GTS1000 Yammy

[Colapop]

What can anyone tell me about the Yamaha GTS1000? I understand that they are a halfway decent bike? ABS, EFI, etc.? Has anybody had one or know anything about them?

[scracha]

Quite rare but there are a few in the USA. Detuned exup motor in a frame that doesn't really work. Bombproof. Over-engineered. Heavy. Fantastic for high speed touring though.

[Paul in NZ]

Is that the one with the centre hub steering??

[onearmedbandit]

Hub steering front end as well. Don't know much about the design (yammies version), I'd say you'd want to talk to someone in the know about them

[Motig]

Is that the one that had the radically different front steering?

[T.W.R]

100ps limited EFI FZR1000 donk. ABS was over kill . Omega chassis concept ( single sided front swingarm) 251kg dry weight. Comparable to BMW K1 but handled better.
Just like Hen's teeth here in NZ

[Colapop]

Found this....

Got a mate who has one to use for teaching at Weltec. He's off to Aucks tomorrow to learn all about ABS and stuff.

[T.W.R]

Dredged this up for you Col

[Colapop]

Why thank you Te Wairau Rider!! The particular bike I was introduced to is a 'tec bike so is unlikely to ever be put back on the road (but ya never know....:blip: )

[Madness]

I think I remember Weltec having two of those in a cream colour? Never seen one anywhere else. Weird looking things that were too far ahead of their time maybe?

[BarryG]

Hub centre steering, Bimota made one (Tesi) but Yamaha refined it considerably and put it into production. To good reviews, but lame sales figures. They were pretty heavy for the power, but sounded like they got along pretty well anyway.
I saw one at Daytona a few years ago, owned by a Yamaha rep, painted in blue/white colour scheme, cleaned up considerably with a much more sporty appearance, and it was a very cool looking bike, carbon all over the place, billet bits and pieces. I wish I'd taken a picture at the time, but of course, didn't. Always a bike that appealed to me, as something out of the ordinary, and this one was modified to make it less 'touring', and it worked.
Cheers
Barry

[SPman]

I know of 2 in Auckland - Red Baron had one for sale a while ago.They attempted to race one around the IOM a few years back and, although it was really too heavy and a bit slow in the steering, the rider said it was the most comfortable ride around the island he'd ever had

[N4CR]

There is one sometimes at ardmore.. outside the helicopter school section downf rom main flight school. Seen it about twice. And thats the only time I have EVER seen one. Pretty unique front end.. me and another few bikey guys stood there going 'wtf' when we noticed the shock.

Outta it!

[Colapop]

I queried Yamaha (NZ & Aus) and this was all they gave me....

GTS1000A - 1993
Packed full of the most advanced technologies, the GTS1000 made its debut in 1992 as a new-generation sports tourer that achieved a fine balance of qualities that enabled enjoyment of both serious sports riding and comfortable touring. The liquid-cooled DOHC 5-valve parallel 4-cylinder 1,000cc engine featured electronic fuel injection and a 3 Way catalyzer for cleaner emissions. Also, a newly developed omega-shaped aluminum frame and a front wheel assembly separated sterring function and suspension function greatly improved handling stability.


Overall lengthwidthheight: 2,165 mm700mm1,255mm Weight: 251kg
Engine type: Liquid-cooled 4-stroke 5-valves DOHC 4-cylinder 1,002cc
Maximum power output: 100.6ps/9,000rpm Maximum torque:10.8 kg-m/6,500rpm

Intriuging beast... Beast being appropriate at 251kgs dry weight!! I did find something on the net about one being raced - looked quite sexy. Still I dunno about actually owning one - parts must be a killer to get ahold of.

[Hitcher]

I saw one in the flesh in the Christchurch Harley store about 18 months-two years ago. I think Chch Dave did a review for Kiwi Rider when it used to have that tabloid pull-out section. Really weird looking in a sort of funky but agreeable kind of way.

Omigod. A month ago I couldn't even spell "Yamaha owner", and now I are one...

[Ivan]

Found this....

