Yamaha Niken Full Review, Jeff Ware
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- Опубліковано 23 січ 2019
- We have just spent a good few weeks with the amazing Yamaha Niken and at the end of it all, we have to admit we didn't want to hand it back. Going into the test with an open mind was crucial, as it took a good few full day rides to understand the Niken, it's benefits over a traditional bike, as well as the areas that the Niken is at a disadvantage. Check out our video review ...
SPECIFICATIONS
2019 YAMAHA NIKEN
PRICE: $21,999 + ORC (AUD)
Warranty: Two-year, unlimited kilometre
Colours: Grey
Claimed power: 84.6kW [115bhp]@10000rpm
Claimed torque: 87.5 Nm[64.5ft-lbs]@8500rpm
Wet weight: 263kg
Fuel capacity: 18L
Engine: Liquid-cooled, crossplane triple, 12-valve four stroke, 78 x 59.1mm bore x stroke, 847cc, 11.5:1 compression, fuel injected with selectable three engine modes, traction control three levels
Gearbox: Six speed, constant mesh, quickshifter.
Clutch: wet plate, multiple disc, assist & slipper
Chassis: Diamond frame
Suspension: Double upside down forks, 110mm travel, swingarm with linkage, 125mm travel, semi-adjustable
Brakes: ABS : Front dual 298mm rotors with four pot radially mounted calipers, rear single 282mm rear rotor with a single pot caliper.
Wheels: Cast multispoke, 15in F 120/70 - 15, 190/55ZR17 Bridgestone A41
DIMENSIONS:
Overall length: 2150mm
Width: 885mm
Wheelbase: 1510mm
Seat height: Adjustable - 820mm
Ground clearance: 150mm
Track: 410mm
Trail: 74mm
Caster: 20º
Instruments: Multifunction LCD display, secondary trip counter display and gear indicator
Jeff Ware - Авто та транспорт
I own one absolutely love it didn’t think I’d like it till I rode it
A larger gas tank, surface to air missile's, machine gun... this should definitely be in the next James Bond movie! I definitely would ride this in the rain and cold winter days!
007! Absolutely!
Probably the best and most informative review of the Niken that I have seen. Good job, champion.
Thanks!
💯 Agree with you on that !!!!!! What's with the tiny fuel tanks these days, hardly enough to warm the engine🤣 Something really cool about this bike😎, I think its cause its so different!
Like you, ive done a bit of racing in my time in Scotland and bsb a million yrs ago but I was shite in the rain
Wow best review on this bike, you are way more thorough than other reviews!
Thanks!
Would I buy one? No, as it is just not my style.
Have I ridden one? Yes.
After taking one for a test ride I came away with the feeling that I didn't hate it but just one of difference.
It is just different in a lot of ways and not in a bad way I guess you could say, same same but different.
I applaud Yamaha for thinking out side the box and can appreciate the technology and engineering that went into making it.
My thoughts exactly, Mr. McHaggis. I haven't ridden one. No need. I'll not have one. I know looks are subjective so I am only speaking for myself when I say I absolutely hate the look. I'm not going to buy a bike that I would have to sneak up on to ride it! Notice I did say bike though. No mistake about that, she's a bike alright. But not for me.
Nice review. It's almost time to review the 2023 Niken GT. It should be available for customer delivery this month, I believe. (`Revolution Reloaded')
2023 Niken GT: 890 cc, Euro 5, revised frame/engine angle, Yamaha Chip Controlled Throttle, 7-inch TFT display, 10mm lower (and narrower) heated seat, GT windscreen adjustable by 7cm, USB up front, heated grips, and a few modifications to power delivery. No one has reviewed (actually ridden) it yet.
We will get on it later in the year when it arrives Down Under. Should be good!
This video says a lot more than the spoken information and very helpful. The full scrubbing on the edge of the tyre lets you know despite the weight it will still lean over pretty nicely. Brakes seem to be the weak point and rear grip would be based on preference and type of riding.
I bought the Niken GT in 2019. Have ridden 12500 miles on it, around 20,00 KM. Had a month long tour through europe covering 12 countries and 8000 KM. This is one amazing bike, it holds the road like no other. My only criticism is the weight, 263 KG wet. With the bags, back box and pillion passenger, the weight was over 400 kg. Love the bike, hate the weight, guess its a compromise.
