The Double Triple...

[2xtwins]

Yep, Kev's got a new bike - it's got three cylinders and three wheels.

There, I've said it and laid myself open to ridicule for time immemorial.....but idgaf.

@Couchy put it very eloquently when he started the Niken thread and, having put a hundred or so miles on my Nixen GT, I have little to add.

The Z1000sx has fallen on its sword to facilitate the acquisition - the Woking Yamaha ex-demonstrator mentioned in the Niken thread is now mine, and I'm looking forward to many happy miles.

I agree that it's not a looker, it's somewhat heavier than is ideal but it's a truly amazing motorcycle.

If you get a chance, test ride one - I guarantee you will be pleasantly surprised.

I'm looking forward to many adventures on mine..... Pembrey 2022 ? Why not?

Kev

[Tricky]

And I spent an hour or so on it this afternoon across a real variety of roads and traffic situations, which was interesting...
More comprehensive report to follow....

[Dodgy69]

Your a braver man than I... hope it works out Kev, if not, get rid and try summot else.

[weeksy]

I was the first to see it but wasn't allowed to ride it as Tricky had first dibs... It's.... a feat and a marvel of engineering that's for sure. I spent some time looking over the underside, the wheels, calipers, bracketry, components and it's just... well, so alien it's remarkable, remarkable that someone has thought of this, let alone built it.

I did sit on it though and it's a proper nice comfy thing, lowish but wide seat and high wide bars. Someone said "it's no wider than a normal bike" but i'd beg to differ on that one, the front end is deffo wider than the XSR. How much wider and how much of a difference it'd make, i do not know.

If i were @2xtwins the first thing i'd be doing is getting the ECU tweaked. https://www.wizperformance.co.uk/yamaha-ecu-flashes
I used these guys... i don't actually know if the Niken is something he's done before... but i bet he'd be at least mildy interested.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

I had a look at one on Sunday, the front end is wide and also complicated, it'll be interesting to see how it fairs with age and mileage - I think it's a great idea btw, the front end grip must be amazing.

[KungFooBob]

Imagine the fun Weeksy could have cleaning that complicated front end!

[2xtwins]

Your a braver man than I... hope it works out Kev, if not, get rid and try summot else.

Cheers, Paul.

tbh, my intention is to keep it for a good period of time as it satisfies my wish for something different, something with a bit of personality and I do like the Yamaha 900 triple motor, albeit that it is blunted somewhat by the sheer weight of the Niken.

Allied to that, it's not the sort of bike that I'm gonna have people beating down my door wanting to buy it if I change my mind / want to move it on quickly.......so the plan is that it will be my go-to bike when I fancy a ride but don't want to get one of the other bikes wet/dirty.

I could see myself getting out and about on it as it is nicely set up as a tourer - the panniers are a bit cheap and cheerful , but otherwise it's got everything I would want in the way of toys.

Watch this space, eh?

Maybe I'll pop over to your neck of the woods and you can have a little spin on it...

Kev

[2xtwins]

I had a look at one on Sunday, the front end is wide and also complicated, it'll be interesting to see how it fairs with age and mileage - I think it's a great idea btw, the front end grip must be amazing.

Yep. I agree with your points re size and complexity - service intervals are 6000 miles and I seem to remember reading somewhere that the front end is given a going over every 12000, but I may be wrong.

I think the front end grip is the most notable difference from a conventional bike, especially if you live in a rural area where the roads are narrow and or covered with remnants of washed-away grass banks/gravel or such like. It gives you so much more confidence. Likewise on wet or imperfect road surfaces.

Kev

[2xtwins]

I was the first to see it but wasn't allowed to ride it as Tricky had first dibs... It's.... a feat and a marvel of engineering that's for sure. I spent some time looking over the underside, the wheels, calipers, bracketry, components and it's just... well, so alien it's remarkable, remarkable that someone has thought of this, let alone built it.

I did sit on it though and it's a proper nice comfy thing, lowish but wide seat and high wide bars. Someone said "it's no wider than a normal bike" but i'd beg to differ on that one, the front end is deffo wider than the XSR. How much wider and how much of a difference it'd make, i do not know.

If i were @2xtwins the first thing i'd be doing is getting the ECU tweaked. https://www.wizperformance.co.uk/yamaha-ecu-flashes
I used these guys... i don't actually know if the Niken is something he's done before... but i bet he'd be at least mildy interested.

You'll get your chance to ride it soon enough, Steve, and after our chat yesterday I looked up wizperformance and it's certainly something to consider, cheers

Kev

[Dodgy69]

Not wanting to sound too negative on Kevs new purchase, but would be nice to ask Yamaha a couple of questions.

If you loose the front on a corner, would two wheels washout the same as one on stuff like diesel or gravel.?

