I wouldn't mind trying this Yamaha Niken

[TheTwoOfUs]

 

[David and Sally]

I've wondered about them too. Very radical but the reviews are good.

 

[PhilG]

When I first saw it, I just thought 'why'... that hasn't changed. Its hard to know what the target market is.

Its funny how the market seems to have drifted into a bit of an alternative reality, which means everything is either an adventure bike , or a scrambler, or some throwback thing that never actually existed. Saw a road test on a new Guzzi Adventure bike, that is basically want the have made for years, with knobblies and high bars .

 

[hilldweller]

KISS

The big question is WHY ?

So what will that do that a normal bike can't ?

So much to go wrong, so much weight, so much to service, so much to clean.

 

[hilldweller]

Its hard to know what the target market is..

People without a bike licence.

People who own jet skis.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[TheTwoOfUs]

Twice as much grip on the front end. It would probably have saved us when I hit a patch of diesel in Gent many years ago. Plus I would think you get better braking.

 

[hilldweller]

Twice as much grip on the front end..

Have you ever tried power sliding it ?

Not 100% convinced on grip and braking, problem is the two contact patches have half the weight and there is more so much more weight up front. So better probably but not double.

 

[TheTwoOfUs]

There is another video which shows the rider power sliding, backing in and wheelieing.

 

[Jim]

Trying to think of the benefits....Not having a kick stand, can anyone think of anything else?

 

[hilldweller]

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[hilldweller]

Not having a kick stand,

Look again.

 

[LesW]

Trying to think of the benefits....Not having a kick stand, can anyone think of anything else?

If you like buying tyres..?

 

[Jim]

Look again.

Not needing a kickstand

 

[hilldweller]

Not needing a kickstand

I know one, maybe more, of those trikes has a suspension lock, not sure which.

I was surprised how many we saw in Spain/Portugal this year.

 

[TheTwoOfUs]

My MP3 has suspension lock and a centre stand.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[hilldweller]

My MP3 has suspension lock .

You've got to hope they got the design right, imagine trying to haul one wheel off the deck if it locked up.

 

[Familymad]

I like that a lot. Will defo go for a test ride but double the contact patch at the front has to be of interest. Sadly it won’t filter on the M25 as well for me.

 

[Nonose]

Altogether now... "3 wheels on my Niken and I'm still rolling along, those Cherokee's are after me..."

 

[hilldweller]

Sadly it won’t filter on the M25 as well for me.

The bars are still the widest part, I think.

I know the real down side, all that front grip, stopies ! With infinite front grip, you can't use it on a bike.

 

[Guigsy]

It has more grip, but that's not he main benefit. If you loose grip, it'll understeer like a car, you can correct and probably survive. With one wheel up front, you'll at least need new underpants, or you've low-sided/gone airborne!

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[tonyidle]

If you loose grip, it'll understeer like a car,

Like a two wheeler then - but with a better chance of high-siding when it grips again?

 

[Guigsy]

Like a two wheeler then - but with a better chance of high-siding when it grips again?

According to the reviews, if you turn off the traction control and really abuse it (powerslides, etc), it can have a go at throwing you, but you have to really be taking the pee.

 

[hilldweller]

If you loose grip, it'll understeer

But not like a car, like a bike. The front will tuck like a single wheel, a car slides but stays in a stable condition.

 

[Guigsy]

But not like a car, like a bike. The front will tuck like a single wheel, a car slides but stays in a stable condition.

Read the reviews. They pretty much all say that it'll just glide wide like a car.

 

[Enword]

You Should get descent air when you highside

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[hilldweller]

Read the reviews. They pretty much all say that it'll just glide wide like a car.

Well, to be honest, I can't be bothered.

I wonder if one would have saved me yesterday ? I was in slow traffic at a junction, came to a stop, THUD, bike is on it's nearside. So with the help of the card driver behind I pick it up and in the process find my foot in a sunken manhole cover. Of all the places to stop, one foot on the road, one foot an inch or so down and that's all it took.

Just a scuff on the bar end and a scratch on the engine bar. Not a mark on any plastic and the bars didn't bend. Bike is now Christened.

 

[Familymad]

Sorry to hear about the drop. I think it doesn’t stay upright if you let go of it.

 

[hilldweller]

Sorry to hear about the drop..

Thank you. Pride suffered but nothing else.

One of the first thing I fitted was a set of H &B engine bars, it paid off.

 

[jockaneezer]

Years ago, a pal of mine came to a stop at traffic lights in town and ended up on the floor, the kickstart had gone up the leg of his Wrangler flares and he couldn't get his foot down !

 

[hilldweller]

Years ago, a pal of mine came to a stop at traffic lights in town and ended up on the floor, the kickstart had gone up the leg of his Wrangler flares and he couldn't get his foot down !

Love it. Funnily enough I did just the same one day, right foot down. The left foot nothing, would not move, my lace had caught in the footpeg, but I got away with that one. You can tell how long ago by "laces". But I still know exactly where it happened.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}