Yamaha’s Tracer 900 range gets new motor, updated frame and R1-spec electronics package
Yamaha’s sport-touring range has been a solid contender for the firm, matching its fun-packed MT-09 engine and chassis fundamentals with a more touring-friendly, practical distance bent.
Slightly taller suspension, protective bodywork and an upright riding position, together with the torquey power delivery of the 850 inline-triple lump made it ideal for middle-distance touring, all-season commuting and general mile munching.
And like the rest of the firm’s range, the Yamaha Tracer 900 is getting an overhaul for 2021, with a new longer-stroke Euro5 engine, different die-cast aluminium frame, longer swingarm and a six-axis IMU unit, allowing a more advanced rider aids package.
Power is up by around 4bhp to 118bhp, weight is down by 2kg, and there’s new bodywork plus twin colour LCD screens on the dashboard.
The IMU unit is a first on the sport-touring range, and means the Tracer 9 (as it is now called) gets cornering ABS, lean-sensitive traction control plus gizmos like anti-rear-wheel-lift ABS function.
It also now has cruise control as standard – a useful upgrade nowadays…
Other updates are shared with the 2021 MT-09: new spin-forged aluminium wheels, a revised frame design with more of a ‘Deltabox’ sportsbike look, and fully adjustable suspension. The rear subframe and main structure is also updated to allow proper three-box hard luggage and has a higher weight limit: 193kg for rider, pillion and luggage payload.
The Tracer 900 GT is also updated, and is now dubbed the Tracer 9 GT, and gets all the base bike upgrades, plus a new electronic semi-active suspension package from KYB. It’s made possible by the new IMU unit, and has two modes, one sporty and one more aimed at comfort. The GT also comes with standard colour-matched panniers, an up/down quickshifter, LED cornering headlights and heated grips, all as standard.
The new Tracer 9 and 9 GT will be in dealers around March. More on price as we get it!
Euro5 version of Tracer 700 GT released
Yamaha revamped its base Tracer 700 earlier this year, and now it’s released a new GT variant to match. The 2021 bike has the same engine and chassis updates as the base bike, and now adds the GT refinements – hard luggage, taller windscreen and a comfort touring seat. It’ll be available in February, price to be confirmed.
