Yamaha Niken 900 GT 2022 — Specifications

Two wheels at the front, one at the rear, and yet it's not a scooter. Not a Can-Am either. The Yamaha Niken 900 GT remains one of the most singular rolling objects on the motorcycle market, a machine that defies classification and has divided purists since its release. Beneath this spacecraft-like silhouette, however, lies an engine well known to Japanese roadster enthusiasts. The 847 cc CP3 triple-cylinder — the very same that powers the MT-09 — delivers 115 horsepower at 10,000 rpm and 87.3 Nm of torque at 8,500 rpm. Enough to propel the machine's 267 kg wet weight up to 200 km/h. What does the Yamaha Niken 900 GT weigh, curious onlookers often ask? That substantial mass is explained by the LMW system with dual inverted forks, a multi-axle setup that gives the machine cornering grip few two-wheelers can claim. We're talking 45 degrees of lean angle, footpegs skimming the tarmac.

With this GT variant, Yamaha applies the same touring formula to the Niken as on the Tracer 900 and 700. A tall screen to cut through the wind, heated grips for chilly mornings, a comfort seat for rider and passenger alike. The brief is clear — this version is aimed at touring riders who want to eat up miles without giving up the unique feel of the dual front end. Standard equipment also includes cruise control, a quickshifter, three engine maps, traction control, and ABS. A center stand makes routine maintenance easier, and two 12V sockets let you power a GPS and phone simultaneously. The absence of a color TFT display is disappointing, though — Yamaha reserves that for the Tracer 900 GT. On a machine priced at 16,299 euros, this omission is bound to irritate.

On the luggage front, Yamaha supplies two 25-liter semi-rigid saddlebags. A questionable choice. On the early Tracers, this type of soft pannier had shown its limitations, and the manufacturer corrected course on the next generation by offering proper 30-liter City and Touring hard cases. Why not equip the Niken GT straight away with this more refined solution? The passenger at least gets reinforced grab handles that double as luggage supports, but the package doesn't quite add up for regular grand touring use. As for the rest of the chassis, you'll find the tubular steel diamond frame, a rear mono-shock with 125 mm of travel, disc brakes with four-piston radial calipers up front, and a 190/55-17 rear tire — a reminder that this machine leans like a proper motorcycle.

What does a Yamaha Niken 900 GT cost? At 16,299 euros new, the entry price is steep. On the used market, you can find 2021 Yamaha Niken 900 GT models with 2,500 km on the clock for around 10,500 euros, which repositions the proposition far more attractively. Up against a BMW R 1250 GS or even a Tracer 9 GT from the same manufacturer, the Niken GT doesn't play in the same league in terms of pure road versatility. Its selling point is that extraordinary grip in the wet and through tight corners, where the dual front end makes you forget every competitor. The 18-liter tank allows decent range without being exceptional, consistent with weekend use rather than trans-European trips. The 820 mm seat height remains accessible for most builds — a welcome feature when you have to manage this weight in a parking lot. The Niken 900 GT won't replace your tourer or your sportbike. It offers something else entirely — a riding experience in a class of its own, built for the curious motorcyclist who's already tried everything and is looking for new sensations on mountain roads.