2023 Yamaha Niken GT - First Ride - Weird but wonderful touring machine!

[@MrZahir.]

Refreshing to get a alternative opinion on this rather than the usual negative bike reviewers who can’t get passed the two front wheels! Sometimes different is better

[@andrewewan624]

Yes.. it's your man from Scotland here.. Still loving my NIKEN... superb motorcycle Added 29,000 miles in past couple of years...total reliability. Forget what others may think.. ( people love to come over and talk about it, with 99% of the comments positive )....it's fun and isn't that what riding is all about Stay safe😢

[@flapjackbeans]

Im struggling with my legs getting them up on pegs does the 2 wheels hold the bike up at junctions, and whats th ecrack in a gravel car park when you need to back it up? no reverse? I want to like it but not sure. youtube@flapjackandbeans

[@mancavemoto]

@flapjackbeans Hi, no it doesn’t stand up on its own, it’s just like a regular bike in that respect. No reverse, it’s obviously heavier at the front but is still pretty easy to manoeuvre about.

[@paulclarkson1778]

I bought a 2021 Niken in March 2023 with zero miles on the clock for £8k (thank you Wigan Yamaha!). Wow. What an incredible machine. I've riden loads of bikes since my AP50 in 1978, but the Niken is the best by far. Comfortable, quick, smooth and so planted.

[@2wheeledwillie395]

Great review !! 👏 I've got a 2021 Niken and absolutely love it...Yr spot on about having to have a thick skin, its usually other bikers that seem to dismiss the bike as an ugly,pointless trike (most of them have never even sat on one)..always draws a crowd when it's parked up though !...I urge people to try one before they dismiss it as a Yamaha "gimmick " bike, it is shockingly good and SO much fun...especially in the twisties!!

[@JIMWSMITH]

Was a big surprise when I saw earlier this year the new model was out. Fair play to yamaha they have updated everything that current owners wanted on the old bike. Personally ❤ it.

[@MHDarlington]

Thank you for not passing over this bike; I'm currently abroad and not in a position to buy but I have a 3-5 bike wishlist (it varies depending on mood, ambition and bank account health) but the Niken has been a consistent occupant of the top 3 since I first started reading about it. Great to hear an objective view on what it can do and I'm looking forward to seeing your full review. Great stuff

[@1990-t1j]

I'm probably in the minority here. I think it looks good. As for having to be thick-skinned: it's only macho England where you find such ignorance. I ride powered two-wheelers every day for nine months a year in Thailand. In Portugal I am in the process of selling my bikes, leaving me with my Can-Am Spyder F3-S. The other week, three motorcyclists down from GB blanked me. They were young. I'd spotted them earlier in a petrol station. I'd like to bet I've done more miles on conventional bikes than all of them put together. Rant over. I'd rather like a Niken in Thailand.

[@cpuuk]

Watch out for my brother, he'll be on the Speed Twin coming the other way ;-)

[@alanbarnes2920]

Congrats on achieving 50k subscribers! 👍🏻

[@mancavemoto]

Thanks Alan! 😃

[@twowheelsoneleg5672]

Rode one when they first came out and being someone who like the "odd" I quite liked it. It does feel very very secure in corners, a little heavy to move about and while not tall it the seat was quite wide so made it feel taller. If you ride all year round on typical British roads then it might be a good shout. Price wise these are not big sellers and I bet within months Yamaha dealers will be offering these with decent discounts. For me while the front end security was very nice I've never had a front end wash out on me on a 2 wheeled bike so it feels like it fixing a probllem I don't really have

[@niallk9336]

Everyone talks about the 2 front wheels (neat... obviously that's why we're here in the first place). Nobody talks about the storage. The realities of what this bike would be like as a daily.

[@verdonrocksphotography3510]

Love it, bet it has lot of potential if you tourer or Tour de France camera guy, just kidding it is lovely machine and looks very steady and confident inspiring , wish have chance to try it, nice work Tony, cheers V!

