2019 YAMAHA NIKEN GT
FIRST REVIEW
P86
When compared with the Tracer 900GT, (basically the
Niken's two-wheeled sibling) you must exaggerate your
counter-steering and turn in earlier than you normally
would. In Japanese, "Ni" means "Two" and "Ken"
means "Sword," but these two swords aren't perfectly
sharp. This presents an issue when Yamaha's emphasis
is on confidence: the front end is genuinely more stable
in a corner, but it's harder to feel what's happening. It took me a few hours
before I trusted the Niken, but I'd call it more blind faith than confidence.
The Tracer GT is like a dance partner you've had for years. It knows your
every move seemingly before you do it. The Niken GT is a new dance part-
ner: you're feeling each other out, and there's a little bit of a delay before
you're completely in sync. Surely, with enough practice, it will all feel natu-
ral again. But guess what? The Niken knows some moves that you don't,
and everything changes when the road conditions aren't ideal.
(Above) No
matter the
amount of dirt
in the road, the
Niken is sure-
footed.
