The advanced Yamaha-exclusive
technology used in the double leaning front wheel layout offers high levels of
traction - making it a strong performer in corners. And two front wheels means
there are two front tyres and two sets of front brakes.
The Niken's unique leaning
multi wheel (LMW) system offers very sporty and confident handling
characteristics, together with enhanced feelings of stability and grip when
cornering in a wide range of surface conditions. The Niken is powered by a
torque-rich 847cc 3-cylinder engine.
From the rider's viewpoint the Niken has a
rugged wide-shouldered appearance that contrasts with the slim fuel tank,
giving a unique riding style unlike any other motorcycle. The upward curving
main seat features a wide, flat design with excellent rear support that gives
high levels of comfort.
The sporty front face features
lightweight dual LED headlights housed in a downward curving aerodynamic cowl
and dual position lights. The broad nose cowl and sport screen give the Niken rider
good protection from the elements, and together with the natural riding
position, this advanced LMW is ready for everything from thrilling corner
carving through to sport touring over the weekend. YZF-R1 derived mirrors
feature integrated LED turn signals, and are designed to give a clear rear view
even when the riding position changes.
In order to achieve high
levels of straight-line stability together with sporty cornering performance, a
new kind of hybrid frame has been especially developed. The head pipe area is manufactured from cast
steel, while the swingarm pivot area is cast aluminium, and the main frame
connecting these two assemblies is made from steel tube.
The Niken's unique LWM 3 wheel
layout introduces another dimension compared to a conventional motorcycle, and
in order to optimize the Niken's handling performance, a 552mm long aluminium
swingarm is used. This is 15mm longer than the MT-09 design, and the increased
length helps to give a strong feeling of stability when cornering.
Another key design element is
the riding position, and compared to the MT-09 the Niken rider sits around 50mm
further towards the rear. This seating position gives an idealized 50:50
front-rear weight distribution with the rider on board - giving a natural
handling and steering feel.
Double "external"
upside-down front forks
In order to achieve sport bike
handling capabilities, the Niken's maximum lean angle extends to 45 degrees,
and this has been made possible by the use of the Ackermann dual axle steering
mechanism, together with a cantilevered suspension system mounted to the
outside of the wheels.
The double
"external" upside-down front forks are equipped with rebound and
compression damping adjusters that enable the rider to dial in their ideal
suspension set up, and the relatively narrow 410mm track contributes towards the
Niken's natural steering feel - as well as keeping overall width to a minimum.
The Niken's rear suspension
offers full adjustability for preload, compression and rebound damping,
enabling the rider to set it up to suit varying conditions, and for convenience
the preload can be set without the need for tools.
The double 15-inch front
wheels are fitted with 120/70R15 V range tyres. The motorcycle has Dual 298mm
front . The 847cc 3-cylinder engine that drives the new Niken has been
specially developed from the successful powerplant that is also used in the
best selling MT-09, as well as the Tracer 900 and XSR900.
The premium quality and high
overall specification of the Niken is underlined by the use of a sculpted
aluminium fuel tank that has been created using the same advanced production
technology as the YZF-R1 and YZF-R6. With a capacity of 18 litres, this high
quality light aluminium tank gives a range in excess of 300 km.