Re: Canadian Roads (was: A number of things)
As a Canadian, I have an observation that I've made. I get the impression from American riders I've met that they expect the road to be clear well marked when they're riding. I don't mean any offense by this. All riding I've done in the US road defects were all noted, marked, etc. My experiences in Canada cause me to ride like there is a deer on the road around every corner standing on a washed out section of road. I expect junk on the road. I suspect this attitude is appropriate for most of the world, with the US being an exception to the rule. We all should have roads as good. Robert Wilson
Helmet cellphone
Is anyone working with a satisfactory Helmet/Cellphone only setup? I primarily want to be able to answer the phone while riding, say, "hold a minute" and then pull off the road and converse without taking my helmet off. Suggestions? Robert
RADDical Revisitation: How the GTS came to the Internet HELP PLEASE
I'm writing a historical article that begins on December 12, 1995 on how the GTS came to the Internet. I don't have complete records but am asking if anyone recognizes the names that go with these ID's email me direct at [EMAIL PROTECTED] compuserve : 72002,3603 compuserve : 101504,421 compuserve : 73730,2756 compuserve : 101454,631 compuserve : 76522,3543 compuserve : 74156,1537 compuserve : 70512,226 compuserve : 103063,1124 [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] These guys were in the record of the first 26 on the GTS owners list. Thanks, Robert Wilson p.s. Mike Weaver, want to put some earlier dates on your GTS/Internet Effort? Anyone ever hear from the elusive Peter Kropf, formerly of MN, now of Sunnyvale?? [EMAIL PROTECTED]??
Rear Shock Shrader valve location
I'm getting my rear shock rebuilt locally and need to know the location that is clear to install the shrader valve on the rebuild. Can someone please either digicam me or explain with dimensions where to install it. CAN$275 (US$183) not cheap, but local please cc. to [EMAIL PROTECTED] as well as the list. Robert Wilson
re: Battery Problem
Dave, 1st thing to check. Are the battery terminals tight. Mine worked their way loose and I had odd problems (but I guess that was the area of town I was stranded in using a flashlight at night to diagnose the problem) [for the S/A, yes I have battery studs just below my collar] Robert
Broken Bolt in swingarm adjuster
Can't believe it. On a rear tire change, my brake side adjuster axel adjuster bolt became tight (how could it be cross threaded if it never was out of the threads), so I penetrating oiled it, and proceeded to snap it off, then snap off the screw extractor. Anyways, my winter project of swing arm removal checking spec. tolerances is now a summer project. I am impressed at how clean greased the swing arm innards are at 62,000km. I think generally so far a got a GTS made on a good day. With the swing arm off I think a trip to a machine shop is in order, especially with the screw extractor snapped off in the bolt leftovers (yes, it's all flush with the face of the swingarm). The aluminum in this area must be hardened somehow (alloy or heat?). On another note, Is there any rocket science in shock rebuilding. Instead of shipping it to the US would a Canadian rebuilder (assuming I can find one) be able to do the job, or is there some kind of learning curve on any particular shock? Robert OB smartass...RSRBob I've got a couple of working models of AC batteries you can have in my shop. When I hook a DC voltmeter up to them they measure exactly 0.
