Featured Yamaha Tracer 900 Gt Test Ride

Finally got hold of the Tracer yesterday morning - not exactly sunny and a bit windy (the weather, not me) but at least it was dry.
First impressions - not a bad looking bike for an adventurer style machine and not a bad colour - to be fair, their colour choices are better than Triumph for the Tiger 900. Second impression, it's a tall bike - more like the old Tiger XC compared to the XR.



Like the BMW F900XR, there are no off-road pretensions here, it's definitely a road bike and it goes and handles well. In fact, the engine is superb - a very smooth and responsive triple pushing out 113 bhp and it's quiet, no Tiger 800 gear box whine. It pulls like a train, even in 6th gear and it made the old 800 feel a bit short of breath on the way back home.

Handling is very good, sure footed and confidence inspiring. I understand that the original 900 Tracer was a bit suspect in the suspension department - too soft and spongy - but this was rectified by improved gear on the GT. (and I think on the standard 900 now anyway).



The bike is good value as the £11199.00 on the road price includes colour coded panniers, centre stand (take note Triumph), quickshifter, heated grips and a fair few other goodies. Service intervals are longer than Triumphs so running costs would be cheaper too. Cost does start to creep up if you try and match the Tiger 900 GT Pro's specification (you can't fully) - easily pushing past £12,000.00.

Seat was super comfortable and riding position generally good once I got used to it. It did feel to be a higher up riding position than the Tiger, as the tank is almost flat in front of you as opposed to the sitting behind it feeling you get on the Tiger. Screen was not quite as good as the Tiger 900 but decent enough and better than the stock effort on my 800.



Would I buy one? Simple answer is no - it is just that bit too tall for me to feel 100% comfortable with and the riding position was just not as comfy as my 800 Tiger. I probably would get used to it but stopping at junctions and not being able to flat both feet (which I've got used to now) is a bit of a pain and slightly awkward feeling. Not sure I would want to manoeuvre around on a gravel or uneven surface with this one. Apart from that though it might have been a contender.

Now the niggly bits!
Why hide the ignition key in front of the bars and even worse, to one side behind the clamp? Almost a finger and thumb job to turn on and off and get the keys out.


Centre stand and side stand levers are too close to each other and the centre stand lever annoyingly catches your ankle when your foot is on the peg forcing you to twist it slightly.


TFT screen has all the usual fancy and changeable displays but why not make it fit the whole screen?


Adjustable brake lever but non-adjustable clutch lever - come on Yamaha that is just penny pinching!



Some of the switch gear has a bit of the bargain basement feel to it and why oh why would you have your heated grips as only accessible through the menu via a bloody scroll wheel!

So basically a decent bike but not quite for me - it goes better than the 800 Tiger but the difference between the new 900 Tiger won't be that noticeable.

Slightly annoyed to find out that the comfy seat was in fact not standard and even worse, the screen fitted to the demo bike was actually an aftermarket MRA (Madstad) one as the original screen is noted for being useless!

 

I really don't think so

 

They had a new demo next to the tracer. Sounded nice when started up but too much off road biased for me, would be a bit of a waste as all it would see is the occasional gravel path!

 

Yeah, I think the Tiger seat is around 820 so 875 is never going to work for me! Does look a cool bike though.

 

Probably me buying a Tiger 900!

 

Yes, he's got another satnav for sale!