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Extremely well-suited for everyday use, generously equipped

Yamaha MT-09 Tracer – Driving report

Written by Andreas Bildl , Date 1:52 PM

The famous engine of the Yamaha MT-09 Tracer is already known to us. However the road test shows: it is more grown up, more balanced and more generously equipped than the MT-09.

So what’s it meant to be? Sport or touring? Comfort or dynamics? Do you find tourers too fat and boring, naked bikes lacking in versatility and sports bike too strenuous? For all those who don’t commit to one genre, the Yamaha MT-09 Tracer could be what you’re looking for. At the presentation, the pride of the Yamaha managers in their youngest child was clear to see. Little wonder, with Yamaha currently surfing the wave of success, kicked off by the MT-09 with its exciting three-cylinder.

The Yamaha MT-09 Tracer looks set to continue this success story, and the conditions are good as it shares bother the chassis, with its generous spring deflection, and the great three-cylinder with the MT-09. However – and this you notice as soon as you climb on – it is much more than just an MT-09 with screwed on panelling.

Upright and relaxed sitting position

The spacial dimensions on the Yamaha MT-09 Tracer are much more generous. The firmly upholstered driver’s seat offers an additional 20 mm width and length, while the pillion rider even enjoys an additional 5 cm to sit on. At 845 mm (MT-09: 815 mm) the sitting height is much higher . And by reinserting a plastic component, it can even be raised to 860 mm in just a few steps. This means that even those with long legs will have no problem with regard to bent knees. For those who like it lower, Yamaha offers the option of lowering the seat height to 815 mm, with an alternative seat and steering lever. The double-butted aluminium handlebar is positioned nicely to hand. You remain upright and relaxed. It’s as if made for all-day riding. At the touch of a button, the drilling springs into action with the usual, well-dampened triple-snarl. And as we have come to expect, it is there even when idling. It purrs loudly at little more than idling speed as it passes through small villages, and pins back its ears as it leaves, so as to drive smoothly forwards. A subtle triple-hiss and smooth running in the first half of the rev range included. The three-cylinder willingly winds it way up through the revs, spinning energetically against the speed limiter. And if you switch off the traction control, when accelerating hard in first gear the Yamaha MT-09 Tracer rears casually onto its back wheel.

The MT-09 Tracer should weigh around 210 kilograms with a full tank

Again the three drive modes are on board A (crisp, direct response), Standard (normal response) and B (soft response to throttle commands), which have be re-tuned for use in the Yamaha MT-09 Tracer. Here load change is indeed noticeable, even in the direct A-mode, but it still acceptable.

In the lower rev regions the three-cylinder doesn’t seem quite as nippy as in the MT-09, however, the power delivery is more even and linear. It doesn’t come across quite so extroverted as the MT-09, however, its wider range of applications are accordingly more consistent. However, this impression could have something to do with the face that the Yamaha MT-09 Tracer is meant to weigh around 210 kilograms when fully fuelled. For a fully grown 900 with panelling this is still an exceptional value. Especially given the rather healthy 113 HP, which produces power to weight ratio of 0.54 HP/kg, superb for this species.

In this respect, Yamaha is proud to announce, the MT-09 Tracer even ranks ahead of competitors such as the Kawasaki Versys 1000, KTM Adventure 1050, Ducati Hyperstrada or Triumph Tiger 800 and 1050. That may be, but the weight is also around 20 kilos more than in the MT-09.

More confident and grown up, more well-balanced

Useful and pleasant features such as the main stand, hand protectors, panelling with LED headlights, the more stable, longer rear frame and the generous seat, and the fuel capacity now four litres more at 18 litres, make their presence felt on the scales. And in the jungle of corners. There the weight and the higher centre of gravity are clearly noticeable. Therefore the Tracer does not possess the occasionally over-motivated manoeuvrability of the MT-09. However, it is far from difficult to handle, weaving willingly and casually through the bends on the higher, and 45 mm wider aluminium handlebars. The Yamaha MT-09 Tracer seems more confident and grown up, better balanced and lies deeper and more neutral. The Dunlop D 222s, in the special ID version, harmonise rather well once warmed up.