www.gts1000.org
As the third web presence of the GTS (Mike Weaver the elusive Peter K. predate me), welcome aboard. I've been remiss in updating my site over the past couple of years. Working riding have come first, and back then there were many fewer GTSers on the net. It took forever to get 20 owners on the Owners list, that was a magical number for me, now there are over 300. I started the mailing list and was happy to have Mike Weaver take it over when my provider started charging me monthly for it. Not only that it was starting to consume too much time administeriing. I concentrated on the Owners List the website after that. I've stumbled recently with the owners list because of other priorities, and the website has been behind that. Brandon, if you're up to it and gung ho, I give you permission to rape pillage my website to put it into the .org site I'll close down my "general" gts site and keep two of my babies try to maintain them. The owners list and the bibliography of publications I've spent a lot of time developing. gts.org would of course link directly to them for the definative world owners list and english bibliography. I'd like to thank all the people that have contributed to my site over the years and apologize ;) for bushwacking people into making contributions... Don McClellan for his great overview, Gen Kanai for his suspension university paper, Mike for taking over the list (thanks Mike, I think I got the best of that deal), Kelly Cash for a guy so amazing to keep minute records of his gas log, Koji Sakata my friend from Japan, Rob Chapman for sending me some original documentation from Australia. Brian Kearney, one of the original suckers :) to take part of the duties and compile info on where to source gts stuff, Richard Lanouette, the amazing Richard for putting the parts microfiche on the internet. Garrett Welch for starting an image archive, him I both know how much work that is update. Rene Sching for his Euro connection. Loki Jorgenson in Vancouver Canada for one of the original repository's of bike info (an FTP site at Simon Fraser University). I'll talk to you offline Brandon if you are interested in taking most of this info onto the .org site. Robert Wilson (gts web pioneer, but a cheap b. who waited until '96 to buy the new bike :) http://www.mbnet.mb.ca/~neelin/motorcycle/gts.html
Shock Therapy (GTS)
Mark, mate...I think your ready for arfin brain surgery now. The patient survived! Great surgical procedure. :) Robert = difficult is it? Did Jim paint the spring red? You've got to be very careful not to let the cutting wheel hit the spring...which is about 1/4" inside the cover. I was able to lever up the spring and completely removed the chrome bit from the bottom, at the top, there's a chrome "doughnut" that's about 1/4" down from the top...invisible. The entire job, working slowly in a 95+ degree garage, took less than 3 hours. Mark
Ride Report CA,NV,UT,CO,WY,SD,ND,MB (Long)
Ride Report-CA, NV, UT, CO, WY, SD, ND, MB (no weather discussion, sunny warm except CA, NV, UT sunny HOT! involving stopping filling helmet with water and installing on head regularly, in addition to drenching shirt using a "Misty Mate" atomizer, and liters of water from my "Platypus" in the tank bag.) Last fall I rode my GTS down to the Palm Springs area and left it with Bob Taylor. At Christmas, Susan I went down rode for about 3 fantastic weeks. This is the spring pickup trip. Friday, May 26, 2000: Hopped the plane, Winnipeg-Vancouver-LA-Palm Springs. Old curmudgeon at customs was incredulous grouchy; "What are you going to do?"... "Why would you do that?" The first question was easy, the latter concerned me. If you don't already know the answer, the response will either mean nothing, or you will sound like a smart ass. Scoring a double...he still let me :). Bob met me at the airport and we drove out to his place, hung for a while then went out for Mexican (fish tacos), checked out his new pool installation, packed the bike got ready for the morning. Saturday: Up early, Bob leaves for work shortly after 5, I headed out for Yucca Valley stopped in Twenty Nine Palms and had a bun latte at the bakery. Uneventful ride up through desert Amboy, Kelso, Cima to Las Vegas where I had planned to make a short day check the town. No room in the usual area I stay at the north-east edge of the airport, so I decided not to leave any money in Vegas. Pumping ethyl, I met a young black woman [I mean the fashion style of black hair, pale face], kitted up with some kind baggy trousers about 3 inches shrt of the top of her army boots. She was doing a circuitous trip from Iowa to Oregon (presumably to a new job), on an old Honda 450 hostelling along the way. Difficult part of the trip, Nevada with a 110 mile gas tank on a bike that won't do Interstate speeds, she had come here 15 miles out of her way to get gas. As I pulled away there was a fleeting thought of Robert Pirsig's "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance". I wished her well. At Mesquite, lunch was spent under some trees near a waterfall [at a casino for those of you that are saying, "southern Nevada, trees, waterfall, huh?"] eating pizza from the gas station, and leftover breakfast cookie. I checked in