The press release calls it a revolution. Social media has responded more with revulsion.
Yamaha is the latest to jump into the more-than-two-wheels-motorcycle category with the three-wheeled 2019 Yamaha Niken. Originally introduced at EICMA in 2017, the "Leaning Multi-Wheel Motorcycle" appears to be proceeding beyond the what-if stage. In fact, the Yamaha website now claims a release date sometime in late 2018.
This video attempts to explain why anyone would want such a vehicle:
But even after watching it, we're still perplexed. The Niken appears to be channeling the oft-maligned Piaggio MP3. Unlike the car-like Polaris Sligngshot or the Can Am Spyder, the Yamaha uses separate front forks attached to a semi-conventional motorcycle chassis. The idea is to provide the lean of a motorcycle but... not fall over?
The technology behind the Leaning Wheel Technology (LWT) is impressive. But it seems like there would be a better use for it than messing up a perfectly good motorcycle.
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