Got a mate who has one to use for teaching at Weltec. He's off to Aucks tomorrow to learn all about ABS and stuff.


Yeah he is my tutor I go to that course those bikes are heavy and yeah single sided front swing arm

that photo is from our work books

[Colapop]

I've been talking to Phil about maybe doing a bit of study with him but it's all daytime stuff at the mo. If the numbers were better they may look at nights or weekends but ....
How have you found the course?

[Ivan]

I've been talking to Phil about maybe doing a bit of study with him but it's all daytime stuff at the mo. If the numbers were better they may look at nights or weekends but ....
How have you found the course?



Love the course its real good tons of fun and learn heaps

[Jutland]

Hi, just joined! Was looking for CBX1000 info but I ride a GTS1000, been looking for one for years & got mine off a guy who had two, he still commutes daily from Levin to Wgtn on his remaining GTS, had done 180,000km when I last saw him without nothing but regular servicing. I rate it a better bike than my R1100RS I did 35k on. Its long & heavy compared to our Bandit 1200 but very stable particulary when braking hard on off camber or rough corners, prefer it to Bandit, changing tyre profile fixed slow steering issue though definitly as sports tourer not a sports bike. Ive heard Welltech still use one for teaching but only the running chassis from what I hear.

[avgas]

From what i read in the 90's about em, they were a complete flop. All the good parts from BMW RS, Laverda SF, Bimota Tesi, Honda Goldwing..... Bolted together to make a crap bike.
Apparently it was so bad yamaha had invested so much money on developing it....that they had to chop a certain manager who dictated the whole project.

[F5 Dave]

Don't always believe what you read (especially here come to think of it). Had a good thrash over the old coast road to evaluate the suspension steering etc. Yes it is a big heavy bike but I came away quite impressed. No it isn't a sportsbike. Engine had ok poke, but would need more if loaded with pillion & gear. Ditching the cat should cover it.

I'd buy one for a sports tourer if:
1. they were more popular so you could get parts if the worst happened
2. had a metal tank cover instead of the plastic one (tank bag)
3. they weren't so heiniously expensive originally.

They were a sales flop as they were new technology on a conservative market. If launched as a lightweight sports bike it might have had a chance at selling,. . . but then it would have had to compete dead on with the Blade & Yams own FZR. The original was based on work on the Radd MC2 bikes that Alan Crashcart reviewed very favourably. Still not to be & no other manufacturer is as bold as Yamaha at launching outside the box ideas into market. It has hurt them more than once though.

[Macktheknife]

Saw one a few years ago, spoke to the owner who swore by it, said it was the most comfortable bike he had ever owned. He also reported never having had a need for replacements, only normal servicing and never missed a beat.

[Hitcher]

It was Rider magazine's bike of the year in 1993. It could be argued that it was a bike ahead of its time. I saw one in the flesh in what passes for Christchurch's Harley dealership a couple of years ago. They're certainly a conversation starter!

[R1madness]

I had a ride on one several years ago. It was a good bike. Steered well and brakeing feedback was excellent. Handled BIG bunps mid corner well and was easy to tip in. Motor was a bit of a letdown after the FZR1000exup but nice for touring.
They did not sell many because motorcyclists are too set in their ways. We are a bunch of nanas that will not try something new. Even when the potential for long term improvement is huge. Imagine if single shocks never caught on. Yucky old twin shocks (yes i know they have a couple of advantages over single shocks). That is where we are at in terms of front forks. They are crappy old twin shocks. Even USD forks are low tech.

[kiwifruit]

I've had the pleasure of riding Chris Mitchell's GTS1000 around the taupo race track. Plenty of grunt, although it does have bigger headers and a few other performance mods...
I found the complete lack of dive under brakes really strange and rather "exciting". After a few laps i got used to it. It felt light (considering how heavy it is) and powerful once underway.
I'll dig up a photo of it on the track tomorrow :)

[kiwifruit]

the gts in action :)

[Hitcher]

More info here: http://arc.losrios.edu/~mccleld/gts_blue.html