2019 Yamaha Niken ?

tawilke46

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Certainly looks outside the box design wise. Yamaha sticking their necks out on this bike.
Big front end reminds me of Alien in the movie. For an engineering exercise I give it a 9.5......


https://youtu.be/G0hMs0E5kDw
 
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If "bold and futuristic looks" is marketing speak for ugly I think I would agree! I do wonder what the additional wheel would provide from a safety standpoint... Gotta think that the Riken will be a very expensive machine.
 

RedLdr1

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I had read several times that Can-Am was working on a leaning front end for the Spyder and was preparing to submit several patents. It looks like Yamaha beat them.

It will be interesting to see how front tires wear...
 
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Riding around this weekend I think I could of used an extra front wheel. Seems like almost every corner had farming and boat trailer gravel on the curves. Every early and late season you get the extra gravel and dirt on the curves and intersections. Makes you change you line to miss the trash. Seems when you have big farming equipment you get a bonus, to check your riding skills.
 
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OMG! NO...Yamaha has to be given kudos for experimenting though ..but...didn't they try a two wheel drive dirt bike?..where did that get them?...huge R&D costs for a non existent problem.Could be an exercise for future placement of electric battery pack squeezed between the front wheels for a low c.o.g.. who knows what they are up to . Definitely a big No in my book
 

DirtFlier

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Interesting exercise but I don't know if it'll go anywhere since motorcyclists by nature seem to steer well clear of new ideas. Heck, some riders even prefer and demand air-cooled vs liquid cooled engines! :)
 
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With the lack of younger (Millennials, General z, ??????) generations joining as motorcyclists, I think you find more motorcycle manufactures looking for was to incite new riders. I don't think their will be 'Uber or Lift' for motorcycles. Heck they can not even find enough young people becoming carpenters, electricians, and other trades.
 

RedLdr1

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Heck, some riders even prefer and demand air-cooled vs liquid cooled engines!
Ain't no need for a over engineered, heavy, maintenance intense water cooling system on a bike...:rolleyes1: I've never had an air cooled engine strand me with a radiator leak...or freeze! :wink: Next thing you know some foo-foo "marketing specialist" will want to replace the chain with a over engineered, heavy, maintenance intense shaft drive out of a Acura...:eek1:

I suspect the Niken is an attempt a to attract more beginners...less chance at falling down. And it will at least probably siphon some sales off of Can-Am and the other forward trikes. And unfortunately like Honda's styling turkeys, the DN-01 and the NM4, it will probably also appeal to the youngsters (Millennials, General z, ??????) who can't afford one...:rolleyes1:
 
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It is probably a good engineering exercise for them but I am surprised it went into production. They have plans for the future, we will have to wait and see if it works out for them and also for us riders.

Brad
 

DirtFlier

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[...it will probably also appeal to the youngsters (Millennials, General z, ??????) who can't afford one...:rolleyes1:]

And since they're not motorcyclists, they won't notice it has two wheels up front. :)
 
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It's like the Piaggio MP3

01piaggio-mp3400.jpg
Yup, that thing has been around for years. A feature is being able to lock it vertical at a stop. So, good for geezers.

Some guy in the northwest has a patent on a kit to add leaning front wheels to a bike. I think that I read that he'd worked out a deal with one of the big companies.
 

Phil Tarman

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BIKE, the British mag that is my favorite MC rag, is excited about the NIKEN. They think it will be a very positive development and will reach new motorcyclists. It still is ugly, but they say you don't notice that when you're riding it.
 

mikesim

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It may be ugly, but it may be the solution to keep me on two..... er... three wheels when I become an old fart!

Mike
 
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