Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1099522
2019 YAMAHA NIKEN GT FIRST REVIEW P90 package. Yamaha thinks most people will agree, as they expect that 2/3rds of Niken sales in the U.S. will be the GT model. With that said, I have two com- plaints. While the windshield is slightly taller and wider than the non-GT unit, it's still too short for touring duty. Yamaha offers 19 accessories for the Niken GT, one of which is a 60mm taller windscreen for $199.99 that you should budget for. My big issue with the GT package is the saddlebags. It's frustrating that a bike, which is ostensibly designed to let you travel safely in the worst of weather, would have saddlebags that aren't waterproof! Yamaha provides roll-top inner bags, but it's a solution to a problem that shouldn't exist in the first place, and it feels cheap. In addition, the bags are not keyed to igni- tion. Instead, Yamaha includes a three-digit combination lock to keep your bags secure. It feels even cheaper. The luggage isn't the only aspect of the Niken GT that seems unbefitting of a $17,299 motorcycle. The clutch lever and windshield aren't adjustable, the turn signals don't self-cancel, and while the LCD display is very easy to read, it's bland com- pared to the color TFT screen on the $12,999 Tracer GT. The biggest offender of all might be the ignition lock housing, which looks like someone forgot to attach a cover over the screw heads. It's a minor issue, but it's right in front of your face while you're riding. These niggles are disappoint- ing as the Niken GT is not a cheap bike. But the third wheel obvi- ously adds some cost, and for the right rider, the benefits could be priceless. This is not the first time Yamaha has tried to shake up the world of motorcycling with a non- traditional front end. In 1993, the Tuning Fork company released the GTS1000 sport-tourer with what they called "a major leap forward in motorcycle design"—James Parker's RADD single-sided front swingarm. Journalists loved the stability and the engineering, but there were complaints about the front-end feel, the soften- ing of the donor drivetrain, the weight increase and the price. Sound familiar? The GTS1000 sold poorly in America and was yanked from the market within two years. Though the Niken GT and the GTS1000 share several similari- ties, I don't think they'll share the same fate. This time around, Yamaha's not marketing the bike as a death knell for traditional front ends. The Niken GT simply offers a way for sport-touring rid- ers to be more confident in their travels, and I'm sold on Yama- ha's pitch that more confidence means less stress and more fun. In addition, Yamaha is bringing a very limited number of Nikens to the US, so there's no expecta- tion that it will take over as the future of motorcycling. So, there won't be thousands of Nikens rolling around the U.S. on three wheels, but I'm very im- pressed with what Yamaha has put together as a touring pack- age that somehow offers practi- cality and insanity at once. If you consistently ride in inclement weather or just want a machine that attracts attention from ev- eryone, the Niken GT deserves a test ride. Learn to trust the front end and you'll be rewarded with the most engaging three- wheeler I've ever ridden. Just make sure to budget extra time for each trip to deal with all the questions from onlookers! CN S P E C I F I C A T I O N S 2019 YAMAHA NIKEN (MSRP $17,299) ENGINE: ......... Liquid-cooled, 3-cylinder, DOHC, 12-valves, 4-stroke DISPLACEMENT: ............................ 847cc BORE X STROKE: ............... 78 x 59.1mm COMPRESSION RATIO: ....................11.5:1 CLUTCH: ..... Wet multi-plate, assist and slipper type TRANSMISSION: .........................6-speed CHASSIS:...Steel and aluminum diamond FRONT SUSPENSION: ...... 41mm upside- down telescopic forks, 2 per side, fully adjustable REAR SUSPENSION: ...Monoshock, fully adjustable FRONT BRAKE:.....Dual 265.6mm discs, dual 4-piston caliper, ABS REAR BRAKE: ........ Single 298mm disc, 2-piston caliper, ABS FRONT TIRE: .................. 120/70 R 15-in. REAR TIRE: ..................... 190/55 R 17-in. WHEELBASE: ............................... 59.4 in. SEAT HEIGHT: ............................. 32.3 in. FUEL CAPACITY: ..........................4.8 gal. WEIGHT: .............................................N/A COLOR: ..................Matte Phantom Blue