at St. George, UT, then took a quick ride out to Zion National Park to scope it out for touring Sunday. Good fish tacos from the Mexican restaurant. Did the park parts you could ride in, and decided that this will be a trip for both Susan I some day soon, and I wouldn't spend time here tommorow. Sunday: On the road early, sun was coming up around Zion and I had a great ride through the switchbacks on #9. Some big scenery in Zion, definitely a place to stop do some hiking/walking another time. Forgettable breakfast at the junction, then up #89 where I had my first brush with danger. Just leaving Glendale (beautiful temperate microclimate in that area, lots of greenery) heading out of town at about 35 mph, I had to swerve to miss a 3/4 ton truck barrelling into town at 60 mph (already in a reduced speed zone), not making the corner and moving halfway into my lane. I stopped, got off, looked back, reflected on what just happened, and patted myself on the back for re-taking the MSF course this year as a refresher. Bryce Canyon National Park was next stop, a ride to the end of the park with view stops along the way back of the picturesque canyon. A hot ride up #12 through Dixie National Forest (where I left my RKA map holder and map at a rest stop where I was snoozing) and Capitol Reef National Park (interesting), Hanksville a boring road (#24) bucking wind up and past Green River to Grand Junction. There are now at least two places to gas up between Green River Grand Junction, but I70 is still pretty desolate out there. At Grand Junction I called my Winnipeg friends touring Colorado at the Super8 in Montrose and told them I'd be there in about an hour to wait supper ( lunch). #50 to Montrose is a waste of good asphalt, don't bother. Monday: South on #550, and scenic #145 to Telluride for breakfast. Great riding the rest of the morning down to Cortez. Now to introduce the Canuk riders Baj Guy (00 93 Wingbats), that's "badge" without the "d" and the french "gEE". Well Baj Guy have been and seen 4 corners before, so Baj figures I want need to ride 38 interminable straight miles on my laughably bald X90, while my brain is baking, boring. And when we get there, we get to pay 2 bucks ($3 canadian to add insult to injury), for the privilege of buying trinkets in 4 states at once. Bargain hunter I am, I went to the state that had the lowest sales tax looked around at what I had no intention of buying. A round of photos were taken of 3 Canuks taken for $2 , and we headed back on the not surprisingly still hot, boring, straight 38 miles back to Cortez (on my bald X90). #160 to Durango gets us into much more temperate
Two GTS's for Sale
I have a 1993 GTS1000A that I'd like to sell. I am the second owner, and I bought it from the original owner last year. It's red, has never been down, and always been stored in a heated garage. It has 12,000 miles, original Yamaha tank bra and original factory Yamaha/Krauser hard sidecases. The 12,000-mile dealer service has been performed. I also have the original Yamaha factory service manual. Since the GTS is such a specialized bike, I'm considering trying to offer it on the internet as well as through local (Kansas City) resources. Could you suggest a website or two that would be appropriate for selling a bike like this? Thanks in advance for any advice you can give. Mike Pandzik(800 / 888-6282 or [EMAIL PROTECTED]) Dear Sir: My name is Donna Johnson; I live in Longview, Texas. I have a Yamaha GTS1000 for sale. My laate husband bought the bike brand-new from a dealer in Tyler, TX, and just a few months after that time, he bought a Harley, which he rode all the time. The GTS is like brand-new still, red, perfect condition, no dents, dings, scratches, and only 5400 miles. It is a '93 or '94, I don't have that information right in front of me. I would like to sell this motorcycle, since it has been stored for three years since his death, but I have refused to sell to "just anyone". I realize that it is not a kid's bike, and would like for someone who respects the GTS and woul thoroughy enjoy riding it to be able to purchase. Perhaps you can help me. If you could mention some websites that I might advertise on, or if you know of someone looking for a bike like this, I would appreciate having that information. Please email should you have further questions concerning this matter. ] Very truly yours, Donna Johnson Longview, TX email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
GTS for sale repository
If someone is up to it, it's probably time to start some sort of central posting for GTS's for sale. Seems that a lot more are turning up. RObert Wilson
CA NV UT CO WY SD ND Trip next week
I'm picking up my GTS at Bob Taylor's in Palm Springs area next Saturday leaving for Vegas, Zion Bryce Canyon Parks, Colorado, Black Hills, and then home. I'm meeting up with two Canuk bikers in CO that are coming from Winnipeg. Anyone (in addition to those that emailed me before) that wants a dingle on the tele ( or ride) let me at [EMAIL PROTECTED] Anyone that is interested in hooking up with the Winnipeg riders for a ride they are leaving Winnipeg thursday night and riding to CO via ND, SD, WY. and welcome anyone. Robert Wilson
gtsowners.xls updated (apology)
