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BOATS, BIKES & AUTOMOBILES

For those who reside In Mallorca, there is a seemingly infinite number of breathtaking roads from which to choose, although recreational riding typically takes us up into the Tramuntana mountains, where many of the surfaces along the northern corniche remain unpredictable in the depths of winter. These are the circumstances in which the Niken comes into its own. Ask any motorcyclist if they’ve ever low-sided off a bike before and very few will say they haven’t.. Ask them if they’ve high-sided and very few will say they have.. It’s the front end that we all want to have bolted to the road.

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Having been given this bike for the weekend, I joined an eclectic mix of fast and powerful Yamahas, Ducatis and Beemers on the first day and headed south to enjoy the stunning sweeps of the Ma-5020 between Llucmajor and Porreres - one of the most popular blasting stretches on the island - before heading through Inca and up the climb from Caimari to Lluc and onwards to motorcycling’s stairway to heaven past the lakes at Puig Major, then ultimately down to Puerto Soller for lunch. It was only on the tightest of the hairpins that the weight of the bike made itself known - otherwise providing a level of stability and front end grip from its two front wheels, two sets of suspension and two sets of brakes that I absolutely loved - just as much fun, quite a bit less stress.

I couldn’t quite work out whether it is a sports bike or sports tourer, Yamaha slightly sitting on the fence with its ‘sporty bike’ description. I think the one thing I would have liked was a slightly higher screen and - cowabunga - the Niken GT version has this, along with luggage panniers and a

34 | CELEBRITY MALLORCA slightly remapped engine. What I do know is that Yamaha have pushed the boundaries with this bike; the gorgeously smooth and powerful-enough engine, distance-riding levels of comfort and a confidence-boosting front end that will be enjoyed every time it’s taken out. I thoroughly recommend getting in touch with Biele at Motos Salom and taking it out for a test ride.

Needless to say, the kids at the orphanage were intrigued the second they saw it - and I had no trouble keeping up with the purple Lambo to get there. It’s also a few hundred thousand less than the Lambo at a little over €16,000 on the road. www.motos-salom.es

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