Yamaha MT-09 Tracer: PH2 Review
Jack of all trades, master of, well, all of them - Yamaha looks to have another hit on its hands
Launch not held in winter UK for some reason...
Glancing at photos of the Tracer you could get the impression it is simply an MT-09 with a body kit in the same vein as the Street Rally or Sport Tracker. It isn't. Yamaha has taken the MT-09 as a base and then spent the money converting it into a do-it-all rather than try and do a half-arsed job. So while the chassis, swingarm, suspension (bar the damping), engine (bar maps) and brakes are the same at the MT-09, important parts aren't.
The whole subframe is longer to keep pillions happy and has a grab rail and pannier mounts integrated into its structure, the bars are wider and can be altered in their position, the new front fairing has a three-way adjustable screen, the dash is new and both ABS and traction control come as standard. Basically, Yamaha has converted the MT-09 into a Fazer for the next generation, although they have called it a Tracer to avoid pun-tastic 'Fazer set to stun' headlines...
A successor in spirit, if not name, to the Fazer
I'm not going to beat around the bush as if you are wanting a Tracer you only need to know one thing - it's brilliant. Right, now rush down to your local Yamaha dealer and hope they haven't sold out because this bike is going to be in very short supply. OK, now you have returned, here's what makes it so good. Yamaha has taken all the spirit and fun that the MT-09 has in abundance and managed to inject a huge amount of practicality without tainting the spirit.
So, while the Tracer's seat is lovely and comfortable, the screen moderately effective and the riding position nice and relaxed to keep do-it-all fans happy, the triple motor is still just as barking to ensure those of a childish disposition are kept equally amused. However there are a few irritations, for me the biggest of which is the fact the traction control can't be turned on or off while on the move, instead you need to be stationary. This means you need to decide before you start your ride if you will be going sensibly or pulling lots of wheelies. If this doesn't bother you then aside from slightly too short mirror stalks, which result in a lot of elbow being reflected, there is little to moan about. In fact, I'd say the Tracer is actually a better bike than the MT-09.
Fast, fun, comfortable, affordable - winner!
A few riders found the MT-09's throttle response a touch too direct and the suspension too soft. Personally, I didn't mind the throttle but when you upped the pace the bouncy bits certainly did bounce. With the Tracer, Yamaha has not only made the throttle response milder without reducing power, it has also increased the damping, the result of which is a far sportier ride. It's just a shame the tyres have been changed to more touring oriented rubber as the Dunlop D222 Sportmaxs aren't the best in the world.
That said, this is a bike for churning out miles as well as carving through bends so it isn't that much of an issue. However, if I owned a Tracer I'd be pretty happy when the time came to swap tyres. That said, on a fairly tight and twisty second and third gear road the Tracer was very composed, rolling into bends with a balanced feeling and without any of the MT-09's pitching so they can't be all bad.
Yamaha's latest ... it's wheelie good (sorry)
A new Fazer?
The original FZS600 was a huge sales hit thanks to a lovely blend of practicality and fun, something the overly sporty FZ6 Fazer and competent but insipid FZ8 Fazer failed to recreate. The Tracer manages to recapture this Fazer essence but brings it into a modern context with a cracking triple engine, sporty handling and decent electronic support. However for me the best bit remains the price - £8,149. With Yamaha's PCP plans that puts this brilliant do-it-all right in the mix and I reckon within a few months it will be in very short supply indeed. And deservedly so.
YAMAHA MT-09
Engine: 847cc 3-cyl
Power (hp): 115@10,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 64@8,500rpm
Top speed: 145mph (est)
Weight: 210kg (wet)
MPG: 45mpg (est)
Price: £8,149
I've read that a remap with a full Akra system (about £650) liberates 115+bhp at the rear wheel and sorts the throttle out.
As a do-it-all bike with decent performance, the price is not too sad until you realise that you can get a new 2014 Tuono APRC for under £10k at the moment and a GSXR1000 for under £8.5k if you shop around.
I've read that a remap with a full Akra system (about £650) liberates 115+bhp at the rear wheel and sorts the throttle out.
As a do-it-all bike with decent performance, the price is not too sad until you realise that you can get a new 2014 Tuono APRC for under £10k at the moment and a GSXR1000 for under £8.5k if you shop around.
The price comparison with GSXR1000 and Aprillias is a bit arbitrary, very different bikes which most people in the market for a tracer wouldn't consider. And the tracer is still much cheaper than both.
I went on a 5 day tour of Ireland on my SV650S recently and it wasn't the right bike for the job. I'd like to head off into Europe, but want a more comfortable bike.
I've had the Sv 8 years, was my first bike feels like time for a change. I had always wanted a superduke, but don't fancy long trips on one.
So the reviews of the tracer are all positive and it's affordable... But if I change bikes I'll keep it for another 8 years.
I've been for a look at the S1000XR and the specs are very sexy... But my first impression was that it is a big bike... Might be fine on the move but slightly intimidating.
I guess the question is... Would the Tracer be "enough"... Exciting enough for the foreseeable future.
Sv650 - 70bhp, Tracer 115bhp fairly significant increase... S1000XR 160! >2x!!!
Gary
Gary
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