Yamaha GTS 1000 - The Future is Forkless

If you've spent any amount of time here on OddBike, you’ll be aware that I tend to favour independent thought and unique approaches to the design and construction of motorcycles. The mandate for this site, such as it is, is to profile rare and unusual machines – with a particular eye towards unique technical qualities.

One element I have touched upon in the past is the proliferation of unique front suspension designs that are arguably superior to the “traditional” telescopic fork. There are a few brave engineers, designers and inventors who have dared to question the hegemony of the fork and propose a better solution. One of the most prominent, and perhaps the most misunderstood, is James Parker. Parker was one of the first inventors to achieve what many backyard tinkerers only dream of – to have his design adopted by a major manufacturer and put into mass production. His efforts are thus one of the best-known contributions to alternative front suspension design. Unfortunately Parker learned the hard way that the difference between conception and production can be significant, and that the design process within a major manufacturer is far from straightforward.

Read the rest on Silodrome.com

Image Source

Photo credit R. David Marks

Interesting Links
Motorcyclist on the GSX-RADD
Ultimate Motorcycling on the GSX-RADD
GTS1000 Launch article from 1992
Yamaha GTS1000 Club Forum
Yamaha GTS1000 documents and press material
Yamaha GTS1000 press release
Motorcycle Specs GTS1000
Motorcyclist "Smart Money"
A rather critical review of the GTS1000
Alan Cathcart on the ELF experimental racers
RADD P1 Patent
Yamaha GTS Patent
RATZ P2 Patent
GSX-RADD P3 Patent
Mark Gardiner on the Mission R
Overview of alternative front suspensions including RADD
Tony Foale's "Steering for the Future"