PLEASE NOTE: The maximum payload is not 394kg - that's the maximum gross vehicle weight, which can be used to determine the payload capacity. The luggage capacity can be found in the article at bit.ly/2018Tracer900Review Sorry for the confusion! John
One of the first, if not the only, reviews that actually shows the luggage from these tracers from the inside and actually explains more about it than just "there're panniers".
Just picked up my 2019 Tracer 900GT yesterday. I already own a XSR900 so comparing the tracer to the XSR. way better suspension. more comfortable riding position and and all the extra spec well worth the money.. Same engine and gear box but the Tracer seem more smooth on power delivery... I have enjoyed the XSR900 . But she is being moved on...
The position of the footrest feels that it's forcing rider's to sit in a sports Bike position and the end result is neither you feel a sporty bike rider nor a touring bike rider? However over all the designing of the Bike Is phenomenal and extra ordinary beautiful. Yamaha's designers did a great job and they deserve to be appreciated for their fabulous Job. Congratulations
I personally was disappointed with the minimal upgrade to the tracer and expected more from the gt version at that price .I opted for a multistrada 950 with touring kit for the price of the tracer gt .
I LOVE my 2016 Tracer. SC Project exhaust, heated grips and Q/S. All it needs is cruise control. Will wait to see the prices in OZ for the GT to see if I trade up or not......
Cheaper quality too. The oil cooler on my 2015 model rusted through before 24000 miles. £500 for a replacement, lots of other owners with the same problem.
every time i look at new bikes, i go wow yeah omg, and then i really analyse everything, and end up thinking " actually i'm gonna stick to my 1999 600 fazer"
^ 100% what he said. Rebuilding it into a naked now, because nothing I've driven so far beats that screeching 4 cylinder 600cc. My Tracer 700 I though would do the job, but it's on the way out for missing the extreme fun factor I have with the FZS..
Quick summary of the above: Tracer 900 ('18) features 1) slightly narrower steering bars, 2) a bigger screen, 3) slightly different seating and 4) different styling. If you have a Fazer 600 from 99-03, your bike might be more awesome.
I have also have a 2007 Fazer FZ6, and I love it. A lot of fun, its only con is they do not make it anymore. I actually like that does not have a lot of torque in the low end because it makes it very easy to drive. If you want to run, rev it over 7,000 and you have a monster.
@@rogermty1971 what's your comment on engine oil 15w 50? This man shared the smoothness using this viscosity. No throttle surging in A mode, light gear shifting and able to stand to 7000 km. th-cam.com/video/49CXs6l7_tw/w-d-xo.html
You mentioned Yamaha didn’t recommend using a top box with panniers, is that just a weight issue. As a non pillion biker, I’d need panniers and top box for distance touring especially as you say a crash helmet won’t fit into panniers. Good review, did think it was a bit overpriced but it’s a lot of bike.
It is a lot of bike for the money. The GT is STILL cheaper than even a basic Versys 1000 which is its main competitor, the Versys doesn't offer cruise control, heated grips, fully adjustable fork (Versys is preload/rebound at both ends), or a quick shifter from the factory.
mrvwbug44 - Versys has a very high load capacity for two up touring, the reviewer doesn’t mention weight capacity just GVW (incorrectly stating this is payload). If you dig into the figures I am pretty sure the payload will be significantly less on the Yamaha. It takes nothing from the bike, I am sure they will sell piles of them but it is not in the same bracket really.
They need to make a new Vtwin 1000 engine. That one dates back to the TL1000, trouble is it's almost impossible to make one emissions compliant anymore.
i believe the kawa versys lt is an inline 4 cyl. you might be referring to suzuki's v-strom 1k which is a v-twin design as was the suzuki tl1k. thumbs up.
