2023 Niken GT

Dirty Ming said:
I've looked on their website and the bike is on it's sidestand. Maybe when it was on the plinth they supported it from above and had it upright
Click to expand...

Do you know what, I think your correct. In the shop ( last week) its on a plinth about three feet up in the air so you look up and at it. At that angle I probably didn’t notice the side stand. The website photos are taken by the main entrance/ good light plain background etc. If it could have “ stood up” then they would have photographed it like that.
 
I bought one off a fellow member on here last year, did a couple of thousand miles on it.
It was extremely stable and sure footed, rain or shine, it’s difficult to put over how good they are in this respect, you really do have to ride one to experience it. Watch/listen to Chris Moss (Mossy) on you tube for his opinion on them. Having had two Tracers previously I can say the extra weight does have an impact on the acceleration, consumption, and braking, (in comparison to the Tracer) but it was still more than quick enough. The tank was only 17 litres if I remember correctly, fuel range was about 170 miles to almost empty. Also the brakes weren’t as sharp too.
The display suffered with the same moisture ingress as some KTMs seem to, dried out as it warmed up, then back again the next day. The extra 45 odd kilo’s were very noticeable when hoicking it up onto the centre stand too.
Mine had the Akra pipe and Ohlins rear shock, which made it sound good, and gave the back end the same sure footed feeling the front has. The wife said she could feel the difference on the pillion too.
If you want a bike to be noticed on, this is the one, every time you stop or park up, some one wants to ask about it.
Overall I really enjoyed my time with it, for the experience and fun of something different, but overall I’m glad to be back on something more conventional now. (KTM 890Adv.)
And yes, they don’t stand up on their own!
 

Attachments

  • IMG_2054.jpg
    IMG_2054.jpg
    260.1 KB · Views: 261
  • IMG_2046.jpg
    IMG_2046.jpg
    257.2 KB · Views: 257
Akulaking said:
I bought one off a fellow member on here last year, did a couple of thousand miles on it.
It was extremely stable and sure footed, rain or shine, it’s difficult to put over how good they are in this respect, you really do have to ride one to experience it. Watch/listen to Chris Moss (Mossy) on you tube for his opinion on them. Having had two Tracers previously I can say the extra weight does have an impact on the acceleration, consumption, and braking, (in comparison to the Tracer) but it was still more than quick enough. The tank was only 17 litres if I remember correctly, fuel range was about 170 miles to almost empty. Also the brakes weren’t as sharp too.
The display suffered with the same moisture ingress as some KTMs seem to, dried out as it warmed up, then back again the next day. The extra 45 odd kilo’s were very noticeable when hoicking it up onto the centre stand too.
Mine had the Akra pipe and Ohlins rear shock, which made it sound good, and gave the back end the same sure footed feeling the front has. The wife said she could feel the difference on the pillion too.
If you want a bike to be noticed on, this is the one, every time you stop or park up, some one wants to ask about it.
Overall I really enjoyed my time with it, for the experience and fun of something different, but overall I’m glad to be back on something more conventional now. (KTM 890Adv.)
And yes, they don’t stand up on their own!
Click to expand...


That front end gives incredible angles of lean. Just look at the second photo ! :-)
 
I could probably get them a bit more if it stood up on its own when stopping at traffic lights etc.Maybe then a bit more popular with people a bit older who still want a big bike.
 
We test rode one a couple of years ago 2 up. It was amazing. At the time we just decided to get the KTM....probably not ready for the look of the Niken. However now the GT is out with the improvements we may decide to get one at the end of the summer...if we can find a good deal.
 
Im surprised Yamaha even making a GT version especially when they couldn't sell the previous bike, under the plastics the front is a work of art, i think it would sell better if as already mentioned it stood up on its own as its quite heavy to manoeuvre around, the added weight does dull the power down and really noticeable if you've tried any of the other current Yamaha's with the 900 triple engine, i changed the gearing to liven things up slightly and a set of tyres is £500.
 
a6391dde52971829ebfb8b478308fc9c.png

d28e74cba2b43789a132a52ba4db92e4.png
 
Id love to try one but if buying I think I'd go used. Wigan yamaha have a 2020 one with 2500 miles for £7344. Would a new one be worth 10K more?
 
Mzokk said:
Id love to try one but if buying I think I'd go used. Wigan yamaha have a 2020 one with 2500 miles for £7344. Would a new one be worth 10K more?
Click to expand...

Quite possibly.
If you read the article, the original Nikon had a great front end but the rear grip let it down.
Now the rear issue has been addressed, the bike has been transformed.
 
Like all of these things Journalists are prone to hyperbole to keep the manufacturers happy. I'm sure if required an aftermarket shock would improve the rear end. Don't get me wrong bikes have evolved over the years and long my it continue. But often there is very little difference in real world performance from the one generation older model. Particularly as depreciation appears to be problematic with these bikes.
 
Mzokk said:
Like all of these things Journalists are prone to hyperbole to keep the manufacturers happy. I'm sure if required an aftermarket shock would improve the rear end. Don't get me wrong bikes have evolved over the years and long my it continue. But often there is very little difference in real world performance from the one generation older model. Particularly as depreciation appears to be problematic with these bikes.
Click to expand...

Are you going to have a test ride on the pre-registered £10,000 2022 version and (maybe) buy it?

In effect the 2023 model is a different bike. Different engine, different screen, different seat, different frame geometry, different suspension, different instruments and hand controls. Whether that lots adds up to ‘value’ for the additional £6,000 over an end-of-run model is up to the individual. Do I think the WC GS versions, since their introduction and their replacement of the former Hexhead, have been ‘value’ or even ’decent’ bikes? No; I think the engine is dreadful. But they fly off the shelves.
 
Last edited:
I would like to test ride one. However, we only have one main Yamaha dealer here in NI and they have never had a demo Niken nor have I seen one on the roads here or for sale used. Though the old bike had rave reviews also from those who had ridden it. Be interesting to see if they put a demo of the new model on. I like the concept as I did the old 1000GTS with the hub centre steering arrangement. I tend to buy my bikes as low mileage 1 or two year olds and run them along side my 21 year old R1150GS. It has shared tenure with 6 non-bmw bikes over that time. FWIW I have ridden all itterations of the GS since the 1150 and my brief assessment is as follows. Original 1200 Hexhead, Lighter handled well but not as planted as the 1150 lots of early problems not worth the hassle. Twin cam 1200. Nicer engine aparently more reliable. I would have been tempted now but then was still into sports bikes and had an R1. 2013 on LC powerful engine crap gearbox heavy as the 1150 again, slower handling due to wider tyres. 2017 better gearbox. 1250 faster (don't care) expensive! :)
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Thinking seriously about buying a 2023 KTM Superduke 1290 GT?
2
Replies
28
Views
1,222
ktmman
AndyW
For Sale S1000XR White 'M' Pack 2023 (08/23), Highest Spec + Extras, Low Miles. Pampered!
Replies
5
Views
1,017
AndyW
AndyW
Rusty
A Little trip to Switzerland August 2023
Replies
14
Views
3,022
Deleted account 250722001
sorebums
18th Nov 2005 - Villa General Belgrano and back via ... then to Alta Gracia
Replies
0
Views
2,384
sorebums
sorebums


Back
Top Bottom