I JUST WANT 2 RIDE!!

Yamaha motorcycles R&D has been working overtime by the looks of what they have been showing off lately.  I have been pretty impressed and though I would share their efforts. 

First up is the NIKEN (which is “2 Swords” in Japanese) a three wheel leaning motorcycle/trike/sport bike/something or another. It is defiantly not a scooter with a large 874cc three cylinder engine.  Watch the video and you will see that it is a very interesting motorcycle/trike/sport bike/thing. OH, and it comes out in the USA next year.

https://vimeo.com/241909777

Next is pickup truck where a passenger gets to ride behind the driver, like you are riding a motorcycle. Seating four the other two passengers ride to the right and left of the driver who sets along the centerline of the truck.  

Called the “Cross Hub” this small pickup is a concept vehicle that they showed off at the Tokyo Motor Show.  There are a lot of interesting features including “suicide doors” and the ability to fit a motorcycle, diagonally, in the bed of the truck. Read more about the Cross Hub here.  

Also appearing at the Tokyo Motor Show was the Yamaha MOTOROiD, their concept of the Sport Bike of the future.  With on-board AI Yamaha states that the MOTOROiD will be “capable of recognizing and interacting with its owner”.  Or, in this case who owns who?  The MOTOROiD is an electric motorcycle with some form of rear hub engine and a large battery bank where the motor would normally set.   Oh and do not confuse the MOTOROiD with the MOTOBOT which is Yamaha’s attempt to replace Valentino Rossi.  

Now on a more conventional path, do you like 3D jigsaw puzzles? Well Yamaha will let you, for free, download a paper craft version of many of its motorcycles.  But to me this looks EXTREMLY complicated and tedious.  I am not into jigsaw puzzles but if you are this might be up your ally.  The site is in Japanese so you may need to run it through a translator.  Check out this completed MT-10.

This is made of paper!!