[@thomashendron4356]

thanks for the quick review on the Niken, a second review where take it on dirt roads to see how well the dual front wheels do with gravel and dirt road irregularities?

[@mancavemoto]

It’s coming….

[@UsernameKate]

Much more flattering cameo than EnglishDefenceLeague Dan LOL great to ride with you! :)

[@mancavemoto]

EDLdan, oh dear that’s gonna stick in my head now! 😂 Ditto

[@davidkelly414]

Great review.

[@mancavemoto]

Thanks!

[@Banditmanuk]

I rode the original Niken on the Niken tour when they were first released. You can definitely take some liberties in the corners and with the front brake. It really is a good bike. Saying all that, I don't see any reason to buy one ahead of the Tracer 900GT. There's some cheap low milage old model examples out there, so buying new you could see your new 3 wheeled friend deprecate quite quickly.

[@mancavemoto]

Yes it’s a great bike, but a tough sell

[@zardportugal]

Brilliant.

[@derekholme6922]

Awsome machine rode well for a first ride, I suppose as an older rider and as we always say with the years piling on one is more aware or afraid of falling off , my point is, does this make you feel safer all round and still enjoy riding, others can mock but I would think this machine would show some sports bikes the way home? Does the Nikon stand alone without putting a stand down which I did spot as you parked up at the end? Thankyou and look forward to further presentations.

[@mancavemoto]

Hi Derek, thanks. It definitely gives you more confidence, my slight worry would be going back to a conventional bike and trying to take the same libertys when cornering. I’ve seen it ridden in anger and it’s an amazing sight. No. It won’t stand up on its own, you treat it like a normal two wheeler.

[@teneretraveller8980]

Yamaha have always delivered the occasional left field bike. And all power to them for it. As an only means of transport in all weather it would take a lot of beating. Some years ago they experimented with a 2wd R1. I wonder if that might have gained more traction ( sorry ) in terms of popularity as an all weather system? Safe , happy travels

[@mancavemoto]

😂

[@JohnLongdin]

Good review thanks Tony. Just a couple of questions: Does counter steering work the same as a standard bike? Possibly a stupid question but do you still have to put your feet down at lights? Thanks

[@mancavemoto]

Thanks john, yep exactly the same and a regular bike and no it doesnt stand up on its own, you still need to put your feet down!

[@allanmason7544]

nice review as per normal

[@mancavemoto]

Thanks!

[@carlospedreira1403]

Is this motorcycle included in category 79(3) of the driving license?

[@mancavemoto]

Its not classed as a tricycle and it can't stand up on its own

[@carlospedreira1403]

@@mancavemoto thanks

[@cpuuk]

It looks funky, but why would you not buy a 9 variant and get the weight saving benefits? I think they should have gone balls out touring and made it shaft with a bigger engine.

[@mancavemoto]

The handling makes the extra weight pretty much negligible! I’m not sure you’d need any more power on the road! The new Tracer 9 GT+ is a cracker too

[@majordelays4909]

How frequent will all the shocks need a service ?

[@mancavemoto]

I suspect no more often than standard forks?

[@ruahinesrider]

Great bike & if you got physical ailments keep you riding a bike.

[@mancavemoto]

Why physical ailments?

[@ruahinesrider]

@@mancavemoto & if you got physical ailments & need a more stable bike like some people develop etc keep them on bike & riding like a trike if got bad leg etc but also good for everyone else too. I met a old guy who had one cause he wanted something more stable he was 81.

[@mancavemoto]

Oh ok, I get what you mean.

[@ianmorgan7198]

I take my hat off to both Yamaha for having the cajones to put the Niken GT on the road and you for the having the cajones to be seen out on one, it may be a techno marvel but its just plain 'fugly'

[@MegaWebsters]

Can you wheelie it?😂

[@mancavemoto]

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