Author Topic: Niken or not? (Read 2834 times)

slappy · « **on:** 29 October 2018, 03:41:05 pm »

Would you buy a Yamaha Niken?

For me it is a big no, £13500 for a 263 kilo MT09 with an extra wheel, I don't care how much confidence you get in pushing the front end, its not a motorcycle, its a tricycle.

Frosties · « **Reply #1 on:** 29 October 2018, 04:15:55 pm »

Nope, would never buy one - can't see who it's marketed for to be honest

Anquetil · « **Reply #2 on:** 29 October 2018, 04:26:49 pm »

It's not for me. I prefer my Fazers !

BBROWN1664 · « **Reply #3 on:** 29 October 2018, 05:01:15 pm »

Maybe if I get to the stage where I cannot use my legs to support the bike. Does it have a reverse gear?

blackcabbie · « **Reply #4 on:** 29 October 2018, 09:46:16 pm »

its not self supporting.... it will fall over without a foot down

Dudeofrude · « **Reply #5 on:** 30 October 2018, 01:16:13 am »

I doubt I'd buy one but I'd love to have a go. Could possibly change my mind if it was good enough

fazersharp · « **Reply #6 on:** 30 October 2018, 10:59:57 am »

Quote from: blackcabbie on 29 October 2018, 09:46:16 pm

its not self supporting.... it will fall over without a foot down

Oh - well I thought that was the whole point of the thing.

ogri48 · « **Reply #7 on:** 30 October 2018, 02:27:57 pm »

Quote from: fazersharp on 30 October 2018, 10:59:57 am

Quote from: blackcabbie on 29 October 2018, 09:46:16 pm
its not self supporting.... it will fall over without a foot down
Oh - well I thought that was the whole point of the thing.

me too! what an utterly pointless bike/whadevvethefocitis (and this from a bloke who bought not one but two of their mto1's..)

Freck · « **Reply #8 on:** 30 October 2018, 04:37:52 pm »

Quote from: ogri48 on 30 October 2018, 02:27:57 pm

Quote from: fazersharp on 30 October 2018, 10:59:57 am
Quote from: blackcabbie on 29 October 2018, 09:46:16 pm
its not self supporting.... it will fall over without a foot down
Oh - well I thought that was the whole point of the thing.

me too! what an utterly pointless bike/whadevvethefocitis (and this from a bloke who bought not one but two of their mto1's..)

I loved the MT01, it was such a laugh. Had one for a couple of days, borrowing it from a mate who owns a Yam dealers.
I just giggled like a school kid when sat at lights because of how it jiggled about at tickover.

As for the Niken, it’s a lot of money for something that will make you look like you can’t ride a proper motorbike, needing an extra stabilising wheel.

Not for me I’m afraid.

BBROWN1664 · « **Reply #9 on:** 30 October 2018, 05:14:28 pm »

There used to be a definition with DVLA that if the track of the twin wheel exceeded a certain distance, it was considered a "trike" and could be ridden on a car licence and under that width it was a bike so needed a bike licence. It looks like they have done away with that now as you can only ride a trike if you have a bike licence now unless you passed your car test before 2013. Maybe Yamaha don't realise the rules have changed?

VNA - BMW Wank · « **Reply #10 on:** 30 October 2018, 05:55:56 pm »

Quote

For me it is a big no, £13500 for a 263 kilo MT09 with an extra wheel,

Stone me.
Meanwhile I can't keep up with Yamaha price rises.
The 2019 MT10 price is now £11,642
Fuckin B****T!

Billy Balthorpe · « **Reply #11 on:** 01 November 2018, 10:33:10 pm »

Quote from: VNA on 30 October 2018, 05:55:56 pm

Quote
For me it is a big no, £13500 for a 263 kilo MT09 with an extra wheel,
Stone me.
Meanwhile I can't keep up with Yamaha price rises.
The 2019 MT10 price is now £11,642
Fuckin B****T!

If i had paid that much i'd just think "there's 5 really good bikes there" every time i walked into the garage and looked at it.

robbo · « **Reply #12 on:** 02 November 2018, 05:04:12 pm »

December's Bike magazine has a test article about the Niken. Three riders give their before and after opinions. One is an ex cop turned riding instructor who was totally sceptical. The second was Gary Johnson, motorcycle racer, and the third was the magazines editor. All favoured the experience ranking the bike 8/10. Gary Johnson reckoned 98% of road riders would ride better and faster. The confidence inspiring front end was the key, but all unsure what market it's aimed at.

coffee · « **Reply #13 on:** 02 November 2018, 11:29:39 pm »

Quote from: robbo on 02 November 2018, 05:04:12 pm

December's Bike magazine has a test article about the Niken. Three riders give their before and after opinions. One is an ex cop turned riding instructor who was totally sceptical. The second was Gary Johnson, motorcycle racer, and the third was the magazines editor. All favoured the experience ranking the bike 8/10. Gary Johnson reckoned 98% of road riders would ride better and faster. The confidence inspiring front end was the key, but all unsure what market it's aimed at.