Great review. I went from a 2015 Tracer to a KTM 1190 and honestly I miss the Tracer. Considering a GT or a 2017 model and using the saved cash to upgrade to ohlins, quickshifter up down, and cruise control
Pretty sure once you add those aftermarket goodies, you would be spending more than a GT. Ohlins suspension alone will be several thousand. Aftermarket quick shifters are all upshift only. Electronic cruise might not be available for the 1st gen Tracer for much longer, McCruise just ended production of their unit for the 15-17 Tracer/FJ and is just selling off their remaining stock.
mrvwbug44 fair points, I was looking at buying a second hand model though. There are no aftermarket autoblippers available? In my country the GT is about €13k and can pick up a decent 2nd hand '17 for €8-9k, that €4-5k difference would go a long way to getting it how I want. Even if I bought the GT I'd immediately spend around €1k replacing those pathetic panniers for a Givi set and topbox
2017 Tracer was already excellent, all previous issues were solved: fuelling, front forks and brakes. 2017 also has rebound adjustment on the back shock
I don't get why the gt goes for double the price of the base model in the used market. I currently own an fj-09 and want to upgrade to the gt for the quickshifter and heated grips but they sell for 12-14k cad instead of 7k for the base... i'll just get a tracer 900 and add the parts separately.
My first bike 2008 fazer 600 s2, been riding it for past 9 months. Nothing to bench mark on, I like the bike, when or why do u need to upgrade? I feel I can ride my bike for next 5 years :)
I try to look at these 800-1000cc bikes hoping they will be lighter but they end up being around the same weight as Super Adventure 1290S. No more thinking..
Michael Raj I have a 2017 FJ-09, and added Givi luggage to mine (35L side cases and 47L top box.) you are right about those OEM cases being too small. Yamaha’s legal department probably insisted on the disclaimer about using both the top box and panniers simultaneously. They did the same for my Super Tenere. I have ignored this advice and have never had an issue. As long as the boxes are not overloaded, I cannot foresee any problem.
Bruce Brown, those are my thoughts exactly. There shouldn't be an issue if the boxes aren't overloaded. But I honestly can't understand why Yamaha would release their OEM boxes that are a shade too small for a full face.
I reckon Yamaha got it right. Slimmer side cases make lane-splitting much easier. Add a top box if you want to lock up your helmet inside luggage. Or just carry a cable lock.
I Have fjr 1300 , top box with panniers not recommended either according to yamaha the payload , driver pillion panniers top box must not exceed 203 kg (so obviously this is for big guys becuase my self, my wife,the panniers and the top box in total we where 168kg so no problems there)
I would buy a mint second hand Triumph 1050 Tiger Sport instead. Better quality of finish, more power and Torque, easily as comfortable and better looking.
Bugga. Bought an MT09 Tracer just over a year ago and wanted cruise control and it was not available at that stage. I wonder if the cc on the new one is compatible with mine and can be retro fitted. May have to call my dealer.
How is this a touring bike if it can only take 180kg and doesn't allow full luggage? Why don't the side cases take a full face? Nice bike but still seems specified as a toy. Just doesn't cater for those of us that do regular 2 up. Sad..I really fancied one.
Top case + panniers will likely be just fine unless you're going 2 up as well, but in that case you probably want a bigger bike, the Tracer is going to be a little snug for 2 up touring, though should be fine for 2 up day tripping.
Sorry, yes - a slip of the tongue while blabbering along! It's clarified in the written review at bit.ly/2018Tracer900Review but the gross vehicle weight was used to determine how much would be 'spare' after rider and pillion
Apologies again for that - sadly TH-cam won't let you add captions anymore, but I've pinned a note to the top of the comments, and added it to the description. Cheers!
Why would they make a touring bike where you can’t put your helmet inside your side case? I put my helmet in my side case on my FJR hundreds of times. It even fits in my soft bags on my Honda AT. Seems like a boo-boo. Must’ve been a difficult decision in design.
Got an FJR1300 and have both the large and small 20 litre panniers. I use the 20 litre panniers most of the time. Just love them, I found the large panniers to bulky for days out just carrying a few items.
And almost the same price like for Triumph Tiger Sport 1050 /12000 euro in middle Europe/, but in GT you will get better features with the same rate of weight/power.
The Versys 1k has 120hp, it is detuned from the Ninja 1k. The Tracer has 115hp and has a better power to weight ratio than the Versys 1k (not that the big Versys is a bad bike by any means).
