Makes sense to upgrade from Yamaha Tracer 7 / 700 to Yamaha Tracer 9? My ideas, pros / cons, test ride on Tracer 9 GT, first impression of Tracer 9. Enjoy ;-)
I own a Tracer 700 2016 since 2018 and a Tracer 900GT 2018 since this summer. The 75PS of the 700 gets boring over time especially if you have access to more powerful bikes and ride them over a extended period of time and then switch back. Agree with what you said about riding with a pillion. I was one for about 2000km with a friend and his Tracer 700 before I bought mine. After the 2000km trip back and forth (each route 1000km in one day) I swore myself to never ever ride as a pillion again and never travel with someone else on my bike. It was an uncomfortable journey to say the least... My experience is that the 700 fits me better. I'm 1,73cm in height and rode the 1000km trip again with my friend on my own machine. Not a problem at all. Not even a sore ass. Everything is almost perfect. Seat position, windscreen position, handle bar position, foot pegs position, everything. It is just comfortable sitting on the 700. When I ride the 900GT for about 30 minutes on end my ass starts to become sore, my wrists begin to hurt and I have that constant wind noise around my helmet which is really loud because of the of the windscreen which can't be really adjusted high enough. The seating position is also more aggressive than on the 700 which maybe is the cause for my sore ass. But I'm not sure about that. The 900 feels a little bit bigger and heavier when you ride it compared to the 700 but it's still at least as easy to flick around corners. The suspension is noticeably better which gives you more confidence in fast corners as the rear doesn't tend to wobble around as on the 700. I don't use the quickshifter, I could care less about the colour TFT display and the heated grips. Cruise control is a cool feature which I tested on the Autobahn several times but always switch off because nobody drives at a constant speed long enough to make really use of this feature. So, what's the conclusion after all that? You are doing just fine with the 700 if you don't ride with a passenger. It's more of the "want it" desire than anything else. And yes, because of the powerful engine, the sound and the better suspension I choose to ride the 900 more often but only short trips. I haven't had the chance to test the 900 on longer trips but I doubt it would be as comfortable as on the 700. The 900 is more fun, but comes with downsides too, at least for me. I'm keeping the 700 as a backup and maybe one day I will be happy to have kept the 700.
Thank you Jack for long comment and your experience! It´s great you ride both Tracers. You can compare both pros and cons. Tracer 7/700 is great bike for one with some power and speed ride weakneses. T9 is really stable and maybe only due to fact it is heavier. I love T7 engine, it´s unbelievable engine, great job Yamaha! If I keep T7 and T9 my wife kills me, so I have to sell T7 ;-) Take care, Vaclav
Don't see it as an 'upgrade'. Just be honest about what you want the bike to do and what you'll use it for. For me the 7 works perfectly as I tour solo on single track roads with a top box and roll bag. Do not underestimate the beauty of having a lightweight, easy to ride bike for 'all roads'. Having said that I do have other, faster/bigger bikes where I can get my other needs from. I am a fan of the new 9. I think that the adaptive suspension works well and I like some of the tech features such as CC. I hate the clocks but that wouldn't put me off. I think that my biggest issue with the 9 would be - Is it as comfortable as the 7 ( the 7 is one of the best bikes that I've owned for comfort - stock seat better than the comfort seat too I think ) And I love the CP3, one of the best engines ever and the new MT09SP is phenomenal, but I always feel it's just a bit lacking compared to the MT/XSR in the Tracer, for obvious reasons. Two up and luggage then I would go for a 9 or Multi 950 or Ninja 1000sx ( latest one though ).
Just upgraded to the Tracer 9GT from an ageing MT-07 set up as a tourer using after market accessories and I absolutely love it apart from a few misgivings. As others have said the display adequate but could have been much better implemented. Screen in a bit noisy at speed, will be trying an after-market screen or spoiler at some point. Stock seat is not great after a few hours in the saddle you start to feel the discomfort build and I guess it is not just me, I tried to order a comfort seat from my local dealer and apparently they cannot even order them, Yamaha don't even have any to sell. These things are not deal breakers for me though and I would happily go and buy the bike again even knowing about these shortcomings. Another option maybe to look at is the new Suzuki GSX-S1000GT which has just been announced a few days ago. Looks interesting and good value priced somewhere in between the Tracer 9 and 9GT. Similar seat height to the Tracer 9 low setting for the shorter riders.
