Jeff, Thanks for the warning but what you recommend is exactly the method I use for the GTS and it works a treat.
The problem I discussed in answer to Henry's query related to my Z650. Regards Tom T ----- Original Message ----- From: "Boman, Jeff" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thursday, November 07, 2002 11:34 PM Subject: Re: Another new GTS'er > Tom, take your GTS back, there is obviously something seriously wrong with > the center stand ; ) > > Let's all compare notes on how to place the GTS on its center stand (from > the riding position). > > 1. Lower side stand. > 2. Allow cycle to lean left to weight the stand. > 3. Dismount on left side. > 4. Grab handle bars to straighten front wheel and erect the bike to > balanced position. > 5. With your left hand still holding the left handle bar reach down with > right hand and grasp frame just under seat on left side of cycle. > 6. Using right foot rotate center stand down from stowed position to > contact ground. > 7. Still holding on with the left hand at the left handlebar and the right > on the frame, step on center stand and using body weight rotate bike > backward, (this movement is upward and backward). > 8. Lift Side Stand with left foot into stowed position. > > I'm not trying to insult anyone's intelligence on the list but the images > that came to mind reading Tom's message brought up several safety concerns. > The last thing Tom wants to experience is having to pick this 600+ pound pig > off the ground, or worst, having it pulled off of him. > > (Let the lashing begin) > > Best Regards, > Jeff B. > > -----Original Message----- > From: tomatomt [mailto:tomatomt@;BLUEYONDER.CO.UK] > Sent: Thursday, November 07, 2002 3:06 PM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Re: Another new GTS'er > > > Henry, > > Sorry for the delay in replying, been AWOL in the Big City. Now got 154 > messages to deal with. > > Regarding the clutch, starting to find the sweet point and getting off the > line relatively smoothly now. Throttle action still suspect, its like > holding onto a grenade with the pin out. Will get there however. > > Lifting/levering the Z? The action is totally different to the GTS which > seems to want to leap up onto the stand. The action of the Z is dead, the > stand goes down and it ignores you. I have on occasions got it moved > according to the handbook but discovered a long while ago that it wasn't > worth the effort as my back complained too much. Even young burly workshop > mechanics have difficulty shifting it and always express surprise at its > reluctance to move. I have a rear rack and the mountings get in the way of > the natural hand holds which doesn't help. > > I used the prop stand only for a long time until I found that I could get it > on the stand relatively easily by standing alongside the rear wheel where I > could get better purchase, and pulling the machine back towards me while > holding down the centre stand with my outstretched left leg. It comes up > quickly and without a great deal of effort, however it is not the most > dignified of methods as the balancing the machine from this location is a > bit fraught and I end up in a ridiculous position of leaning all the way > back with my left leg fully extended. In its defence I feel happy and my > glass back doesn't twitch. > > While I'm on remember our discussion re my 'body lean' steering which > attracted a great deal of attention from other interested parties, I have > quietly 'listened' to all that has been said and have little to argue with, > but just to annoy you again and keep the pot boiling can I volunteer that > since setting the hare running I have consciously considered my steering > action and have to say that at no time do I deliberately push/pull, bang or > thump the bars, but I am aware that I institute a turn by leaning my upper > body in the direction I wish to go in, and control the turn by adjusting the > position of my body. > > I accept that the action of moving my upper body may result in my pushing > the inner bar, however the movement is in no way of an agricultural nature > advocated by many. I also accept that I do not corner particularly fast or > aggressively and get annoyed with myself if I cock up a turn for whatever > reason and have to take panic action. This generally takes the form of > shutting my eyes and praying to god. You will say that physically assaulting > the bars will get the bike over quicker and sharpen the turn. I wouldn't > argue having tried it, but it just doesn't feel natural to me. If I could > ride around Donnington for a couple of days, by myself, I could be > convinced. > > However. When ah was a lad on me bike, while you were looked on as being a > big girls blouse if you rode during darkness with lights, you were > considered to be a total divot if you rode anywhere with your hand other > than in your pockets, behind your back or firmly clasped behind your head. > > It may be that selective memory is kicking in but I can't recall any > difficulty in riding around corners other than a panic grab of the bars if > you got your body position wrong when trying to straighten up out of tight > corners. > > I carried on this steering method, the body leaning part anyway, when I got > my first motorcycle, a BSA 250, in the mid to late fifties. I still may > wobble a lot in corners but my success rate at getting to the other end is > quite high. > > Excuse my inane ramblings but I quite enjoyed typing this out. Can I finish > with an interesting quote from this weeks MCN made by a total fruitcake > called Dave Coates who recently broke the record for riding backwards, on a > R1, at 151.7mph. Daring Dave said 'although I'm used to riding backwards, it > was hard to keep straight as I kept nudging the bars and couldn't work out > which way to turn. In the end I let go of the bars and steered through the > pegs.' It would appear that I am not the only barmy bugger. > > Henry, take a valium before you reply. > > Regards > > Tom T > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Henry S. Winokur" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent: Friday, November 01, 2002 3:44 AM > Subject: Re: Another new GTS'er > > > > > 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. > > > > I hate to sound like an expert, which I'm not--at least not in all things, > > but at some things I guess I am. :-) but, Tom, if you're lifting, you're > > doing it wrong--and you could hurt yourself. You should be levering. Can > > you describe the process you go through to get the bike on the center > stand? > > > > Regards, > > > > Henry S. Winokur > > 94 GTS1000, R1100RT-P, AMA, MRF, > > Nationally Certified Riding Instructor > > Columbia, MD Ride for Kids Task Force > > West Bethesda, MD USA
