Yamaha MT-09 Trike, opinions?.

arybvtcw0eolkf

MT-09 Trike at the Tokyo Bike Show.

Opinions?.

At first I laughed and thought this was a joke, a bad one too.

But looking at what could be potentially a real trike to go into production I'm thinking 'beast'.

And brilliant for people with mobility issues who still want to ride but who can not for one reason or another ride two wheels.

I've only ever rode one trike, a Gilera 500 which a work mate has. Tbh it was nice and I can see there being a market for a big trike like this.

CJhaughey

Not really into trikes myself but thats probably because I haven't ridden one, I guess it would make a lot of sense in the UK as well because of their weird laws regarding trikes, its also a lot slimmer than many others I have looked at.
If it gets people mobile that would otherwise be unable to ride a bike because of disabilities then its all good.
I bet braking performance is pretty good as well.

Max Headroom

Well its twice as ugly as theyre current MT range.....imo..and i dont see how a disabled ex-biker (usually in a chair) could use it..

CJhaughey

Max Headroom wrote: »

Well its twice as ugly as theyre current MT range.....imo..and i dont see how a disabled ex-biker (usually in a chair) could use it..

Its usually balance issues that prevent people from riding PTW that they have to balance, look at the work that Honda and Yamaha are doing with intelligent and self balancing bikes.

https://global.yamaha-motor.com/news/2017/1012/tms.html
https://youtu.be/3qGX3rn3s0I

arybvtcw0eolkf

CJhaughey wrote: »

Not really into trikes myself but thats probably because I haven't ridden one, I guess it would make a lot of sense in the UK as well because of their weird laws regarding trikes, its also a lot slimmer than many others I have looked at.
If it gets people mobile that would otherwise be unable to ride a bike because of disabilities then its all good.
I bet braking performance is pretty good as well.

I think it (MT-09 trike) could be rode here on a car license.

I don't particularly like the build quality of the MT range, its cheap and nasty when you're up close & personal with them but I think if I had mobility issues and wanted to stay on a 'big' bike I'd certainly consider something like this.

Colm17RvB

I'll reserve judgement until I see it at NEC, if it's there... It looks interesting though.

Kairi Late Bungalow wrote: »

I think it (MT-09 trike) could be rode here on a car license.

From my understanding it's down to the wheel base on the front whether it's car or not, there isn't too much info out there unfortunately.

CJhaughey

If you had a full B car license before 2013 you can ride a trike (any CC)
After Jan 19 2013 You must have a bike license.

arybvtcw0eolkf

If Gilera still made their 500 trike I'd seriously consider one for the future (having rode the mates).

GrumpyMe

Kairi Late Bungalow wrote: »

If Gilera still made their 500 trike I'd seriously consider one for the future (having rode the mates).

I'd add an apostrophe there if you have a mate that has a trike!

Riva10

Kairi Late Bungalow wrote: »

If Gilera still made their 500 trike I'd seriously consider one for the future (having rode the mates).

There you go
Gilera Fuoco as Scooter in Overath

macplaxton

Colm17RvB wrote: »

wheel base on the front

Can you clarify what you mean by that, do you mean front "track"?

Zebbedee

Kairi Late Bungalow wrote: »

I don't particularly like the build quality of the MT range, its cheap and nasty when you're up close & personal with them

Untrue with the original of the species, the 01.
Superb build quality there.

Max Headroom

I'm no engineering expert but those front "shot-gun" forks look nasty...cant see how the wheels wouldnt twist..also the lean angle (pic 3) is cat...

Zebbedee

Zebbedee wrote: »

Untrue with the original of the species, the 01.
Superb build quality there.

True, I had one for many years, it was an amazing machine. Build quality was excellent.

CJhaughey

Max Headroom wrote: »

I'm no engineering expert but those front "shot-gun" forks look nasty...cant see how the wheels wouldnt twist..also the lean angle (pic 3) is cat...

The same way that a single sided swingarm doesn't twist.
Doubled USD forks clamped in a massive clamp will be extremely stiff.
Look at the damage that happens to a bikes frame with USD forks in a crash, often the forks will be OK and the frame bent.
That lean angle looks not too bad for a trike with a fairly narrow track, it could be actually more than many bikers lean a two wheeler over!

Colm17RvB

macplaxton wrote: »

Can you clarify what you mean by that, do you mean front "track"?

Track that's it. The MP3 LT is for Long Track, they're car licence friendly, the non LT aren't, if I recall correctly.

macplaxton

Thanks for clarifying. Although track is a width rather than a length, so would be described as wide or narrow, rather than long or short.

Actually having thought more about it, I guess L is for the Italian word larghezza, meaning width.

Colm17RvB

macplaxton wrote: »

Thanks for clarifying. Although track is a width rather than a length, so would be described as wide or narrow, rather than long or short.

Actually having thought more about it, I guess L is for the Italian word larghezza, meaning width.

I'll ask Trev in Moto4u next time I'm in there which one it was

arybvtcw0eolkf

Looks like its on the way for 2018

The MT-09 Niken

CJhaughey

Kairi Late Bungalow wrote: »

Looks like its on the way for 2018

The MT-09 Niken

Asimo is the test rider by the look of it.

D3V!L

I like it but I can't see who it's aimed at. You won't be able to filter on it so it's going to rule out the majority of bikers.

Lumen

D3V!L wrote: »

I like it but I can't see who it's aimed at. You won't be able to filter on it so it's going to rule out the majority of bikers.

Its 885mm wide, surely that's not a problem for filtering?

CJhaughey

Lumen wrote: »

Its 885mm wide, surely that's not a problem for filtering?

Its barely wider than a 2 wheeler, most bikes are around 900mm width with mirrors.
I can't see filtering being a problem on this, plus with 2 wheels your front braking grip is effectively doubled, which in a greasy city streets is a definite plus.