Well, Jake the peg would buy one just for the craic.

Grahamm · « **Reply #14 on:** 02 November 2018, 11:38:30 pm »

Quote from: robbo on 02 November 2018, 05:04:12 pm

The confidence inspiring front end was the key

Having had a front end slide out on me twice (once on a bicycle, once on a moped) I can understand the attraction of the extra grip and stability from the double-wheel front end, but I don't know that that would be enough to make me want to buy one.

Frosties · « **Reply #15 on:** 02 November 2018, 11:42:05 pm »

Quote from: Grahamm on 02 November 2018, 11:38:30 pm

Quote from: robbo on 02 November 2018, 05:04:12 pm
The confidence inspiring front end was the key

Having had a front end slide out on me twice (once on a bicycle, once on a moped) I can understand the attraction of the extra grip and stability from the double-wheel front end, but I don't know that that would be enough to make me want to buy one.

That's called Karma

Fazerider · « **Reply #16 on:** 03 November 2018, 09:21:31 am »

Like Peugeot before them, they’ve done a clever job on the front end geometry to make it work... but it’s not for me, it’s far too heavy and wide.
Last night I filtered through miles of rush hour traffic on my way home, the Niken would just have become part of the queue. The same applies to a lot of overweight bikes too, of course, and I wouldn’t want one of them either.
I guess it’ll appeal to those who don’t have the confidence to ride a bike but still want the feeling of leaning the right way round corners.

robbo · « **Reply #17 on:** 03 November 2018, 09:45:24 am »

Apparently widthwise, it's narrower than a beemer GS. Although it's quirky and sort of pointless, I bet not many people would turn down the chance to have a good go on one, just to find out what it's all about.

celticbiker · « **Reply #18 on:** 03 November 2018, 02:34:35 pm »

As far as looks are concerned I'm not too bothered about that and I've had some wide bikes in my time and you can still filter with them if your spatial awareness is as it should be if you ride regularly.
I actually like the Niken and if the two wheels improve front end grip and don't increase running costs excessively then I'd be happy to own one.

slappy · « **Reply #19 on:** 03 November 2018, 03:19:51 pm »

https://youtu.be/k5iFllm99Ko

If this link works it shows a Yamaha four wheeled " motorcycle" !

F4celess · « **Reply #20 on:** 06 November 2018, 01:52:47 pm »

That whole front end would be a money pit, even before servicing the rest of the bike.
2 front wheels, 2 front tyres to replace, FOUR Suspension struts to service. 2 sets of brakes...... this Bike will help line Yamaha pockets.

Plus at £13,500... you could buy 4 or 5 very nice bikes with that money, PLUS have change for a fully loaded sliding Snap-On Tool chest !

VNA - BMW Wank · « **Reply #21 on:** 06 November 2018, 06:13:58 pm »

Quote

That whole front end would be a money pit, even before servicing the rest of the bike.
2 front wheels, 2 front tyres to replace, FOUR Suspension struts to service. 2 sets of brakes...... this Bike will help line Yamaha pockets.

Just read a review in Motorcycle Sport and Leisure. It says only the rear of the front forks are “live”. Presumably the tyres last longer. It has a single disc per wheel so still a twin disc set up.
So maybe not any more expensive to service.

The reviewer Gary Chapman was blown away by it. Drain covers, damp patches etc – no need to worry about them. Oh running costs, maybe those tyres and brakes might not last so long as the grip is outrageous and the braking force you can apply is phenomenal according to Gary.

On the track he intentionally tried to abuse the front end but just ended up scrapping the pegs all over the place, which he said was so easy. Braking deep into corners is no problem.

While at the track he phoned Yamaha to ask – what happens if I take it beyond the limit? The answer was first the pegs go down (that means you are near the 45 degree limit), then you will experience understeer and then once all the linkage travel has been used it will lift a wheel.

Skippernick · « **Reply #22 on:** 06 November 2018, 08:30:44 pm »

I would have one, I love it.

The market I reckon is very forward thinking, in this country we have massive congestion, and even though that mayor of London bloke hasn't realised it yet 2/3 wheels will be the answer in the future. But a lot of people will be put off by 2 wheels hence Yamaha getting the jump with a bike with 3 wheels. Bath have just announced a clean air zone, all bikes are exempt! Hopefully its starting to dawn on the powers that be that motorbikes are part of the answer.

celticbiker · « **Reply #23 on:** 07 November 2018, 07:18:46 am »

Bikes are part of the answer yes, but not as we know them. I think e-bikes will be the vehicle of choice in the great metropolis.
Owned by corporations and used via a phone app and card payments.
Grab the nearest available bike, log on, go to your destination, park and log off, grab another one for the return journey.