Jeff, Thanks for your interest and advice.
Can't argue with anything you say, it all makes sense. A lot of very friendly riders have contacted me since my initial message, also with good advice. I must admit I did expect to be given a hard time but this has not happened. I must have bored them rigid. My slow speed handling problem seems to have been solved by simply increasing the front tyre pressure up to 38psi. A remarkably simple solution supplied by other GTS'ers. All I need to do now is get up to speed. I am taking it a bit at a time. One good thing is that it is a piece of cake to put on its centre stand. The Z650 is considerably lighter but a pig to lift. Thanks again. Regards Tom T ----- Original Message ----- From: "Boman, Jeff" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thursday, October 31, 2002 7:10 PM Subject: Re: Another new GTS'er > Tom, > > As you have noticed there is a great weight and power difference between the > GTS and Z650. That said, you probably are used to throwing the Z650 into > the turn; the GTS doesn't feel like it can be thrown into a turn in the same > way, (but it can). Since the front end remains neutral (doesn't rise or > fall to any appreciable degree) the first time you take it into a turn you > get that "Oh my god its going to remain standing straight up feeling". The > second time you come into a turn at high speed you get that "Oh my god this > is great - it doesn't dive when I hammer the front brake (because I really > came into that turn waaaay too hot). Pick your line going into each turn > and she will remain true to that line. Roll on the throttle halfway through > the turn and you'll shoot out straight like and arrow. > > Now, regarding low speed maneuvering. One of the best things that I have > found is to practice balancing the bike at a stop light with feet on the > pegs, just like one would do with a bicycle. It's amazing how long you > actually can balance a 600lb+ motorcycle. Additionally, take a spin around > an empty parking lot on a Sunday at low speed to just find the balance point > and work on the low speed turns. > > Riding time on the GTS is the only real thing that will get you used to the > weight and power. > > atb Jeff B. > > -----Original Message----- > From: tomatomt [mailto:tomatomt@;BLUEYONDER.CO.UK] > Sent: Wednesday, October 30, 2002 3:36 PM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Re: Another new GTS'er > > > David, > > Thanks for your helpful reply, I don't feel so bad now. > > You may have spotted my response to others of the community, all of whom who > have been equally helpful and supportive. Basically I have not yet adjusted > to the dynamics of the machine. It might be sensible not to ride my Z650 for > a while as the difference in performance and handling is marked. > > As you say my major problem is the low speed handling, it actually feels as > if it is fighting me for control. The impression given is that the head > races are tight, however I have had the front wheel up and there does not > appear to be any restriction to movement. > > This quirk and my ham fisted operation of the digital throttle and clutch > makes slow turns an interesting experience. > > Your suggestion that a test ride by a more experienced GTS'er makes sense > and I may head down that route. > > Thanks again for your interest. > > > Regards > > Tom T > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "uranus" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent: Wednesday, October 30, 2002 11:18 AM > Subject: Re: Another new GTS'er > > > > At 00:01 30/10/02 -0500, you wrote: > > >Being a 11 stone (sorry 154 lbs) wimp, I have got to admit it's more in > > >charge of me at times than I am of it, and I am having difficulty getting > it > > >to go round corners. It seems to physically object to changing direction. > No > > >doubt it's my ancient style of riding and body lean may not be the way to > > >crank it over quick enough. > > > > Tom, > > > > That all sounds pretty familiar from my early days on the GTS. As a 'big > > touring' bike one is hoping that it will turn out to be effortless to ride > > but that isn't so, especially with standard bars and tyres. If your front > > tyre is down on pressure, and/or if you've made an unlucky tyre choice, > the > > GTS can really need man-handling into a bend. Once you've got the beast > > down, though, it stays relatively stable when cranked over. In a > > straighter line I've been up to 120mph on the clock and it's still > > imperturbable. > > > > My guess is that Yamaha went conservative with the front suspension and > > steering geometry, not wanting to stray far from accepted telescopic fork > > norms for fear of litigation should anyone have got a "tank-slapper", > > etc. They probably could have reduced the trail by 20mm and reduced the > > rake to 0 deg., and it still would have been rock steady. They didn't > > really maximise the advantages of the hub-centre layout IMO. > > > > After a time you will probably adapt, and it will become > > semi-subconscious. I think my style has now evolved into something like: > > > > 1) Initiate turn by positive counter-steering (if you've ever taken a > > corner on a motorbike at more than about 15 mph, you *have* > > counter-steered, it's just that it took so little effort or movement that > > you probably didn't notice). > > 2) Shift body weight to inside of turn by about one buttock's-width for > > subjectively improved comfort and stability. > > 3) Steer with the hips for minor corrections to line. > > > > The faster you go, the more like other bikes it becomes, it's the lower > > speed handling that takes getting used to. > > > > I've been running a 120/60 on the front for a while now and the rounder > > profile definitely helps for easy direction changes. The GTS is *very* > > sensitive to tyre choice, see "The dreaded tyre [tire] thread" which pops > > up on this list about every five minutes. A few additional PSI in the > > front is helpful in my experience, too. Higher / wider bars ought to make > > initiation easier, as would jacking up the rear a bit, but I've not done > > either on the GTS. > > > > I know I'd be really interested to ride someone else's GTS just to know > > that mine is typical, and I'd say that's what you should do too. Anyone > > else in the London area??? > > David Thurgate http://www.uranus.co.uk/M_cycles.htm > > =================================================== > > Kawasaki ZX750-A1 in Tony Foale FFE frame > > Current status: Dismantled ;-( > > Yamaha GTS1000a in Yamaha FFE frame > > Current status: In everyday use :-)