Hi George - wow. I wonder how many owners have done that sort of riding on one. Not many... Great experience. I can imagine the weight is a pain... Agree, a great machine. Jeff.
@@BikeReviewcomau Thanks Jeff.
Hi mate, what abouth head lights in Europe, it is adjustable for EU rules?
I rode a demo, and mostly agree with your review, and I appreciate your 'to the point' review style. I wonder whether that press bike was due a steering tweak I thought slow speed was seamless smooth. I'm bit older than you (?I think - 56) and I wonder if the charm of this machine...i.e the security of the front end, becomes more compelling the less life one has left. Maybe in Aussie, always dry roads, but here in NZ, 6 months of often wet roads and ...well gravel/diesel/possums/ makes a single front wheel - now that I have the choice - all a bit unnecessarily heroic and fraught. Nah I'm into them- Nikens, I'll get one pretty sure.
Oh I kinda thought it needed mentioning about how you very much sit behind the front end, maybe some tourers are like that but most bikes I've ridden (plenty of sport/sport tourers) have the rider up and over the front wheel ...comparatively at least. If some big bikes do feel like that - I bet they aren't nearly as sporty with it. I thought it felt pretty cool actually ..somehow it said get on the gas and worry about where you're pointing later cause it'll be fine.
Anyhow, I rode a new Z900 Kwaka replica - that everyone raves about - the next day. And while the engine is slightly smoother and more powerful - ya do have just the one front wheel - with all its weird behaviour under brakes in corners and knowledge that one contact patch is not two comparative worry.
I didn't think the feel of the Kawasaki front end, at least, offered particularly awesome feel (some bikes do or can of course), but as it was it was hardly chalk and cheese between it and the Niken and I just ended the ride thinking it needs another front wheel ...which would amount to a ridiculous destruction of a beautiful replica machine I know but ...what good is that beauty when you and it low side into a car, or under a truck. But Aussie's mostly dry so I'm sure you'll be fine. Perhaps that's glib or insulting or stupid to say but it's probably true, in NZ not so much.
Thanks for the feedback and point of view. I did like the NIken but had issues with front end slides on a few different bikes - and one monumental one in the rain when only half leaned over, with a mate behind me on a two wheeled bike that saw it unfold and had no slide himself... So I'm not sold on it being safer. When it lets go it really lets go... The tyres are only Adventure tyres for some reason and probable contribute to the issues I had..
@@BikeReviewcomau bugger ... it might be tire related I guess. There's that Niken vs M09 fitted with an outrigger test youtube vid - which I had thought was quite compelling ..putting the Niken ahead front end grip wise. I take it 'Adventure' tyres are even a step down from sport tourers ...hmm, I always try to get the gummiest tires - tho' with the 15" front tires I have no idea if that size has gummy - maybe bucket racers use them or something. Anyhow cheers. p.s funny thing is how 'different' seems to be a universal aggravator - my 'I tried this Niken and liked it' fb post got only (well mostly) piss taking ...lol .. ahh bugger them. I remain intrigued and impressed by the memory of riding the Niken. Did you mention an ohlins?, anyhow that, a good engine run in, and gummy tires - get the fairing right for me - I'd love to have one in the garage. later, thanks for responding.
Good review. Thank you.
Thanks Jeremy, really appreciate the feedback. Jeff.
I have one and riding it for 13 months now and i love it. I use it as a touring bike not a race bike. Otherwise i should have bought a 2 weel bike. Because you can lean more. Sofar i have never touch the ground with my pegs. My only pproblem is : when you drop the bike it is hard to lift it up all by yourself. 263kg. It can gives you back problems.
You are a good reviewer
Thanks!
Just back from a 6 country tour of Europe and my improvements would be: Tank too small for touring, seat too low. Screen too small. Fix these and I might consider it.
Sto x.essere sottoposto int.femore rotto volevo comprarla pero' volevo aspettare 2022 prima che ci sia qualche novita' a parte che c'e'poco da migliorare forse aggiugere ilckuic schif anche in scalata oppure la colorazione non mi interessa 6 mesi gia piu vecchia aspetto consigli grazie
Of course, Niken is a motorcycle. There are so many negative thoughts about it. Why do people spend so much time and effort to speculate on what it is instead of riding the bike? Have you tried the GT version?
Good point. We've just recently tested the GT and will have a video up on that too shortly.