Thanks for your comments and sharing your own experience CTAH19! Yes, I saw this new Suzuki wef days ago. Lets see how it looks once they are available! Take care and ride safe! Vaclav
Hi. I've come to this by accidence and I'd very like to hear your opinion. I have a brand new Tracer 7, with only about 800km done. I am very satisfies except one thing that is most important - I am riding with passenger all my longer journeys and I find it little too small as we are pretty squizzed and that bothers me a lot (also have some back problems) since any longer ride is little painfull (it is ok for her but I am pushed forward). So I am seriously thinking to replace it with tracer 9. What is your experience? I am not planning to do very long rides but for a few days certainly
Friend of mine had a Tiger 900, but too big for me. I tried it. But sound, design I like. I am a bit affraid premium brands due to expensive servise/parts.
Might move for a Tracer 7 from a 14 yr old Kawasaki er6f, simply the Tracer 9 has terrible clock design, illegible in my opinion. How are the vibrations?
Hi Nordkapp! Yes there are some low sensible vibrations you feel in hands (right hand) in about 5k rpm. But I think this is character of every twin bike. It is nothing what cause problems. Maybe if you drive long time on highway with the stable revs. You can feel it, but who ride long highway rides :-)
Unbelievable, I heart the same experince from other Tracer 7 owner from my country. What about Yamaha one? Is also not available now? Normally I buy original one, but noone knows if/when they come (one year ago). :-(
@@I_am_Thursday I cannot judge, but if is available, why not? Just evaluate price difference. Or wait a while (winter is coming :-)) until Puig is on stock.
@@venax2 The OEM one is more expensive but not by a great deal. I'm more concerned with getting the one that works best for me at my height, 176. I had assumed that you thought that the puig was a better screen?!
I own a Tracer 700 2016 since 2018 and a Tracer 900GT 2018 since this summer. The 75PS of the 700 gets boring over time especially if you have access to more powerful bikes and ride them over a extended period of time and then switch back. Agree with what you said about riding with a pillion. I was one for about 2000km with a friend and his Tracer 700 before I bought mine. After the 2000km trip back and forth (each route 1000km in one day) I swore myself to never ever ride as a pillion again and never travel with someone else on my bike. It was an uncomfortable journey to say the least... My experience is that the 700 fits me better. I'm 1,73cm in height and rode the 1000km trip again with my friend on my own machine. Not a problem at all. Not even a sore ass. Everything is almost perfect. Seat position, windscreen position, handle bar position, foot pegs position, everything. It is just comfortable sitting on the 700. When I ride the 900GT for about 30 minutes on end my ass starts to become sore, my wrists begin to hurt and I have that constant wind noise around my helmet which is really loud because of the of the windscreen which can't be really adjusted high enough. The seating position is also more aggressive than on the 700 which maybe is the cause for my sore ass. But I'm not sure about that. The 900 feels a little bit bigger and heavier when you ride it compared to the 700 but it's still at least as easy to flick around corners. The suspension is noticeably better which gives you more confidence in fast corners as the rear doesn't tend to wobble around as on the 700. I don't use the quickshifter, I could care less about the colour TFT display and the heated grips. Cruise control is a cool feature which I tested on the Autobahn several times but always switch off because nobody drives at a constant speed long enough to make really use of this feature. So, what's the conclusion after all that? You are doing just fine with the 700 if you don't ride with a passenger. It's more of the "want it" desire than anything else. And yes, because of the powerful engine, the sound and the better suspension I choose to ride the 900 more often but only short trips. I haven't had the chance to test the 900 on longer trips but I doubt it would be as comfortable as on the 700. The 900 is more fun, but comes with downsides too, at least for me. I'm keeping the 700 as a backup and maybe one day I will be happy to have kept the 700.
Thank you Jack for long comment and your experience! It´s great you ride both Tracers. You can compare both pros and cons. Tracer 7/700 is great bike for one with some power and speed ride weakneses. T9 is really stable and maybe only due to fact it is heavier. I love T7 engine, it´s unbelievable engine, great job Yamaha! If I keep T7 and T9 my wife kills me, so I have to sell T7 ;-) Take care, Vaclav
@@venax2 Yeah that's one pro of not having a house boss. 😄😉
Don't see it as an 'upgrade'. Just be honest about what you want the bike to do and what you'll use it for. For me the 7 works perfectly as I tour solo on single track roads with a top box and roll bag. Do not underestimate the beauty of having a lightweight, easy to ride bike for 'all roads'. Having said that I do have other, faster/bigger bikes where I can get my other needs from.
