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.

Maybe hindsight, but if Yamaha had focused on the existing reverse trike market and told those guys that a leaning trike is more fun than a snowmobile with wheels or go cart missing a wheel they might have had a chance of selling some Nikens.

Apparently, Yamaha filed a notice with the California smog board that they will be introducing a variation on the Niken with "GT" embedded in it's model descriptor. https://www.rideapart.com/articles/274303/yamaha-niken-gt-carb-filing/ Considering that for $16K, the Niken should have come with saddle bags and other touring amenities (not just cruise control) I'm not overly excited by the news. Especially if it pushes the price up around $18K.

It's almost like there a "deep state" at Yamaha who wants the Niken to die before it's out of the box. Non-existent promotion and marketing, the silence is deafening. No public demo rides at a major motorcycle exposition? Corporate politics can be cruel.

I'm not sure this is completely true but Road Racing.com says not only will the Niken be on display Oct 13-14 to the public at the AIMExpo in Las Vegas, but demo rides will be available. http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/yamaha-motor-corp-usa-to-showcase-new-models-during-aimexpo-october-11-14-2018-in-las-vegas/ I don't doubt the Niken will be on display (yawn) but an AIMExpo promotion email I got from Yamaha did not list it among the demo models available. Because Niken is being marketed "by reservation" only and is shown as sold out on Yamaha's website, they may offer demo rides only to those who have reserved one and will be attending the expo. (I am not on that list.) A friend living in Henderson NV plans to attend and ride an FJR1300. I'll ask him to look into the Niken and demo rides.

Another Niken test video in Austria, this one done in French by Mehdi Bermani of Motor Dive.TV. Except for those staged photo op shots on hairpin curves where it's easy to get leaned way over, Bermani seems to be a more laid back kind of rider and you can get a good sense of the roads and terrain he's riding in and the amount of effort he puts out to go around corners (not much). I could imagine myself running those roads and being just as entertained as he was.

This is a Niken test done by Marco Marini, of Rivista Motociclismo, posted May 18, 2018. It's in Italian so unless you understand that language, it's best viewed for the unusual views of the wheels (from above) and for some of the shots riding the bike in really wet and cold weather and for some knee dragging that I haven't seen much of in other Niken videos. Petty good stuff:

Interesting discussion of Niken price compared to other three wheel reverse trikes by Florin Tibu at Drivemag Riders: https://riders.drivemag.com/news/yamaha-niken-price-announced-lower-than-what-we-feared Tibu make the point that the base price of the Niken in Europe is 14995 euros ($17558 USD) while Can-Am Spyder, Campagna T-Rex, Polaris Slingshot are all well above that price (the T-Rex being about three times the cost of Niken). A good point and one that Yamaha must be well aware of. Returning to texscottyd's conflict over value for price and technology, FJ-09 riders are not a likely target for a vehicle competing in the current reverse trike marketplace. Most FJ-09 riders don't have a need for a bike/trike whose primary benefit (per Yamaha advertising) is a "feeling of confidence" in corners imparted by the second front wheel. That's something older and more affluent riders might value and at present, can only acquire with one of the other reverse trikes. Considering it's price, and throw in the exhilaration two wheel riders get from leaning into curves and the Niken has a lot going for it in that segment. You might ask why Yamaha is trying to sell an old man's bike to young men? The answer might be that most current Slingshot and many Spyder owners were not motorcyclists, or at least not "sporting" motorcyclists (i.e., may have owned Harleys) before buying their reverse trikes and don't value the leaning experience. (I took a quick look at one each of those forums - using "Niken" in the search terms and found very little interest or knowledge of the Niken and only one person with motorcycle and MP3 experience who would consider selling his Spyder to own a Niken.) That would make persuading aging "motorcyclists" that a Niken will keep them in the game longer to be a useful sales tactic for Yamaha. Reviews posted so far don't address that issue...but maybe when the test fleet goes on the road giving customer rides in Europe we'll be getting feedback from aging riders.

If U.S. MSRP is set at $18K and we add $1300 or so for destination and dealer fees, and $1700 for T&L, we're looking at $21K all in. I had such high hopes for Yamaha on this new model - after all, how much could the parts to "trike" an FJ09 cost? Maybe the plan is to recover development costs in the first year so if Niken is not a success, they cut their losses. A year old MX5 Miata is looking better by the minute (I do love a/c in summer.)

So much for Bike Market's (now revised ) predictive powers; Visordown ( http://www.visordown.com/motorcycle-news-new-bikes/2018-yamaha-niken-price-announced ) says the "announced price" for the Niken is 13,499 GBP ($18,185 USD). Leaves me a shocked and disappointed. While the Tracer 900 earns kudos for high value to price, the Tracer Niken seems aimed at the "gotta be first" to have the most expensive bit of high tech kit crowd - usually well represented at Ducati dealerships. (Editorial rant over) Visordown editor Alan Dowds says he will (by now has) ride the Niken Thursday (5/17/2018) and will report on the experience ASAP. You can stay tuned to Visordown for their ride report and more information.

Thanks for the post 2linby. I have a couple of questions: do you recall the part number of the factory lowering links? The OEM links are 1RC-2217M-00-00 - I've searched accessories and haven't found any other links, so would appreciate having the new number. Second, you mention the bike was lowered 9/16". You didn't mention whether you measured the seat height before & after, or depended on comparing new and old links for that conclusion. Since there is a lot of monkey motion going on with suspension, I'd like to be sure of the actual amount of seat height drop. Thanks, Bill