Lumen

There's the added advantage that you could ride the centreline and still have full braking grip. Would make acceleration more exciting too :-)

Hotblack Desiato

Whatever it is, it leans so it's not a trike.

CJhaughey

Hotblack Desiato wrote: »

Whatever it is, it leans so it's not a trike.

EU category L5e says its a tricycle. There appears to be no fixed definition on leaning or non -leaning in the UNECE type approvals.

Hotblack Desiato

Daft. Makes all the difference from the driver/rider point of view and licensing.

CJhaughey

Hotblack Desiato wrote: »

Daft. Makes all the difference from the driver/rider point of view and licensing.

I know, I know but...as I said before, in this State the date you recieved you full license determines whether you can ride it as a bike or on your car license.
Before 2013 if you had a full B you can ride it on your car (B) License.
After it you need a Full (A) Bike as its over the Kw/kg limit.

Sh!teinabucket

Dunno what I think of it looks wise.but it has to handle better than "traditional" trikes.
Have seen quite a few goldwing trikes on dungdeal lately. Look very well finished but jaysus the price of them...that and there's no way in he'll they handle well.

A few can-Am spyders aswell (not quite as eye watering price wise and would handle much better I'd imagine as a "reverse trike") can kinda see the point of them : you get the open air feel of a bike without the whole "2 wheel = dangerous" most cagers associate with bikes,the fact that it leans would give them an even better idea of a motorbike,but at the price that is likely to cost I doubt that many would convert fulltime to a bike, especially when they try sell the shagging thing to fund said bike...

That said,ye just never know.

CJhaughey

More info from the NEC show, https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=600&v=DlktwR1Q210

Richard tea

Interesting bike. Could it be a good solution for the all year round commuter? How would it fair up in frost/icy conditions compared to a 2 wheeler? Should we expect it to handle better in these conditions?

Lumen

I do like the idea of a motorbike that I can't easily fall off, but I fear that I would end up just crashing faster.

Cienciano

Richard tea wrote: »

Interesting bike. Could it be a good solution for the all year round commuter? How would it fair up in frost/icy conditions compared to a 2 wheeler? Should we expect it to handle better in these conditions?

My mate got one (gilera mp3) for that exact reason. He moved up to Roundwood and was afraid he'd be stuck if he had a 2 wheeler. Obviously you can still stick it in a ditch, but I'd rather be on the 3 wheeler if a bit of snow fell.
I like it, while I wouldn't buy one myself, there has to be a market for it.

CJhaughey

The Yamaha guy said that it has 80% more front grip, front grip being the hardest to obtain and the biggest consequences for you if you lose it.
Given the popularity of the MP3 and the Tricity for urban riders its a really big issue for many riders.
I bet you'd be able to ride the Niken pretty hard around a lot of the bad roads here with a lot of confidence.
Its not made as a foolproof bike but one designed to give better grip for the average rider and many living in cities where greasy roads are prevalent.
80% extra front grip would be a blast.

Lumen

80% more front grip is impossible. Otherwise you could add a wheel to a motogp bike and make it faster than an F1 car with no downforce.

More consistent grip probably. If one tyre hits a narrow patch of gravel you still have grip from the other.

But you may just end up crashing faster.

Max Headroom

Theyre a fad...get more people onto bikes..yeah right, then they fall off and declare that "bikes are dangerous"..:rolleyes:

Riva10

Max Headroom wrote: »

Theyre a fad...get more people onto bikes..yeah right, then they fall off and declare that "bikes are dangerous"..:rolleyes:

So are shotgun but people still buy them.

Grumpy Bike Wizard

Lumen wrote: »

80% more front grip is impossible. Otherwise you could add a wheel to a motogp bike and make it faster than an F1 car with no downforce.

More consistent grip probably. If one tyre hits a narrow patch of gravel you still have grip from the other.

But you may just end up crashing faster.

One wheel takes the other with it a lot of the time I'd say.

Search on youtube for 'piaggio mp3 crash' and there's a heap of videos of lads riding along normally and then going on their snot because one wheel lost traction or hit a bump.

Max Headroom

Riva10 wrote: »

So are shotgun but people still buy them.

Yeah..sick people....:)

Riva10

Max Headroom wrote: »

Yeah..sick people....:)

Maybe only sick people buy and fall off motorcycles. If that is true WE are all doomed.

stewygriffin

It commanded alot of attention at the NEC there when we were over there on Thursday last.

galwaytt

stewygriffin wrote: »

It commanded alot of attention at the NEC there when we were over there on Thursday last.

....indeed - just looking at the thing, there's a huge amount of engineering gone into it, so they must be confident of selling some.

I'd love a go on it tbh.

D3V!L

stewygriffin wrote: »

It commanded alot of attention at the NEC there when we were over there on Thursday last.

And for that reason I'd be out. I would imagine you wouldn't be able to leave it anywhere without people sitting on it or pulling out of it trying to topple it. Also I can't see it being easy to park on a path somewhere.

Bluefoam

It's over engineered and over complex... The servicing and repairs would be OTT compared to a regular bike. It's unlikely to be capable of more than a regular bike and would need lots of technical aids...

I can see the potential on a bike like the MP3, but not a bike like the Yamaha.

It does look great though.

CJhaughey

The more I look at it the more I'd like to take one for a spin.
It doesn't look that complex to me, OK 4 sets of fork legs vs 2 but the rest of it doesn't look overly complex. Yamaha make pretty robust stuff in my experience and I am sure they have done some heavy duty testing on the parts to make sure it is up to the job.

Max Headroom

stewygriffin wrote: »

It commanded alot of attention at the NEC there when we were over there on Thursday last.

Yeah...like a freak in a circus show....:p