Yamaha trike no nana-cruiser

A Dunedin motorcycle dealership has the answer for those who have ever felt a little nervous leaning a motorcycle into a corner.
Add an extra wheel up front and you have the Yamaha Niken, which delivers ‘‘twice the grip and twice the confidence’’, according to Motorcycle Replacements owner Rick Jamieson.
And it is no nana-cruiser: a 850cc three cylinder 115 horsepower engine that is also used in the Yamaha Tracer and MT09, makes the Niken a worthy, safer alternative to traditional street platforms.
Although it sports the reverse wheel formation to the typical trike and may be hard for traditional two-wheeled bikies to get their heads around riding, Jamieson is a convert.
‘‘Yamaha are trying to take that next level of safety without losing the benefits of what makes a motorcycle a motorcycle,’’ he said.
He even took it to Levels Raceway in Timaru last month and put it through its paces in a five-lap parade. The Niken was more capable than he had imagined, which just reiterates his tagline for this three-wheel wonder: ‘‘Don’t judge me until you’ve tried me.’’
A recent demonstration session at his dealership led to lots of positive comments and, although he only has demonstration models until the sales stock arrives, Jamieson already has ‘‘a couple of pending sales’’ for the $23,999 Niken.