justplainbill

I live in Carson City; dying to do Monitor and Ebbetts again. Regrettably, due to the storm last night (4/14/21) , Cal-Trans says that Monitor is closed again. It should re-open soon. This is a video I posted on YouTube on May 14, 2019 - not as dramatic as your photos (I was a week late for that) but it was a good day:

I was going to recommend checking out uShip, because I used them twice in the past and had good results. Reading reviews of the company now, I would be very careful to find out what they will charge you for their service, what the trucker will charge and whether the trucker has a lot of very positive feedback from customers. There are a lot of highly pissed off reviewers here: uShip Reviews - 59 Reviews of Uship.com | Sitejabber 59 reviews for uShip, 1.9 stars: 'I signed up on UShip to...

I agree that the one on the left gives the best "traditional" tan color, the others on the lean side. But modern motorcycles are not traditional - and your lean plugs look more like mine ;' I was happy with these when I changed them this month (11,000 miles) - performance was normal, economy very good (50+ mpg, but I ride conservatively). Incidentally, I changed them because I was dealing with a different problem and since I'd gone to the trouble of removing tank and all the tupperware, it just made sense to do it now and not go through that again.

I've been interested in watching or reading about a comparison of the Niken and any bike with cornering ABS, so I searched YouTube for "Niken VS" and came up with this video - in Italian (which I do not understand - but I think I do understand video of motorcycles flying through corners): My impression of the video is that there is little to choose in handling corners between the Niken and KTM 790 Duke (the Scalpel ) with C-ABS). If anyone able to understand Italian can provide a confirmation or correction to my impression, I would be grateful. A second video, by Cycle World misses my mark (Niken vs C-ABS equipped bike) by comparing the Niken to the Tracer (no C-ABS) and not only on handling differences, but on all aspects of the two models. They do confirm isthatahemi's conclusion that the Niken is pretty much "magical' so far as ride quality and handling are concerned...although those qualities were not enough to persuade them that the Niken was worth the added cost over the Tracer. Good news for Tracer owners.

The idea that C-ABS compensates for rider error sounds right on its face, but is probably not accurate. C-ABS is found on most professional road racing motorcycles today and those guys ride more aggressively and make fewer errors than most of us. So it's probably more accurate to say that C-ABS allows aggressive riders better use of traction available in a corner and works to prevent both the tire sliding out from under the bike, or the bike standing up and "changing lanes" under braking. That may sound like hair splitting, but the net effect is that a C-ABS bike ends up with more usable traction in a corner than the same bike in the same corner, without C-ABS. That seems like something you would find useful. The fact that C-ABS also corrects rider error is something that I would find useful. The Niken starts out with more traction because of having two contact patches in front and one in the rear. You're quite right that it takes someone ham fisted (or intentionally trying) to crash a Niken. Search YouTube for videos on crashing a Niken for the motorcycling equivalent of "hold my beer and watch this". For me, either scenario sounds great, and the fact you find the Niken so entertaining is a very positive thing. I like my FJ-09 and I'm sure I'd like a Niken too. Thanks. Bill

I'm rather curious isthatahemi, do you have any experience riding a motorcycle with cornering ABS? My own interest in the Niken (and leaners before it) has been focused on retaining the essence of motorcycle riding (leaning to turn) with the added safety of a third wheel. Since the advent of Bosch and Continental inertial measurement units (IMU's) and their use on motorcycles (C-ABS, wheelie control, launch and traction control etc.) I've lost much of my interest in leaning three wheel motorcycles. It seems like C-ABS provides most of the benefits of leaning technology (safety, confidence) without the added cost, weight or bulk of an MP3 or Niken. I have some experience riding a Ducati Scrambler with C-ABS and find it confidence inspiring (don't suppose it ever kicked in), but none on a Niken and would be interested in hearing from someone who has ridden both types. I'm still open to a Niken, especially at year end close out prices. 😊 Bill

Using chitown's calculation of an 11.2% reduction with 17/43 sprockets in final drive ratio, you can multiply your observed engine speed (RPM) at a given road speed by 88.2 to determine engine speed with the higher (lower numerically) ratio at the same road speed. So if your engine speed is 5000 RPM at 75 MPH with stock gears, it will be 4410 RPM at 75 MPH with 17/43 gears. (I don't happen to know the RPM at 60 MPH and it's too damn hot here to ride down the road to find out.😀 )

Depending on your height, inseam, flexibility and how you mount the bike, saddlebags that extend as far outward (away from the bike) as the H&B's above can make getting on and off difficult. Using factory Yamaha soft bag mounts (part number 2PP-F84G0-T0-00 about $125 US) and Yamaha saddlebags (1RC-F84HD-V0-OO A around $250) makes for a more compact package. For an even more compact and cheaper set up, use the Yamaha mount (to keep the bags from rubbing the tire) and any brand aftermarket "throw over" style saddlebags you like with a normal width 6" or under. Many, if not most, can be expanded for more capacity when needed.