The suspension elements were designed for use in the Yamaha MT-09 Tracer with harder springs and firming damping. This results in the rear sitting a little higher, which in turn makes the chassis geometry a little easer to handle, with a steering head angle of 66 degrees and backlash of 100 mm (MT-09: 65 degrees, 103 mm). The chassis swallows up long bums in the road impeccably, however, it clatters over short, hard edges and wrinkled, rutted asphalt with surprising thoughtlessness, which affects the suspension comfort a little on bumpy tracks.

 

 

Seat height adjustment, pannier holder, main stand

As usual, the radially mounted four-piston brake callipers in the front wheel perform confidently. Not excessively snappy, easily metered and supported by a newly tuned, slightly crudely regulating ABS. It allows for reasonable delay, although is sometimes unable to completely prevent stoppies on the downhill. However, this doesn’t really diminish the Yamaha MT-09 Tracer’s first appearance as a dynamic and entertaining companion.

Versatility is the key when it comes to the Yamaha MT-09 Tracer. And this includes not only the described seat height adjustment. The pannier holder and main stand are on board as standard. The handlebar can be shifted forwards 100 mm by turning the handlebar clamps. The same clamps also feature a thread for the mounting of accessories. The windshield protects the upper body well, although there is some turbulence, and can be adjusted by 30 mm in three stages, without any tools. Headlight adjustment is also possible without tools. The standard equipment also includes hand protectors and a 12V battery. In addition the display, which can be controlled from the handlebars, can also be prepared for the installation of heated handles.

At the end of the test day nothing twitches, the rear doesn’t pinch. And due to the similarly low consumption to that in the MT-09, it should be capable of stages of a good 380 kilometres thanks to the 18-litre tank. Touring fans can rejoice already. So all in all exceptional starting conditions for the Yamaha MT-09 Tracer. In particular the fun that can be yours for an appetising price of 9,595 Euros. This too has tradition within the MT family.

 

Technical data

Engine: water-cooled two-cylinder, four-stroke inline engine, a balance shaft with two gear-driven camshafts above it, four valves per cylinder, bucket tappet, wet sump lubrication, injection, 3x Ø 41 mm, regulated catalytic converter, light dynamo 415 W, 12 V/9 Ah batter, mechanically actuated multi-disc oil bath clutch, six-speed transmission, O-ring chain, secondary transmission 45:16.

Bore x Stroke: 78.0 x 59.1 mm

Engine capacity: 847 cm³

Compression ratio: 11.5:1

Nominal power: 84.6 kW (113 HP) at 10,000 rpm

Max. torque: 88 Nm at 8,500 rpm

Chassis: bridge frame made from cast aluminium, upside-down fork, Ø 41 mm, adjustable spring base and adjustable rebound damping, dual-sided swing arm made from aluminium, central suspension strut with lever system, dual-disc brakes to the front, Ø 298 mm, four-piston fixed calliper, rear brake discs, Ø 245 mm, single-piston floating calliper, traction control, ABS.

Cast aluminium wheels: 3.50 x 17; 5.50 x 17

Tyres: 120/70 ZR 17; 180/55 ZR 17

Dimensions + Weight: wheelbase 1,440 mm, steering head angle 66.0 degrees, backlash 100 mm, spring deflection f/b 137/130 mm, sitting height 845–860 mm

Weight when fully fuelled 210 kg, permitted total weight 390 kg, fuel capacity/reserve 18.0/2.8 litres.

Warranty: two years

Colours: grey, red, silver/blue

Price: 9,595 Euros

Auxiliary costs: 170 Euros

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Article Categories:   Motorcycle Reviews Yamaha

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