced.

- Flaky, inaccurate and unreliable fuel gauge.

- Self-cancelling turn signals do not always work.

General Comments:

For the most part, this has been a very dependable motorcycle that is a joy to ride, stressing neither the bike nor the rider on long trips. It is an excellent highway bike as it performs the same under heavy loads and with a passenger.

Acceleration, while not earth-shattering, is smooth, as is roll on. This bike is pretty easy to ride. My only complaint is that the brakes seem to be a bit undersized for its weight, especially considering the 25 years of wear and flex in the brake lines and calipers (both which are due for a re & re on my particular machine).