Does the downforce weight between tyre and tarmac being halved have any negative effect on grip.?

Maybe Kev has already asked. Would just be nice to see the evidence or maybe it's all a bit scientific.

[2xtwins]

Imagine the fun Weeksy could have cleaning that complicated front end!

I like the way you think KFB

I could buy the ACF50 and cleaning products and beers and watch the great man at work

Kev

[Horse]

high wide bars.

Someone said "it's no wider than a normal bike" but i'd beg to differ on that one, the front end is deffo wider than the XSR. How much wider and how much of a difference it'd make

Did they mean 'no wider than the bars'?

Something like a BMW RT will be about a metre wide across the mirrors!

[weeksy]

high wide bars.

Someone said "it's no wider than a normal bike" but i'd beg to differ on that one, the front end is deffo wider than the XSR. How much wider and how much of a difference it'd make

Did they mean 'no wider than the bars'?

Something like a BMW RT will be about a metre wide across the mirrors!

It's a tough one because looking at it, the bars i don't think are the widest part of the front end. @2xtwins can confirm/deny that. So whilst the bars on both bikes may be the same width, i think the Niken is wider still.

[2xtwins]

Well, I've done another 40 or so miles this morning in rush hour traffic and all is good.

You can filter on it, albeit I was rather circumspect, and it's a nice place to be comfort-wise with heated grips and cruise control making life very easy.

Other observations:

I'm certain the front brakes could be improved with a change of pads, and I will be looking to do this.

The tyres look better suited to an adventure bike but tyre choice is obviously limited by the front wheel size although there are PR4 and Pirelli Diablo Rosso Scooter tyres available. But this is not a major or immediate concern.

The screen height is just in the wrong place for me and is not adjustable so I will be researching after-market screens. imo, all it needs is a small lip to throw the air over my head. At the moment there is a little too much buffeting at my favoured cruising speed. Bearable on shorter rides but I would imagine it could become wearing on a 300 mile day.

When I picked the bike up I noticed the average fuel consumption figure was about 45 mpg and my first fill up earlier this morning threw out the same figure. Not sparkling for a modern bike but perfectly bearable and gives me 150 miles or so between fuel stops which is plenty for me.

That's it for now, peeps, I'm sure @Tricky will be along sometime to give his verdict on the beast.

Kev

[Mr. Dazzle]

If you loose the front on a corner, would two wheels washout the same as one on stuff like diesel or gravel.?

Does the downforce weight between tyre and tarmac being halved have any negative effect on grip.?

Just thinking intuitively like, I'd expect it to be more like car understeer than bike washing out. So the front slides a bit more benignly, rather than dumping you on your arse.

WRT the second point - the grip a tyre generates is proportional to vertical load as you point out, however the crucial thing to bear in mind here is that grip does not increase linearly with vertical load. I.e. if you double the weight on a tyre you less than double the grip. Or to flip it the other way, if you halve the weight on the tyre you retain MORE than half the grip. So all other things being equal the Niken has more front grip for the same weight.

Looksee at this graph...with 3000N of vertical force on the this tyre you can get about 3000N maximum 'sideways' force. With 5000N vertical force you can only get about 4250N. So weight has increased by 66% but grip only by ~40%.

[dern]

Just thinking intuitively like, I'd expect it to be more like car understeer than bike washing out. So the front slides a bit more benignly, rather than dumping you on your arse.

I wouldn't put money on that. A car remains stable when understeering as it can't fall over. Anything that can lean will wash out I would have thought.

Anyway, interesting buy and I look forward to hearing more about it

[Skub]

Health to enjoy man. I look forward to updates.

[2xtwins]

high wide bars.

Someone said "it's no wider than a normal bike" but i'd beg to differ on that one, the front end is deffo wider than the XSR. How much wider and how much of a difference it'd make

Did they mean 'no wider than the bars'?

Something like a BMW RT will be about a metre wide across the mirrors!

It's a tough one because looking at it, the bars i don't think are the widest part of the front end. @2xtwins can confirm/deny that. So whilst the bars on both bikes may be the same width, i think the Niken is wider still.

The mirrors are the widest part of the Niken at about 105cm which I don't think will be any wider than an RT, as mentioned by Horse.

When it was parked next to Rich's Multistrada last night although it's not significantly wider in ultimate terms, it gives the impression of being so because of the front end set up. Likewise when observed from the rider's view it's a big old beast but, I would guess, again no bigger than a KRT or such like.

Kev

[Count Steer]

Looking forward to reading what it's like to live with. I must say, I'm tempted.

[2xtwins]

Looking forward to reading what it's like to live with. I must say, I'm tempted.

As I said above, see if you can get a test ride.

What are you riding at the moment and whereabouts in the country are you? Might be possible for me to have a trip out?

Kev