@@bennettsbikesocial just wish there wa s a choice of normal size and +15% size. Better leg protection and rubber pegs. Oh and mayby engine by Honda. More bland but smoother. I think it looks beautiful. Lots of people without mechanical sympathy reckon its rather ugly
Get rid of the goo, and the name Tracer. Tracer is a weak name and makes the bike seem chinsey, then the put the word goo next to it verses the number 900, I mean WTF!!!! Someone at Yamaha needs to get fired.
PLEASE NOTE: The maximum payload is not 394kg - that's the maximum gross vehicle weight, which can be used to determine the payload capacity. The luggage capacity can be found in the article at bit.ly/2018Tracer900Review Sorry for the confusion! John
So the max load is around 180kg, definitely not hauling luggage 2 up on it, but should be no problem for a single rider + luggage.
Looks fresh. Like the previous model, handguard is bigger.
th-cam.com/video/SXf3EglH7t8/w-d-xo.html
One of the first, if not the only, reviews that actually shows the luggage from these tracers from the inside and actually explains more about it than just "there're panniers".
Had mine for a couple days, very impressed. It’s like a Super-Super Moto.
Just picked up my 2019 Tracer 900GT yesterday. I already own a XSR900 so comparing the tracer to the XSR. way better suspension. more comfortable riding position and and all the extra spec well worth the money.. Same engine and gear box but the Tracer seem more smooth on power delivery... I have enjoyed the XSR900 . But she is being moved on...
The position of the footrest feels that it's forcing rider's to sit in a sports Bike position and the end result is neither you feel a sporty bike rider nor a touring bike rider?
However over all the designing of the Bike Is phenomenal and extra ordinary beautiful.
Yamaha's designers did a great job and they deserve to be appreciated for their fabulous Job. Congratulations
I personally was disappointed with the minimal upgrade to the tracer and expected more from the gt version at that price .I opted for a multistrada 950 with touring kit for the price of the tracer gt .
I LOVE my 2016 Tracer. SC Project exhaust, heated grips and Q/S. All it needs is cruise control. Will wait to see the prices in OZ for the GT to see if I trade up or not......
Still Cheaper than Honda and Kawasaki competition class. And waay cheaper than its European rivals. I'll take it.
Cheaper quality too. The oil cooler on my 2015 model rusted through before 24000 miles. £500 for a replacement, lots of other owners with the same problem.
It's a good looking bike, and I never thought I'd say that about anything based on the MT09. They sure have improved since the 2018 version.
every time i look at new bikes, i go wow yeah omg, and then i really analyse everything, and end up thinking " actually i'm gonna stick to my 1999 600 fazer"
^ 100% what he said. Rebuilding it into a naked now, because nothing I've driven so far beats that screeching 4 cylinder 600cc. My Tracer 700 I though would do the job, but it's on the way out for missing the extreme fun factor I have with the FZS..
What is actually different from the old model?
th-cam.com/video/SXf3EglH7t8/w-d-xo.html
Quick summary of the above: Tracer 900 ('18) features 1) slightly narrower steering bars, 2) a bigger screen, 3) slightly different seating and 4) different styling. If you have a Fazer 600 from 99-03, your bike might be more awesome.
I have also have a 2007 Fazer FZ6, and I love it. A lot of fun, its only con is they do not make it anymore. I actually like that does not have a lot of torque in the low end because it makes it very easy to drive. If you want to run, rev it over 7,000 and you have a monster.
@@rogermty1971 what's your comment on engine oil 15w 50? This man shared the smoothness using this viscosity. No throttle surging in A mode, light gear shifting and able to stand to 7000 km.
th-cam.com/video/49CXs6l7_tw/w-d-xo.html
Thinking about trading in my 2014 V-Strom on this....I like the cruise control feature....
jmackd10000 Me too! You have the 650 or the 1000?
i have the 1000, what do you have?
jmackd10000, 2012 650. Love it! Just looking for something with a bit more oomph as well as cruise control.
rebound of Tracer900 shock is adjustable, on the left top of shock. same as old Tracer900 :3
You mentioned Yamaha didn’t recommend using a top box with panniers, is that just a weight issue. As a non pillion biker, I’d need panniers and top box for distance touring especially as you say a crash helmet won’t fit into panniers.