I am a fan of the new 9. I think that the adaptive suspension works well and I like some of the tech features such as CC. I hate the clocks but that wouldn't put me off. I think that my biggest issue with the 9 would be - Is it as comfortable as the 7 ( the 7 is one of the best bikes that I've owned for comfort - stock seat better than the comfort seat too I think ) And I love the CP3, one of the best engines ever and the new MT09SP is phenomenal, but I always feel it's just a bit lacking compared to the MT/XSR in the Tracer, for obvious reasons. Two up and luggage then I would go for a 9 or Multi 950 or Ninja 1000sx ( latest one though ).
Thanks for your comments! Tracer 7 is great bike and Tracer 9 as well. Its great we have lot of options to choose ;-) Take care!
i drove it last week,too big for me and im 1.80cm high.im going for the tracer 7.waiting for part two!
Please wait until tomorrow! ;-)
Just upgraded to the Tracer 9GT from an ageing MT-07 set up as a tourer using after market accessories and I absolutely love it apart from a few misgivings.
As others have said the display adequate but could have been much better implemented.
Screen in a bit noisy at speed, will be trying an after-market screen or spoiler at some point.
Stock seat is not great after a few hours in the saddle you start to feel the discomfort build and I guess it is not just me, I tried to order a comfort seat from my local dealer and apparently they cannot even order them, Yamaha don't even have any to sell.
These things are not deal breakers for me though and I would happily go and buy the bike again even knowing about these shortcomings.
Another option maybe to look at is the new Suzuki GSX-S1000GT which has just been announced a few days ago. Looks interesting and good value priced somewhere in between the Tracer 9 and 9GT. Similar seat height to the Tracer 9 low setting for the shorter riders.
Thanks for your comments and sharing your own experience CTAH19! Yes, I saw this new Suzuki wef days ago. Lets see how it looks once they are available! Take care and ride safe! Vaclav
Yeah. Maybe vstrom 800 is good enough?
Hi. I've come to this by accidence and I'd very like to hear your opinion. I have a brand new Tracer 7, with only about 800km done. I am very satisfies except one thing that is most important - I am riding with passenger all my longer journeys and I find it little too small as we are pretty squizzed and that bothers me a lot (also have some back problems) since any longer ride is little painfull (it is ok for her but I am pushed forward). So I am seriously thinking to replace it with tracer 9. What is your experience? I am not planning to do very long rides but for a few days certainly
Maybe Suzuki gsx-s1000gt?
The Tracer 900 is good - but you should to take a look at the Triumph Tiger 900!
Friend of mine had a Tiger 900, but too big for me. I tried it. But sound, design I like. I am a bit affraid premium brands due to expensive servise/parts.
Might move for a Tracer 7 from a 14 yr old Kawasaki er6f, simply the Tracer 9 has terrible clock design, illegible in my opinion.
How are the vibrations?
Hi Nordkapp! Yes there are some low sensible vibrations you feel in hands (right hand) in about 5k rpm. But I think this is character of every twin bike. It is nothing what cause problems. Maybe if you drive long time on highway with the stable revs. You can feel it, but who ride long highway rides :-)
And I ordered my Puig touring screen in May. Still waiting...
Unbelievable, I heart the same experince from other Tracer 7 owner from my country. What about Yamaha one? Is also not available now? Normally I buy original one, but noone knows if/when they come (one year ago). :-(
@@venax2 I can get an original one. So do you think that an original one would be better anyway?
@@I_am_Thursday I cannot judge, but if is available, why not? Just evaluate price difference. Or wait a while (winter is coming :-)) until Puig is on stock.
@@venax2 The OEM one is more expensive but not by a great deal. I'm more concerned with getting the one that works best for me at my height, 176. I had assumed that you thought that the puig was a better screen?!
I went with the OEM windshield and an additional deflector. Works good. Waiting months is insane :/
part 2 pl. 😃
Hi Bablu, very soon come 2nd part. I hope already tomorrow, just finishing it ;-)