I bought a GT two months ago and I love it. I’m an average size guy so it did take some getting use to the height. It can be a bit scary at slow speeds but once you learn to wrangle this beast it’s a joy. Riding a bike is stressful enough so just knowing there’s extra grub in the front gives me the piece of mind to actually enjoy my rides instead of worrying about every corner. Thats what sold me on the bike. The GT comes with the saddle bags grip warmers and optional seat warmers.
I tried one but get frustrated with the pegs scraping the road. Is there more lean angle abalible when the advisers of the pegs are writen off?. Is then when the inner tyre slides?
The hero blobs were totally gone pretty quickly during our testing, while it was banked over enough for the actual peg itself to be touching down fairly significantly at that point.
I'd get one. Live in Tasmania so there is a lot more rain and cold weather regarding tyre grip.
Did you know it rains twice a year on the west coast of Tasmania? Both occasions it lasts about 5 and a half months.
Only joking...I think.
Now, I have to ask.
If this particular style of motor vehicle is so safe and improves the quality of riding.
Why are these particular bikes not more produced?
Granted the front end engineering is rather robust and extremely intricate. The "factor of safety" which should be prime point with legislatures and insurance companies. The factor of safety to reduce accidents, much like seat belts, much like air bags, much like shatter proof glass. These dual wheel improved front end advancements should be heralded as the way to go for majority motorcycle riding.
Yes, the diehard cyclist of two wheels should be an option, and you pay for that option with higher insurance rates. Why? Because you don't have that added layer of protection going into or out of curves, and just manipulating the bike. I'm not saying these three wheeled bikes won't spill over, but I am saying it takes a heck of lot more effort to spill it over.
Hi there - I would not say they are safer in any way... as you might have read in my review or seen in the video, I still managed to lose the front-end a few times... I personally don't think they are any safe than two wheels.
나이켄 지하주차장 우레탄 바닥에서 풀브레이킹해도 안넘어졌어요 전에 바이크는 넘어졌지 싶어요
This was a really good review. Probably the best I have seen on this turd. This definitely IS a bike. Why wouldn't it be? That triple sounds nice as triples do. I do like the engineering that went into designing this machine. It's really well done! But... looks are subjective, and I'm sure that many love the look. I can't stand it. This is just not the bike I want to see when I approach "MY" bike. Tank is waaaay too small. And I think you are being charitable with regard to the brakes. But not bad. Just not for me. No, I haven't ridden one. No need. Riding one doesn't make it any less ugly.
Gotta ask who in the world asked you if it was a Truck? Oh, you said Trike.... laughing my a** off... need to clean up my ears for the Aussie accent. It looks to cool, wish we could see one in the flesh in the States.
T
Things things are more distracting to drivers than woman in a red bikini. But I don't mind either :)
Niken: for those riders that simply feel that today's 'conventional' motorcycle' with ABS, Traction Control, IMU, anti wheelie 'nanny controls' is far too dangerous and riding a high tech, overly complex TRIKE engineered to emulate the riding dynamics of a motorcycle is the answer to assuaging their fears. Hilarious and sad.
Have you ridden one?
@@BikeReviewcomau You've missed the point, entirely, of my exaggerated post: I have not and have no intentions of riding the Niken as I am positive that it rides as well as any modern motorcycle with all the popular electronic riding 'aids'. The fact that the Niken is not a tangibly 'Better' motorcycle compared to what's currently available, makes me conclude that the overly complex/hi-tech Niken concept is patently unnecessary and redundant. I'll stand by my, " ...it's an overyly complex Trike engineered to emulate the riding dynamics of a motorcycle...". To each their own. I've 4 decades of riding experience and I know what I like regarding motorcycles.
Making something more complex, with no real benefit = FAIL.
@@elmoomle4565 80% more grip at the front doesn't sound like a fail to me. I've had 34 years on bikes and I thought it rode very well. I liked the planted and solid feeling at the front. Especially in the wet. No doubt in your 40 years you've had the front slide out from under you, me too. I would buy one.
Another fool that has never ridden the Niken. Nice to know that you have 4 decades of riding experience - which can easily be like 2 years of riding experience repeated 20 times. ;)
@@simonhughes-king8493 Ah, there is the question... You WOULD buy one. Are you going to? And if not, what is stopping you if you liked it so much? I am actually very curious.