Yamaha Niken - the crazy leaning two-wheel front end

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Yamaha Niken - the crazy leaning two-wheel front end

Post by jabcb »

Yamaha video shows how it works:
https://youtu.be/HK21-4WZnWM
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Re: Yamaha Niken - the crazy leaning two-wheel front end

Post by rodent »

Is it just me, or is that trike gayer than aids :?:
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Re: Yamaha Niken - the crazy leaning two-wheel front end

Post by sportston »

Gay? Not sure about that, but it sure looks ugly at the front end! It reminds me of a shipping container crane/lift.
Didn't Yamaha make a previous foray into twin front wheel design back in the early 90s?
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Re: Yamaha Niken - the crazy leaning two-wheel front end

Post by sportston »

Nope it wasn't two front wheels i was thinking about. It was the GTS1000 which had only 1 front wheel but no forks. Memory gets a bit hazy as you get older :wth: :roll:
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Re: Yamaha Niken - the crazy leaning two-wheel front end

Post by tz375 »

Piaggio has had a similar design scooter on the market for years and seeing them flying around Paris, you can see that two wheels at the front may be better than one.

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Re: Yamaha Niken - the crazy leaning two-wheel front end

Post by jabcb »

tz375 wrote:Piaggio has had a similar design scooter on the market for years and seeing them flying around Paris, you can see that two wheels at the front may be better than one.

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Yamaha probably should hire a good Italian designer to do something about the Niken’s fugliness.
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Re: Yamaha Niken - the crazy leaning two-wheel front end

Post by Alan H »

I suppose it answers a question that hasn't been asked........ :?
Think of how stupid the average person is, then realise that half of them are more stupid than that.
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Re: Yamaha Niken - the crazy leaning two-wheel front end

Post by sportston »

Neither Piaggio or the Yammy look very manly. Perhaps they are aiming it at the female market.
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Re: Yamaha Niken - the crazy leaning two-wheel front end

Post by tz375 »

I don't think so. They appear to be used extensively in cities like Paris where people use 2 wheels to commute regardless of the weather. And since a few cities still have nice slippy cobble stones, twin front wheels make for a safer ride - or at least it probably feels safer.
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Re: Yamaha Niken - the crazy leaning two-wheel front end

Post by sportston »

Ah, I see. A bike for pussies then! I was kinda close with my guess :lol:
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Re: Yamaha Niken - the crazy leaning two-wheel front end

Post by tz375 »

I wouldn't call anyone that rides around Paris on a daily basis a "pussy". Those guys are seriously nuts. Have you ever been on the periferique in morning rush hour? They take lane splitting to a new dimension.
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Re: Yamaha Niken - the crazy leaning two-wheel front end

Post by sportston »

tz375 wrote:I wouldn't call anyone that rides around Paris on a daily basis a "pussy". Those guys are seriously nuts. Have you ever been on the periferique in morning rush hour? They take lane splitting to a new dimension.
Haha. Point taken!
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Re: Yamaha Niken - the crazy leaning two-wheel front end

Post by jabcb »

Another official Niken video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_a1KCPZ_TkU

Maybe Yamaha thinks it understands the European market a bit more than we do.
Online Niken ordering system for Europe goes live on May 17th:
https://niken.yamaha-motor.eu
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Re: Yamaha Niken - the crazy leaning two-wheel front end

Post by sportston »

Interesting bike. Just find it so hard to stop staring at the ugliness. Its like when you are a kid being told not to stare at the disfigured face of a war vet. Its so hard to look away!
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Re: Yamaha Niken - the crazy leaning two-wheel front end

Post by jabcb »

More info here: https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/motorcy ... 5h#image=9

Dual wheel setup added 100 pounds. Allows for a 45 degree lean angle. Still can pop a wheelie.
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