Suzuki GS650L Engine Problems?

[FoxTrot]

I got a Suzuki GS650L (The engine says GS650G) 12 days ago. Now, I've ridden bikes for a while now, so I'm not stupid. I check and replace my oil as I should and the such.
Yesterday on a 6 mile ride, about 2 miles in, the engine starts to click on the left side. It was a rapid click, almost like a spark plug sparking, only a lot louder. One of my friends said it was a piston going out on it.
Now, this is an '83, with original engine, with only 22k miles on it.
After leaving my bike to sit for a while, I started it back up, and the clicking resumed. I was going to go only about 3/4 of a mile, but after going about 300 feet, and managing to get up to about 25MPH (on a dirt road mind you) the engine shuts off, and the bake wheel locks and slides (shaft driven, was in second gear at the time). I quickly pulled in the clutch and coasted it to a parking spot and left it.
I think it's locked. The only thing is, it really didn't seem to be overheating, and the oil checks out fine.

Does anyone think there's any hope for it? Any tips? Thanks.
The back wheel locks and slides*
My bad.
Forgot to add, when you press the starter now, it just clicks. No kicking what so ever, just click.

 

[James]

Well, it could be an engine problem. But, pulling in the clutch lever disconnects the transmission from the rear wheel, not the motor from the transmission. So it could also be a transmission problem.
I don't think clicking would necessarily indicate a piston/cylinder issue. But it could be a bearing at one ned or the other of a connecting rod. I'm guessing that it could also be a valve problem, but you would have likely experienced a drop in power before the engine stopped completely. The first step would be to remove the spark-plugs. If any one of them looks quite different from the others, you will at least know which cylinder is the problem. No doubt, it will be no. 1 or 2 (they're numbered from left to right). If they all look fine, you may be looking at a transmission problem. At any rate, I would guess that whatever failed will be expensive to fix, and finding a replacement motor at a salvage yard would be the most cost-efficient route.