WITH A FIRM IDEA OF WHAT A BIKE SHOULD LOOK LIKE,
JOCK MCLAUCHLAN CHALLENGES HIS OWN PERCEPTIONS
WITH YAMAHA’S NIKEN.
M
y first impression of the Yamaha Niken was purely
from Yamaha’s publicity images. At the time I
could see the design team had definitely nailed
the Alien meets Predator look and there was some serious
engineering going on in the front-end. I found I was torn
between Polar opposites. Was it admitting defeat as a two-
wheeled motorcyclist to countenance riding such a machine?
Or, was it the greatest technological breakthrough and
safety lifeline motorcycling has seen since… well, ever?
As a life-long, passionate motorcyclist, I have an image in my
head of what I believe looks right in a motorcycle… and it’s
not the Niken. Also, I think part of what makes many people
ride motorcycles is a rebellious, daredevil streak that loves the
challenge and innate pleasure of trying to master what is an
inherently unstable machine. So, does that make the Niken a
little too PC to be considered a “real” bike by long term riders?
But there’s the other side of the equation. The Niken definitely
looks futuristic and cutting-edge cool in a transformer’s
kind of way – it is certainly an attention grabber. Also, two
front wheels have, more or less, double the front-end grip.
There is absolutely zero down side to that in my mind; I’m
thinking amazing front end confidence an safety on wet
roads. And lastly, the uniqueness alone will appeal to many.
From what I had seen on social media, opinion of the
Niken is very polarised, just my opposing thoughts above.
Those who have actually ridden the Niken are all extremely
positive. Only some bloody-minded ones who have not
ridden it don’t seem to like it… which kinda speaks volumes.
Clearly this was going to be an interesting and exciting
KR test and I couldn’t wait to throw a leg over it.
KIWI RIDER 53