Do I have this right?: Yamaha is giving Nikens away and paying for the opportunity of having them ridden in a public venue. We have a Nevada Day Parade here every year in Carson City and from the rag-tag participants (a lot of politicians), it's obviously easy to get a spot...I wonder how much Yammie would pay me to ride one in it. 😁

One slight difference with Tripletrouble's procedure, is that I set my forks the same distance (9mm) above the top triple tree as the dog bones dropped the rear of the bike; just to keep the geometry the same at both ends.

MSRP (RRP) for the Tracer GT is $13000. About $2000 between the standard Tracer and GT version. (There's only $1300 difference between the Niken and Niken GT.) What I find interesting is that Kawasaki will be fielding a 2019 1000 EX LT plus model of the Versys 1000 LT, and it will cost $5000 more than the LT (MSRP of the EX LT + is $18,000). For the extra money Kawasaki has loaded every known electronic rider aid known to man on the bike; cruise control, electric adjustable suspension (F&R), IMU for cornering ABS, wheelie control, stability control, traction control, an up and down quick shifter, cornering lights, Bluetooth connection to a cell phone with the ability to make tuning changes through that connection. Kawasaki is treading on Euro territory (BMW, KTM, Ducati) but not their prices.

Very interesting, and I’m really glad to hear that. Apparently there is appetite & demand for the concept, and it’s not through that ‘traditional’ buyer channel. I applaud the effort by Yamaha, as anything that expands the power sports market is good for all of us. Any clue on how many Nikens are being produced? I have to assume the numbers are low, and would love to know where they’re actually going. In addition to the demo Niken fleet (four) they had a Niken GT on display. Bill D. said it was surrounded by geezers (himself included) and he overheard some talk about how much better it was than the Spyder or other trikes because it leaned. He took a pretty good photo of the GT with an unknown geezer aboard: Considering that the only way to buy a Niken is to order it through the Yamaha NA website (not from a dealer) so all they need to do is wait until they have enough orders to justify making and shipping Nikens, which does make it easy to say they have them all sold before delivery and a line waiting. The Yamaha rep. did not provide any production numbers or destinations, so that remains a mystery that interests me too.

Put me in for just don't get it. I used to get it... but not any more. I love riding twisties, but I'm old and losing skills by the day, so any technology that increases my chances of safely continuing riding sounded great. Two things came together that for me, put Niken on the curb: First, Yamaha waited three? years between teasing the Niken and releasing it. Second, Bosch and Continental worked with KTM, BMW, Kawasaki and other bike manufacturers to develop the IMU (inertial measurement unit) so it provides very effective cornering ABS -- making Niken's improved traction on corners relatively moot since C-ABS permits safe braking when leaned over, and achieves the same result as improved traction. And there was a third item - I decided to slow down and not stress[span] [/span] test my aged synapses. :'(

CORRECTION!!! Just got a call from a friend attending the Progressive International Motorcycle Show in Long Beach, as he was standing by four demonstrator Nikens, talking with the Yamaha rep. All rides today are signed up for, but if I flew into Long Beach early Sunday, I might get to ride one. (Fat chance of me doing that.) Yamaha rep told Bill D. (my pal) that every Niken they get is sold before it arrives and there are people in line waiting to buy them. Seems FJ-09/Tracer owners are not the intended market segment for Yamaha Nikens. Or we just don't get it.

Niken GT MSRP is $17,299 - $1300 more than the standard Niken. For that, you get a wider, taller windshield, plusher saddles, heated grips, a grab rail that evidently also serves as a trunk mount, semi-hard locking saddlebags, two 12Vdc power outlets and a centerstand (I guess the standard Niken didn't get one). Availability is March 2019.