Yes, in my life, I have owned a 122S, a 144 station wagon, and now own a Cross Country XC V70! I have also owned a Subaru Impreza WRX Turbo, Lexus LS400...however, they have all had the Ulysses (28,000 members nationally in Australia) badge on the back to show I have bikes (www.ulysses.org.au) Note motto "Grow Old Disgracefully under logo!) .. ..GTS, Kawasaki Stockman and Beta Rev3. People are not always typecast!! Regards, Rob Chapman ----- Original Message ----- From: "Doug Long" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Friday, November 01, 2002 7:34 PM Subject: Re: Another new GTS'er
> Tom, > > Beware next time you take your Z650 out. You need to put a sign on the tank > or somewhere you can easily see it, with the message "BEWARE, THESE BRAKES > DON'T WORK".. I've just been out on my GS850 outfit for the first time > since getting the GTS, it was slightly damp, and I almost found myself > embedded in the boot (trunk) of a Volvo at the first set of lights I came > to. > > Didn't realise just how good the brakes on the GTS are. > > Heres a question for one and all. Do Volvo drivers have the same reputation > in the US as they do in the UK? > > i.e. As soon as they get behind the wheel they turn into Mr Mole and can > only see what is no more than 2 feet directly in front of the bonnet (hood), > and are totally oblivious to what is going on around them. I know they have > the same opinion in Aus as I worked there for a while, and just wondered if > it was a worldwide thing. > > ( Apologies now to any Volvo driving GTS'er, I suppose someone has to drive > one.) > > Regards > Doug > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "tomatomt" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent: Friday, November 01, 2002 12:56 AM > Subject: Re: Another new GTS'er > > > > 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 :-) > > --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.408 / Virus Database: 230 - Release Date: 24/10/2002