Good review, did think it was a bit overpriced but it’s a lot of bike.
How is this bike for long distance 2up riding. As my wife will be riding with me 95% of the time
It is a lot of bike for the money. The GT is STILL cheaper than even a basic Versys 1000 which is its main competitor, the Versys doesn't offer cruise control, heated grips, fully adjustable fork (Versys is preload/rebound at both ends), or a quick shifter from the factory.
mrvwbug44 - Versys has a very high load capacity for two up touring, the reviewer doesn’t mention weight capacity just GVW (incorrectly stating this is payload). If you dig into the figures I am pretty sure the payload will be significantly less on the Yamaha. It takes nothing from the bike, I am sure they will sell piles of them but it is not in the same bracket really.
Kawasaki needs to update the Versys.
They need to make a new Vtwin 1000 engine. That one dates back to the TL1000, trouble is it's almost impossible to make one emissions compliant anymore.
i believe the kawa versys lt is an inline 4 cyl. you might be referring to suzuki's v-strom 1k which is a v-twin design as was the suzuki tl1k. thumbs up.
you're absolutely right, I got them mixed up
Great review. I went from a 2015 Tracer to a KTM 1190 and honestly I miss the Tracer. Considering a GT or a 2017 model and using the saved cash to upgrade to ohlins, quickshifter up down, and cruise control
Pretty sure once you add those aftermarket goodies, you would be spending more than a GT. Ohlins suspension alone will be several thousand. Aftermarket quick shifters are all upshift only. Electronic cruise might not be available for the 1st gen Tracer for much longer, McCruise just ended production of their unit for the 15-17 Tracer/FJ and is just selling off their remaining stock.
mrvwbug44 fair points, I was looking at buying a second hand model though. There are no aftermarket autoblippers available?
In my country the GT is about €13k and can pick up a decent 2nd hand '17 for €8-9k, that €4-5k difference would go a long way to getting it how I want.
Even if I bought the GT I'd immediately spend around €1k replacing those pathetic panniers for a Givi set and topbox
2017 Tracer was already excellent, all previous issues were solved: fuelling, front forks and brakes. 2017 also has rebound adjustment on the back shock
I don't get why the gt goes for double the price of the base model in the used market. I currently own an fj-09 and want to upgrade to the gt for the quickshifter and heated grips but they sell for 12-14k cad instead of 7k for the base... i'll just get a tracer 900 and add the parts separately.
My first bike 2008 fazer 600 s2, been riding it for past 9 months. Nothing to bench mark on, I like the bike, when or why do u need to upgrade? I feel I can ride my bike for next 5 years :)
thank you for the effort and the sharing. here in the states, the fj-09 is very appealing. thumbs up.
hard t tell but that looks like the comfort seat on 900 but not on the GT ,,,am i correct ?
I try to look at these 800-1000cc bikes hoping they will be lighter but they end up being around the same weight as Super Adventure 1290S. No more thinking..
Side panniers that can't hold a full face. Loading a top box is not recommended. Nice going Yamaha!
Michael Raj I have a 2017 FJ-09, and added Givi luggage to mine (35L side cases and 47L top box.) you are right about those OEM cases being too small. Yamaha’s legal department probably insisted on the disclaimer about using both the top box and panniers simultaneously. They did the same for my Super Tenere. I have ignored this advice and have never had an issue. As long as the boxes are not overloaded, I cannot foresee any problem.
Bruce Brown, those are my thoughts exactly. There shouldn't be an issue if the boxes aren't overloaded. But I honestly can't understand why Yamaha would release their OEM boxes that are a shade too small for a full face.
I reckon Yamaha got it right. Slimmer side cases make lane-splitting much easier. Add a top box if you want to lock up your helmet inside luggage. Or just carry a cable lock.
