Niken

GOC Custom Niken is based on the revolutionary three-wheeled Yamaha Niken. Introduced to the global market in 2018, the Niken is built around Yamaha’s unique Leaning Multi-Wheel (LMW) technology. In addition to its two leaning front wheels, its distinctive design incorporates a quadrilateral steering linkage and a dual telescopic suspension system.

The main focus of the customization was the replacement of the bodywork. All plastic components were replaced with aluminium, giving the motorcycle sharper, more aggressive lines without compromising its aerodynamic properties.

One of the greatest challenges during the build was integrating the motorcycle’s functional mechanisms with its new appearance. While creating an entirely different aesthetic, GOC builders had to fabricate and fit every new body panel in such a way that none of the components would interfere with one another in any riding position—whether the motorcycle was turning or leaning to either side. Because the Niken’s front suspension moves across multiple layers, maintaining the right balance between the new visual elements and the original engineering solutions proved to be the most labour-intensive part of the customization.

The GOC Custom Niken refers to its country of origin not only through its name, but also through the use of Japanese characters incorporated into the design. The Game Over Cycles team integrated the Japanese characters representing the name of the base model, Niken, into the bodywork. The motorcycle also features a statement inspired by Yamaha’s philosophy, retained in its original Japanese form: “the courage to set higher goals without fear of failure” (失敗を恐れず、もう一段高い目標に取り組む).

Every aluminium bodywork component was handcrafted. The motorcycle’s transformation required a total of 1,400 man-hours.

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