The bike’s Forkless RADD front suspension designed by James Parker allowed for faultless stability under braking, but that came with at an enormous cost, which in turn made the bike cost too high for the paying customer—its eventual commercial downfall.

The GTS1000 was at the forefront of technology in its short life. It boasted a lot of systems not normally found on motorcycles, such as electronic fuel injection, ABS and even a catalytic converter. Its engine, which had already been launched by Yamaha on the FZR1000 was limited to 102hp.

In 2006 the GTS1000 was considered by the renowned English magazine, Bike, to be one of the most beautiful and rare motorcycles ever to be produced.