Yamaha Niken 900 GT 2021 — Specifications

Two wheels up front, a silhouette straight out of a science-fiction movie, and yet a standard motorcycle license is all you need to get your hands on it. The 2021 Yamaha Niken 900 GT remains one of the most unique rolling objects on the market. Don't bother trying to categorize it — it defies every classification. It's neither a three-wheeled scooter in the vein of a Piaggio MP3, nor a reverse trike like the Can-Am Spyder. Beneath its dual front end, articulated by the LMW system with inverted forks, you'll find a diamond frame, a swingarm, a single rear shock, and above all the CP3 — that 847 cc three-cylinder engine that already works wonders in the MT-09. With 115 horsepower at 10,000 rpm and 87.3 Nm of torque at 8,500 rpm, the powerplant is far from lacking in resources. It pulls cleanly, with that characteristically raspy triple-cylinder Yamaha voice, and pushes the whole package up to 200 km/h. Not bad for a machine whose wet weight tips the scales at 267 kg.

Speaking of which, what does the Yamaha Niken 900 GT's weight feel like in everyday riding? On paper, those 267 kilos can be intimidating. But once in motion, the dual front end makes you forget all about the scales. The mechanical grip provided by the two 120/70-15 front tires delivers a rare level of confidence, especially on deteriorated or wet surfaces. The braking follows the same safety-first logic, with two 298 mm discs and radial-mount four-piston calipers up front, backed by a 282 mm disc at the rear. The whole system is managed by ABS and traction control. When pushed hard, the machine tips into corners with disconcerting fluidity and accepts up to 45 degrees of lean before the footpegs start kissing the tarmac.

The GT variant adds a layer of comfort designed with touring in mind. Tall windscreen, heated grips, a redesigned seat for both rider and passenger, center stand, and dual 12V outlets to power a GPS and phone simultaneously. Yamaha applies the same recipe here as on its Tracer 900 and 700 GT models. Two 25-liter semi-rigid saddlebags round out the package. Their capacity is adequate for a long weekend, but their design is reminiscent of the early panniers offered on the Tracer, which Yamaha later replaced with the more refined City cases on the following generation. One can legitimately wonder why that upgrade wasn't carried over directly to the Niken. Another notable regret is the absence of a color TFT display, even though the Tracer 900 GT benefits from one. For a machine priced at 16,299 euros new, it's an omission that's hard to justify.

What does a Yamaha Niken 900 GT cost on the used market? Today you can find 2021 examples with around 2,500 km on the clock for about 10,500 euros, which makes the proposition considerably easier to swallow. At that price point, direct competition is virtually nonexistent. No other manufacturer offers a three-wheeled machine with such a sporty temperament. The Tracer 900 GT remains the logical alternative within Yamaha's lineup for those who want to tour without the complexity of the dual front end, while the venerable FJR 1300 caters to pure long-distance riders. The Niken GT, for its part, targets the curious motorcyclist — the one who's already logged miles and is looking for a different experience without giving up the sensations of a real motorcycle.

The rest of the spec sheet is beyond reproach. Six-speed gearbox, chain drive, bi-directional quickshifter, assist and slipper clutch, three engine maps, and cruise control. The 820 mm seat height and 18-liter fuel tank allow for comfortable legs between stops. The Niken 900 GT isn't a perfect machine, but it's one that looks like nothing else on the road. And in a motorcycle world that so often follows the same mold, that singularity may well be worth all the TFT screens in the world.