Suzuki GS850 G - Between the Hedges

I bought my GS850 in the Autumn of 1980 having owned the troubled GoldWing for about 6 months. In contrast to the Honda's bulbous enormity, the Suzuki GS850 felt decidedly middleweight and agile. It was marketed in the glossy brochures as a sports/tourer - and that it most certainly was. It was more than able for roadburning yet stable and well mannered enough to act the gentleman when you wanted to. This was a fabulous motorcycle - no doubt about it.

Suzuki already had a winning combination of sports bikes at that time in the GS series (550E, 750E & 1000E). These had found great favour with the public and press alike. What Suzuki did was to combine the positive features of both the 750 and the 1 litre bikes into a shaft-driven model. For example, the GS750E's engine was bored out to 850cc and the camshaft was borrowed from the GS1000E. What they produced was perhaps the perfect compromise between sports and touring. The GS850 thus came with a ready-made pedigree inherited from its parents and a calibre that was to earn it much praise of its own. Suzuki later took the theme further by creating a GS1000G.

The handling on this bike was inspiring, particularly when compared to my previous mount, the GoldWing. I loved they way it could be snugly set down into a low lean and would stay there without trying to stand up. If I remember correctly I used Pirelli Phantoms on mine. I used to go around big roundabouts two or three times just for the fun of it.

The 850cc-DOHC Four could go from rest to 60 mph in 4.2 seconds and its stopping power was equally sharp. It made a fantastic howl when it was wound up towards the bloodline and the whole bike changed personality. This could be a real hooligan tool if you wanted it to be. I found it to be a hugely enjoyable bike that would do whatever I was in the mood for.

Speed is good fun but it can be overrated. It is only part of the whole story. It's also very important that a bike is "rideable" if you intend to use it for more than an occasional scoot to the seaside to pose on. I took this bike on a four week tour of France. The following year I went around the rim of Ireland which presents some pretty tough going. It never let me down once and despite some fairly high daily mileages I never got tired of riding it. It was very comfortable and delivered me every afternoon to my destination unfazed.. no sore backs, necks or wrists - and believe me that's important when you've another few days of twisty bumpy roads ahead of you.

How highly do I rate it? If I had to pick just one "desert island" bike from all those I've owned over this 30 year period I guess this would be it. You'll have spotted already that this is the bike in the banner at the top of every page on this site.