Yamaha unveiled an interesting and unusual motorcycle called the ‘Niken‘ at this year’s Tokyo Motor Show. It is a three wheeler sports bike but is completely different from the trikes that we are used to of seeing.
The chassis has three wheels, two at the front and one at the back, all of the three wheels are normal bike tyres. This concept is not new but it is the first time to come from a major automobile company like Yamaha.
As this bike is currently just a prototype, there isn’t much information revealed by the company. More details and specifications about the project are is confirmed to be announced at the Milan Motorcycle Show in November.
Yamaha released a video where the Niken is seen in action. The video starts of with some sort of technology equipped guy crafting a ski and then riding it down a street and then the same leaning idea from skiing is performed on the concept bike.
The body design of the Niken is very similar to Yamaha’s MT-09. The only specifications revealed is that the bike will feature a liquid cooled, four strokes, four valves, fuel injected, DOHC, inline triple engine. This three cylinder engine of 847 cc is also taken from the MT-09.
The Dimensions have also been revealed and the Bike is over 7 feet long and 3 feet wide with 15 inch tyres up front and dual tube upside down the forks.
This bike would feel and provide a more traditional motorcycle experience compared to the typical trike that doesn’t lean. The bike looks unusual from the front but it appears to look like a normal sports bike from the side profiles.
Yamaha says the benefit of the Leaning Multi-Wheeler is that it “reduces the effects of changing ride environments and to deliver a high feeling of stability when cornering.”
The concept with two wheels at the front and one at the back is not exactly a new idea. Piaggio MP3, Morgan 3 Wheeler and Can-Am’s Spyder are also some other bikes that are built on the same idea.