In fairness to the chap, Robert, I believe he was being sincere. I took from
what he said, that many people had bad mouthed the GTS, simply because they
refused to judge it for what it is, constantly comparing it to something it
was never meant to be. Here in the UK for instance, everything is compared
to a sports bike. 90% of the magazines are sportsbike orientated, the
writers 'assuming' everyone lives for trackdays. It's just not 'real world'.
The slow speed manoeuvring of the GTS has been mentioned before. Is this
just due to heaviness of the steering, or something else ? I notice too that
a handlebar conversion kit is available (fitting wider bars). Is this an
attempt to address this issue ?
Thanks for your comments.
Barry Edwards
----- Original Message -----
From: Robert Wilson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Sunday, May 20, 2001 7:15 PM
Subject: Re: Servicing Issues
> > Finally, I checked out my local Yamaha dealer. It's one of those rare
family
> > businesses of three generations. The owner, when I asked of the GTS
> > basically said, "don't compare it with conventional forked bikes, learn
to
> > ride the GTS". Is this a fair comment.
>
> translation "I don't compare it because I don't know"
>
> Many of us have multiple bikes.
>
> At parking lot speeds I find the GTS scary, compared to my KLR & Virago.
> At high highway speeds, the KLR & Virago are VERY scary compared to the
> GTS.
>
> The BETA otoh is quite happy perched stationary on a rock, like a
> lizard.
>
> I think most of us who have had a GTS on it's side (3 for me), it's been
> at speeds not in excess of 2 miles per hour. The high speed stability
> is further enhanced by having a single shock absorber up front. Nothing
> leaves skid marks better than when those two front forks on a regular
> bike start acting like a tuning fork!
>
> Robert
>
> p.s. Anyone heard from Shawn Pearsall lately, he is conspicous by his
> absence lately.
>