I've made the corrections to the owners list that I updated a couple of weeks ago. My apologies to the couple of people that sent email expressing dismay about not being included on the list. I had updated it to the worng :) subdirectory on my server and you-all were still reading an older file. Current file is dated 2000.05.05.22:42 http://www.mbnet.mb.ca/~neelin/motorcycle/gtsowners.html or http://www.escape.ca/~neelin/motorcycle/userfiles/gtsowners.xls I didn't update the html page reference dates, next time. There are now 311 entries in the list! I remember when I thought I'd never reach 20. Robert Wilson
Re: GTS reviews
http://www.mbnet.mb.ca/~neelin/motorcycle/biblio.html Contains a bibliographic reference of all found (that I've found) GTS publications. It includes a small abstract for most. It is a superset of Ian Smith's collection because it contains several american and european magazines that Ian does not have rights to distribute. If anyone wants to follow the format submit additional, I'll post them. I might have most English citations, and would welcome some of the others...I know you Germans are hoarding a few GTS magazines...Hey Joerg...I'll even post it in German... you won't have to translate. Judging by the number of GTS's sold in The Netherlands...you must have some Dutch magazine articles out there as well. Robert Wilson
Brake Blleeder Review
http://www.motionpro.com/convtools.html http://www.motionpro.com/brakebleedernew.gif I got my Motionpro Hydraulic Brake Bleeder last week and tried it yesterday today. This afternoon it accidently fell to the bottom of my 11 liter waste oil storage container...I won't be fishing it out any time soon. It does kind-of have a one way valve, but the problem I had was that when you release the brake lever, there is air induced into the brake line thru the treads of the loosened bleeder nipple. I used thread seal on the threads of the nipple base to no avail. I got help (another person) after I had entrained air into all three of my Beta (clutch, and brakes) hydraulic lines using the MotionPro tool. I ended up using a two foot length of poly tube, doing it the old fashioned way... Pump, loosen, tighten...repeat. I will be bleeding lines with a friend in the future, it's easier. Robert Wilson
Brake Bleeder
I just got my brake bleeder, haven't tried it but take a look at http://www.motionpro.com/convtools.html for the bleeder other cool MC tools. Robert
Speedbleeder Subsitstitute
I just ordered a brake bleeder that can best be described as a speed bleeder that works in the opposite direction. Instead of screwing it into the bike, you attach it with a short hose to the regular bleeder nipple, bleed, and go on to the next brake. This way you only need one bleeder for all your bikes. Cost me US$16 or so. I believe mine was in the dealers Tucker Rocky catalog right next to the photos of speedbleeders. I'll let you-all know how it works when I get it. Robert Wilson
GPExxx GPS for GTS
Sorry guys, this is not GTS, but GPS. I know some of you know the answer to this. I want to make some contour maps by getting xyz coordinates from stakes I would put on a piece of property. I know that absolute accuracy of civilian handheld GPS's is very low for this use. How about relative/differential accuracy? What is a typical resolution? Could I get 6"/150mm vertical resolution between the stakes? I know you guys talk about using the GPS for running speed measurements that are quite accurate, this seems to me to be about the same? Yes/No? (I'm talking about taking 300 or so readings over an area of 500'x500', it's heavily brush covered and steep) Thanks Robert Wilson
Chain Maintenance
http://www.regina.it/oldregin/products/choose.htm Looks like the definative chain maintenance manual. Robert
GTSOWNERS LIST NEW request for errata
http://www.mbnet.mb.ca/~neelin/motorcycle/gtsowners.html Please check out your personal data in the new gtsowners.xls file available for download at the above site. Please EMAIL ME DIRECTLY at [EMAIL PROTECTED] to make any corrections. DO NOT reply to the list (or rather don't complain if I don't make corrections if you haven't sent them directly to me). I get the list in digest form and it is easy to miss bits that relate to me. 302 listings ! (probably a dozen or so former owners that I've retained but put SOLD in their comments). I'd say we've got a representative population of GTSers. Thanks Mike Weaver the admin of the GTS list for your daily behind the scenes control of the mailing list. Let the feeding frenzie begin! Robert Wilson
Owners List Updating
Whew! just converted all the existing to database format, will make the uupdates to the list tommorrow and have them uploaded probaly tuesday night. Robert Wilson A fellow gtser wrote me the following, any takers? I have a 93 Yamaha GTS 1000 and the question is: I have a stuck spark plug socket on #3 plug. Does anybody out there know what I can do to get it out? In use the ratchet to turn to come out but will not. All I can see is the top of the socket. I need to be able to pull it out? I've tries WD 40, needle nose pliers, tried to drill through socket but alloy steel to tough. I' lost. Help me please. Dr. Terrence D. Lekites [EMAIL PROTECTED] Washington, D.C.
