Post Listing Update: Though the BIN was lowered to $4,000, this Yamaha did not sell on eBay.
In 1955, Citroen dropped a bomb on the car market when they released the DS, which was chock of technology on four wheels. Among these innovations, Citroen notably implemented hydropneumatic suspension to the car, which made the ride very smooth. Despite the huge success of the model, the car industry did not follow that path and these kinds of technologies were left behind. Well, in 1993, Yamaha released its version of the DS, the GTS1000.
Playing on the sport-touring segment, the GTS inherited Yamaha’s FZR1000 engine with slight modifications to make it more flexible. The Genesis engine received lower compression, smaller head-pipes and a cam-timing adapted for mid-range power. The GTS was also gifted electronic throttle-body fuel injection, which was pretty new at the time. To respect the environment, the bike was also equipped with a catalytic converter that was supposed to reduce emissions by 60 to 70 percent. The whole bike produced around 100 hp. Anyway, the GTS was mechanically pretty standard – except for the real attraction of the bike at the front. There’s no fork! Instead, Yamaha used James Parker’s RADD concept. Simply put, there is a swing-arm between the frame and the front wheel, equipped with a suspension that lets the wheel move up and down without impacting the frame/chassis or the steering.
Yamaha was very audacious in trying to implement the concept, and the no-fork concept did not spread as Yamaha was hoping. The GTS sold for only two years in the US and until 1999 elsewhere. To have more information about the GTS1000 and the RADD concept, you can consult Rider Magazine and Motorcyclist.
The GTS (VIN: JYA4HHEOXRAOO3217) presented here is in rather good condition, showing a little bit less than 20k miles. The bike is notably equipped with new tires and a Micron exhaust. Other than that, the mechanics are claimed to be working great. The body is not in perfect condition, showing a few cracks on the front fairing.
Find this GTS1000 in Trenton, Michigan with a BIN of $5,600