---
title: "Yamaha’s Launching a Leaning, Three-Wheeled Motorcycle"
description: "Cornering master promises motorcycle sensations with trike stability and bugged-out looks."
date: "2016-03-02"
modified: "2016-03-02"
authors:
  - name: "Jonathon Ramsey"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/jonathon-ramsey"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/2399/yamahas-launching-a-leaning-three-wheeled-motorcycle"
categories:
  - "Motorcycles"
  - "News"
  - "The Garage"
tags:
  - "motorcycle"
  - "yamaha"
---

# Yamaha’s Launching a Leaning, Three-Wheeled Motorcycle

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/archive-images/030216-yamaha-mwt-9-hero.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

Scriveners have surmised all kinds of reasoning for the recent increase in three-wheeled offerings. Maybe it's [meeting global mobility needs](<https://www.gizmag.com/yamahas-850cc-sports-three-wheeler-mwt-9/40092/>) or demand from older riders for open-air thrills with more stability, or even the motorcycle industry [bumbling through its desperation](<https://www.asphaltandrubber.com/oped/leaning-multi-wheeler-2016/>) to connect with millennials. Somewhere on that spectrum is Yamaha, [having all but confirmed](<https://www.visordown.com/motorcycle-news-new-bikes/yamaha-mwt-9-three-wheeler-bound-for-production/30875.html>) that it’s about to launch an oddball three-wheeler called the MWT-9. First shown at last year’s [Tokyo Motor Show](<https://www.thedrive.com/article/687/the-drive-after-hours-tokyo>), it combines the major elements of Yamaha’s Tricity scooter and its FZ-09 motorcycle. The final package is less like either, and more like a glitch in the matrix.

But there is some logic behind it. Currently, Leaning Multi-Wheel (LMW) offerings have been limited to scooter-ish mutts like the [Honda Gyro](<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_Gyro>), [Piaggio MP3](<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piaggio_MP3>) and Tricity, and the canopied mash-up [Toyota i-Road](<https://www.autoblog.com/2013/11/04/testing-toyotas-three-wheel-leaning-i-road-trike-in-japan/>). The MWT-9 would be the first production LMW with proper motorcycle looks and power.

![030216-yamaha-mwt-9-art-1.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content/archive-images/030216-yamaha-mwt-9-art-1.jpg>)

The side-by-side wheel arrangement in front is altered from the Tricity by placing the upside-down forks on the outsides of the wheels. This, according to Yamaha, delivers motorcycle sensations with the additional traction,[stability, rigidity, and lean angle](<https://www.asphaltandrubber.com/bikes/yamaha-mwt-9-leaning-trike-concept-tokyo-motor-show/>) desired. It also begets the MWT-9 sales pitch: This is a [“Cornering Master”](<https://global.yamaha-motor.com/showroom/event/2015tokyomotorshow/sp/exhibitionmodels/mwt-9/>) intended for fun and sportiness. The engine is the liquid-cooled 847cc three-cylinder from the FZ-09. States output is 113 horsepower and 64.5 pound-feet at 8,500 rpm, a clear jump up from the 125-cc Tricity. The bodywork has a gentler slope than the FZ-09 and seat placement that's [slightly lower and further back](<https://blog.motorcycle.com/2015/10/28/manufacturers/yamaha/three-cylinders-three-wheels-yamaha-mwt-9-concept/>), with three headlights in front to maximize the triplicate theme.

![030216-yamaha-mwt-9-art-2.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content/archive-images/030216-yamaha-mwt-9-art-2.jpg>)

[Two years ago, Yamaha said](<https://blog.motorcycle.com/2014/07/02/design/leaning-multi-wheel-vehicles-follow-yamaha-tricity/>) it would bring more LMW products to market; the Japanese firm [applied to trademark “MWT,”](<https://www.motorcyclenews.com/news/2016/january/yamahas-power-of-three/>) declaring it'd use the designation on “motorcycles, scooters, mopeds, three-wheeled motorcycles, three-wheeled scooters, three-wheeled mopeds and parts and fittings thereof.” Some predict we could see a production MWT-9 at this fall’s EICMA motorcycle show in Milan before it goes on sale next year. It’s unlikely to go on sale here, but we already have a heap of non-leaning options. So just take another sip of the potion, enjoy Yamaha's oddball from afar, and leave the three-wheel motion to [some other masochist](<https://www.thedrive.com/article/922/i-set-the-l-a-to-n-y-record-in-a-morgan-3-wheeler>).

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