Wine Country Tour Complete
Hi All, Back in Winnipeg after my California vacation some travelling tunes for those of you with ADSL/cable connections: Art Turner from Winnipeg: http://chooser.mp3.com/cgi-bin/download/mp3-download.cgi/1/1185/176695/5/mp3s/5/art_turner/mendocino.m3u Torley Wong from BC: http://chooser.mp3.com/cgi-bin/download/mp3-download.cgi/1/1369/169032/6/mp3s/6/a_techno_kid_torley_wong/turquoise_blue.m3u Anet from Vancouver, BC: http://chooser.mp3.com/cgi-bin/download/mp3-download.cgi/1/1229/203779/3/mp3s/3/anet/tortured.m3u and a token American Group, "If Machines could swing": http://chooser.mp3.com/cgi-bin/download/mp3-download.cgi/1/1137/283688/5/mp3s/5/if_machines_could_swing/dimitris_dove.m3u Had a great visit up to the California redwoods of "Avenue of the Giants" down to San Diego. Saw Bob Taylor in Thousand Palms, Donan, Beth Don McClellan in Sacremento, Marylan Fong Alan Macias in San Francisco GTSer's par excellence. Back in Winnipeg to all the wooses that spent the millenium in rural Manitobareal men spent it in Watts and Compton :) obGTS: 4,300km flawlessly, expect no lessa great vacation. Robert Wilson (only -28C tonight H.ly S..t)
Re: Tires: 120 front
I'll mix it up a bit by saying the contact patch should be about the same for a given tire pressure. More related to tire pressure than tire profile. Robert Wilson
Re: web listing
That'sme Robert Wilson [EMAIL PROTECTED] I've got a stack of paper about 3/4" high of changes to do REAL SOON NOW. Send it in, but don't resend anything you've sent me since the date of the last update. I've probably got a copy of it here. Robert does anyone out there know how to update the list on the gts site where you can update any modifications, mileage etc. that you've done to your gts. jason cog #62
repost-krausers for sale windscreen
Subject: GTS1000 - Parts for sale Date: Sun, 28 Nov 1999 23:15:21 -0600 From: "Randy Chris Martin" [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] I have a pair of Yamaha/Krauser GTS Hard saddle bags and a Lockhart tinted windscreen for a '93/'94 model. Both are brand new and have never been installed on a bike. If anyone has any interest please let me know. Randy Martin
FLUFF AX/Z, CA, NM residnets BEWARE
Me too, we're arriving in Palm Springs (Dec 17...yo! you got that Bob T.). Susan I will be GTSing thru CA, AZ, NM depending on weather. Robert Wilson "Giuntoli, Steve" wrote: Terry Baker, Thomas Duncan, or ???; Please contact me off list. I'll be out your way this Christmas. Phil, we'll have to start talking more because I'm coming your way too! Steve
FLUFF Dream Colour
http://www.escape.ca/~neelin/motorcycle/images/gtsf14.jpg I think this would be neat 10 years from now when my gts is all skuffed up and in need of a repaint. F14 heavy use scars. How about some bullet holes after a strafe job. :) Sure hides the dirt :) Robert
For Sales Reposted
Subject: GTS- For Sale Date: Sun, 24 Oct 1999 21:45:18 -0500 From: "Randy Chris Martin" [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] I have a '93 GTS that I'm selling. I'm the original owner, has 2,400 miles and is in absolute perfect condition. I'm asking $7,000 or best reasonable offer. If you know of anyone that might be interested please have them contact me. I'm located in Texas but would meet someone halfway in delivering the bike or having it shipped. Is there a GTS forum or newsgroup that I could post this message to? Thanks Randy Martin 972/931-9353 Subject: gts 1000 Date: Mon, 25 Oct 1999 12:06:16 EDT From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Have new 1993 GTS 1000 (RED, HARD LUGGAGE,BRAS,TANK COVER) FOR SALE. IF INTERESTED CALL 573 893 6814, FAX 573 893 8514. CAPITAL CITY YAMAHA 5221 BUS. HWY 50 WEST JEFFERSON CITY,MO.65109 THANKS STEVE BENNETT SERVICE MGR OR ROB MILES OWNER.
Re: fluff
Bob Taylor (BTW.I can now SEE the San Andreas (about 2 mi. away) fault line from my front door can't wait to get something for offroad to go explore!) Go Trials, manit's good for old men like us. I was skipping work one day at the local quarry and there were about 5 kids (12-15yrs) on dirt bikes off school for the day riding around on smooth trails at high speed. We stopped talked I loaned them some tools to get one of their motos working. They were interested in the Beta, and the lack of seat, I headed over to the bottom of a wash out and rode the rocky road up the wash to the top of the quarry (not really that big a deal, you'd laugh comparing it to those cool Trials videos). I said hey why don't you guy's try it."NO WAY MAN!" from two of them. That's one point for us old duffers:) Robert Wilson
