Yamaha ' s Niken might not be a common sight on the road , but as a large-capacity , tilting threewheeler that rides like a motorcycle rather than a scooter , it ' s a unique proposition . But maybe not unique for long as Piaggio is working on a similar machine that may see production under the Aprilia name . Piaggio has been filing patents for variations of the design since 2020 , initially basing the machine on the rear section of the now discontinued Aprilia Mana , complete with its 850 cc V-twin engine and CVT transmission , but it has now evolved into a different proposition that might be well suited to its new 660 cc parallel twin . The latest iteration of the design features a much simplified front suspension layout . Originally , the Piaggio patents featured two vertical front struts , attached to a parallelogramstyle tilting linkage , similar to that of the MP3 scooter at the top , but with miniaturised carstyle , double-wishbone |
suspension for each front wheel . The latest version is quite different , with each front wheel suspended on a single sliding strut similar to the design used on the radical Gilera CX 125 of the early 90s . There are actually two designs in the latest patent . On the first , a scissor-style , two-part linkage connects the upper and lower parts of the strut to keep them in line and provide a connection to a fairly conventional steering stem connected to the bars . The second version has a single link between the upper and lower sections and a ball joint at the top of each front strut , and so that the suspension compresses , there ' s up to three degrees of movement , effectively making the rake steeper as the suspension compresses . This is intended to be a pro-dive system , making for a more familiar feel to riders used to conventional two-wheeled bikes . The front wheels themselves are smaller than a normal motorcycle ' s , appearing to be around 15 |
inches in diameter , while the single rear wheel is a conventional 17-incher . While the latest patent doesn ' t show an engine , Aprilia ' s 660 cc parallel twin - derived from the company ' s V4 superbike engine - would seem a good fit in terms of performance . With at least two years ' worth of development already invested in the project and multiple design |
changes during that time , it appears that Piaggio is as dedicated to the three-wheeled tilting idea as it was when the MP3 was first launched more than 15 years ago . A largecapacity machine , potentially able to be ridden in Europe using a car licence rather than a motorcycle permit , could open up an untapped market for higher-performance trikes . |