We rode: Yamaha Niken
“Combine,” I read on social networks. “Another tricycle to go into oblivion,” add others. “It's not an engine, it's a tricycle,” added a third. It is worth stopping here, breathing in and until yesterday, heretically declare yourself as a motorcyclist. Guys and girls, you know, THIS is a motorcycle. And even this very innovative one, with cutting-edge technology in the front, boasts its own design and, above all, simply impresses with its driving characteristics.
When Eric de Seyes, president of Yamaha Europe, unveiled it at the EICMA motorcycle show in Milan last November, it looked like a transformer on stage with a blue-painted double front fork just waiting to morph into ... whatever. The thing definitely sounded interesting, although some were skeptical, saying that another story about the prototype, smelling of those three-wheeled scooters that middle-aged men in T-shirts and pants and jet helmets with on the ring roads of large cities, Ray "Slippers" and Ban's mirrors are chasing an adrenaline rush somewhere in their lives. And what a beauty in the style: "We, motorcyclists, huh ?!" with a vehicle that can be driven from the B-category. But we were wrong.
Three means creativity and excellence
At the end of May, we met again with Mr. Erik in Kitzbühl, Austria. At the presentation of the Niken tricycle. By the way, "ni-ken" is a derivative of Japanese, meaning "two swords", in Yamaha its name is pronounced as "Niken". The invitation to the presentation said that we would ski, ride the carval in Slovenian, on the glacier above Kaprun. Funny. Along with the president, who by the way is a highly skilled motorcyclist and skier, we also got to know two top skiers, one of whom was Davide Simoncelli, a former member of the Italian team, who taught us the technique of notched skiing. Why? Because Yamaha claims that cornering on the Niken is like notch skiing, a technique that brought a new dimension and revolution to skiing many years ago. To some extent, this is even true, but about the driving experience a little later. Why is Niken revolutionary? Mainly because of the two front wheels, the double front fork and above all because of the complex patented steering gear clamp with parallelogram connection, which ensures that each wheel follows its own curve in accordance with the Ackermann principle known from the automotive segment. The technology of inclining the front pair of wheels is called Leaning Multi Wheel - LMW. Niken allows slopes up to 45 degrees, and here we can find common ground with the notch ski technique.
De Seyes explains that they have been testing and testing and compromises a lot. The 15-inch front wheels are such a compromise, as is their 410mm spacing. Along with the two wheels, the twin-tube front suspension is the most striking element: the USD rear forks are 43mm in diameter for shock absorption and vibration dampening, the front diameter is 41mm for a Niken-like wheelbase. no front axle. If the front end is a complete and innovative novelty, then the rest of the bike is what we at Yama, this time in a slightly modified version, already know. Niken is powered by the proven CP3 three-cylinder engine, known from the factory Tracer and MT-09 models, with three modes of operation. With 115 "horses", he is alive enough to express himself in Niken, and at the same time so strong that only an experienced hand (motorcyclist) can control him. It was the Tracer that was the foundation on which it was built, but the Niken has a slightly modified geometry adapted to a tricycle design; Compared to it, the Niken has a 50:50 weight distribution, so the riding position is slightly more upright and shifted back.
From design to the top of Veliki Klek
When one looks at this new Yamaha marvel in photos, it is of course impossible to feel and feel how the Niken actually rides. Is it really just because of this that it is appropriate for us, orthodox motorcyclists, to wave our hands and say that this is another “three-wheeled scooter”? No, because it has to be experienced. Try it. Drive there, let's say there, towards Veliky Klek, a nearby hill, to the top of which this serpentine road winds and where we are heading to release motorcycle adrenaline, including Slovenians. And that's where we tested it. This is his environment, the winding back roads are his home. One more thing about the design: however, it is quite pointed, a bit like a scorpion or a shark - a wide “front” with narrow buttocks. Feelings? I sit on it and at first I feel that it is quite heavy in my hands. 263 kilograms is not exactly a featherweight category, but next to me, a fragile French journalist, who weighed no more than 160 centimeters, also mastered it on the spot as a joke. So yes! Well, the weight disappears from the first meters, but two other problems arise: one does not know exactly where the bikes are going, and the front works very wide. But both problems can be overcome with a little practice and getting used to, so the dilemmas disappear after a few miles.
At the first turn to the left from the valley to the top, we still feel that at these heights the asphalt is winter-spring, read cold, the grip is not rich, so caution is not superfluous. With each turn it gets better, I go deeper into them, then I slow down, sometimes I even feel a slight slip of the front pair of wheels. Um, karvam ?! The bike inspires confidence, even when I overtake the ahead of the truck, overestimate the situation, fix, brake and retreat to the Golf in the oncoming lane. He told me. I don't feel panic, the bike is stable and controllable, the system works fine without using the clutch when upshifting, the brakes have done their job (the braking force is transmitted to a pair of wheels, so the friction is higher). At higher speeds, despite the small unregulated front shield, I feel air bumps, but this is not critical. Would your other half come with you to Velikiy Klek? Whichever you choose, the seat is large enough and the bike is also ready to take you to the top through those countless corners.
Therefore, Niken needs to be tested, and not just seen in photographs. You will have the opportunity to "cut" it at the corners of Gorenjska from August 29 to September 2, where it will be delivered by a Slovenian importer as part of Yamaha's European tour. This is definitely an opportunity to learn a new dimension of the automotive experience and broaden your horizons. It will appear in the showrooms of Slovenia in September. You will be happy because Niken will simply impress you.