Just put a top box there anyway
I Have fjr 1300 , top box with panniers not recommended either according to yamaha the payload , driver pillion panniers top box must not exceed 203 kg (so obviously this is for big guys becuase my self, my wife,the panniers and the top box in total we where 168kg so no problems there)
the advice against topbox and panniers is probably paranoia about stability. They often quote 3kg limits for topbox contents, as if....
what do you mean by, "16mm narrow" "100mm narrow over all"? i have a 2016 fj 09 and my bars are too wide for me and have been looking for replacement.
That didn’t really add up.. 🤔
Love all your videos. Want to know about the background music . Which song was it?
I would buy a mint second hand Triumph 1050 Tiger Sport instead. Better quality of finish, more power and Torque, easily as comfortable and better looking.
And much heavier
Triumph build quality is shit sorry to say. Nothing beats Japanese bikes, Yamaha and Honda all the way
I'm 172 cm are this good bike for me
Bugga. Bought an MT09 Tracer just over a year ago and wanted cruise control and it was not available at that stage. I wonder if the cc on the new one is compatible with mine and can be retro fitted. May have to call my dealer.
Or for bikes in areas of Oz where there are a lot of straight flat roads.
How is this a touring bike if it can only take 180kg and doesn't allow full luggage? Why don't the side cases take a full face? Nice bike but still seems specified as a toy. Just doesn't cater for those of us that do regular 2 up. Sad..I really fancied one.
Just slap a top box on there
Chrome exhaust would be good and a better screen
Brilliant review
I have a 2019 tracer 900gt excellent bike
Is it too much power if you spend most/all your time 50-90kph (30-55mph)? Can’t get tracer 7 in Japan so it’s this.
@@gregorybreen7705 it's a nice light bike 900gt perfect all around bike I'd say go for it
The payload definitely won't be 394kg, that looks more like the GVW.
Top case + panniers will likely be just fine unless you're going 2 up as well, but in that case you probably want a bigger bike, the Tracer is going to be a little snug for 2 up touring, though should be fine for 2 up day tripping.
mrvwbug44 - yes, I think you are probably right. I was referring to him mixing up payload and gross vehicle weight though.
Sorry, yes - a slip of the tongue while blabbering along! It's clarified in the written review at bit.ly/2018Tracer900Review but the gross vehicle weight was used to determine how much would be 'spare' after rider and pillion
Bennetts Bike - just read it, great thanks. Super looking bike but not for heavyweights!
Apologies again for that - sadly TH-cam won't let you add captions anymore, but I've pinned a note to the top of the comments, and added it to the description. Cheers!
Why would they make a touring bike where you can’t put your helmet inside your side case? I put my helmet in my side case on my FJR hundreds of times. It even fits in my soft bags on my Honda AT. Seems like a boo-boo. Must’ve been a difficult decision in design.
Got an FJR1300 and have both the large and small 20 litre panniers. I use the 20 litre panniers most of the time. Just love them, I found the large panniers to bulky for days out just carrying a few items.
Nice satisfying to watch
1:42 How fast?
$4,000 plus 58 lbs more than the MT-09 - yikes
And even then the GT is still cheaper than a Versys 1000, which is its main competitor.
And almost the same price like for Triumph Tiger Sport 1050 /12000 euro in middle Europe/, but in GT you will get better features with the same rate of weight/power.
mrvwbug44 the versys 1000 makes like 30 more hp
The Versys 1k has 120hp, it is detuned from the Ninja 1k. The Tracer has 115hp and has a better power to weight ratio than the Versys 1k (not that the big Versys is a bad bike by any means).
I gave up waiting for the GT :-(
Same, who can wait for the end of Jun. I don't understand the logic behind it.
The GT now is £12700
I don't think you know enough about bikes to do this review
0:23 ... bouncy.
Seems another motor for tiny people
Mariusz Surmacki why?
@@bennettsbikesocial just wish there wa s a choice of normal size and +15% size. Better leg protection and rubber pegs. Oh and mayby engine by Honda. More bland but smoother.
I think it looks beautiful. Lots of people without mechanical sympathy reckon its rather ugly
Get rid of the goo, and the name Tracer. Tracer is a weak name and makes the bike seem chinsey, then the put the word goo next to it verses the number 900, I mean WTF!!!! Someone at Yamaha needs to get fired.