Niken or not?

[slappy]

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]

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

[Anquetil]

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

[BBROWN1664]

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

[blackcabbie]

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

[Dudeofrude]

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]

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]

[quote author=blackcabbie link=topic=24670.msg286025#msg286025 date=1540849576]
its not self supporting.... it will fall over without a foot down

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

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

[Freck]

[quote author=fazersharp link=topic=24670.msg286035#msg286035 date=1540897197]
[quote author=blackcabbie link=topic=24670.msg286025#msg286025 date=1540849576]
its not self supporting.... it will fall over without a foot down

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

[/quote]
me too! what an utterly pointless bike/whadevvethefocitis (and this from a bloke who bought not one but two of their mto1's..)
[/quote]
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.  :lol
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.  :rollin Not for me I’m afraid.

[BBROWN1664]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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. :lol

[Grahamm]

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]

[quote author=robbo link=topic=24670.msg286222#msg286222 date=1541178252]
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.
[/quote]


That's called Karma 

[Fazerider]

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]

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]

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]

https://youtu.be/k5iFllm99Ko


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