Thanks for a brilliant review. In general, very much the same experiece as you have, so I will also add protective film over the instruments. As many owners might have missed from reading the manual is how to "highlight the heated grip function by"press and hold" - Then the right handlebar instrument/ controller wheel is DEDICATED for adjusting heat grip setting between 0-10. This comes handy while driving, and makes adjustment much more safe and easy. Many riders have reported this fiddeling with the wheel as an "issue" , so you better try this out :-) Setup is stored also if bike is turned off. Happy driving:-) Best regards from a huge 9GT fan from Norway
I've had my Tracer 9GT Redline for five weeks and also covered 2000 miles. I'm an experienced rider, this is my 78th bike. I also have one of the new Katana's in my garage. One of the reasons I went for the Tracer 9GT was the weight. As I'm getting older, my last touring bikes were three Tenere's, a V Strom and an Africa Twin and these bikes were getting seriously heavy fully loaded to drag out of the garage or manouvere at a standstill. The Tracer feels light as a feather in comparison and once on the move is much quicker and handles better than these bigger adventure bikes. The engine is just amazing, it just drives in any gear at any speed at any revs and is pretty frugal. The panniers are easy to mount and take off, I have the inner bags and they work fine. They do however scuff very easily. The twin screens are not an issue for me. I have trip 1, trip 2, air temp and the fuel guage on the right hand screen and the main information you need on the left screen, speed, gear indicator and revs are easy to read. I agree the heated grips are a bit difficult to swithch on, on the move. One of the issues I have with the lights is the fact that the bike is not easily seen in the daylight. I do ride in a group and the guys say that the bike is very difficult to see when I am behind them. Another issue is the availibilty of accessories for the bike. I know that this is a temporary hiccup, but I really could do with a topbox for a seven day trip to Scotland at the end of this month. The topbox is available but you can't get the mounting plate. All in all, I am absolutely delighted with the bike.
So glad you're enjoying it! Hope you can get that mounting plate soon. This was one of the launch bikes, so I got lucky in that it was already equipped; I know that Yamaha UK is fighting hard to get the accessories through as quickly as possible. Cheers, John
It certainly inspires confidence because it’s so light and handles so well. It has more than enough power for the road and has no worries keeping up with far more powerful bikes.
@@alanhedley8622 I got it from my local Yamaha dealer. The plate that I got is for the previous Tmax (I presume), those are the ones they already got on stock.
Thank you very much for your review. Here a 57 yo rider with 40 years of riding experience, 12 bikes enjoyed. After a DEEP market research (Tiger 900, AT, F900XR,...), I'm waiting for my T9 to be delivered in August. I agree with you in 95% of your appreciations. Dashboard is not an issue for me, seat confort is; I will go for upgrading options. Thank you again !!
As a new Tracer 9 owner, this review puts all my thoughts to words. Ridden 3000km on mine now and I looooooove it. It's also my first "big" bike(more than 650cc). Only thing is that I actually like the dual displays but would not mind them using the right display a bit better. Awesome review that makes me proud to own a Tracer 9
was so pissed that I waited two years for this "upgrade" ant they go ruin the damn display 😤 No to mention the lack of connectivity... on an almost $15k bike!? WTF are you thinking Yamaha!!!!!??? Im due for a bike upgrade this year but they may have lost me as a customer with this one.
@@CPLBSS88 But honestly the display is relatively minor downgrade compared to the things truly upgraded over the previous gen ...it really is an almost entirely new generation of the model rather than just an upgrade of the existing one. (I think the only thing in common is the basic engine platfrom although that is heavily reworked) I suspect anyone that like yourself really sees the display as a deal killer can simply hold off for the upgraded 2023 version of the same bike which is apparently getting a new single large display along with upgraded radar adapative cruise control...(I bet at least $500 more on the price though) The connectivety issue is sure a fair gripe the bike really does lack value considering how much it shares in common with the MT09 which is dang 50% cheaper! I hate they force us to buy the side cases which adds $1000ish to the price... that was almost a deal killer for me except the only other two bikes I was interested in (GSX and Ninja sport tourers) are or at least were totally unavailble here locally so the Tracer won my business by default and even then no one would deal on the price...the best I could was finding a dealer that charged me "only" full msrp with nothing added on top. I do really enjoy this bike though! I can never get over this motor! SO satisfying! But IF Yamaha would come up with an R9 with a not crazy ergomonomice? At 60 oe 70 pounds lighter than this piggy? I just might not be able to control myself! Even though I am too old for such foolishness THAT will be hard to resist! ~~~>th-cam.com/video/MOjFREhu4Ao/w-d-xo.html
Watching this as I do the dishes (lamb roast) dreaming of that next bike. Will it be the Tracer? Maybe, but it’s always nice to hear your very well put voice, almost like listening to a good mate down the pub. And then you mention that the user can reset the service light. I don’t think I’ve ever heard any reviewer mention things like that and for me who refuses to buy new (hence looking at a three year old review) and loves to do my own maintenance it’s a bloody god send. Thank you mate, you’ve just made my evening,
Now this is a proper review. Not the press day test drives. Not the all praise with the "I wish the wheels would be a different color" so you feel you said something negative not to sound too much like a commercial. When I rode my 2018 MT-09 for the first time at night I had a shock to discover I can see absolutely nothing in turns because of the led lights pattern. I watched more than 50 youtube "reviews" before, nobody mentioned it, go figure.
Thank you for great in-depth review! I am waiting for mine to ve delivered - I am moving from Multistrada 950s and main competitor was Versys 1000SE. From my point of view, Tracer sits inbetween those two and provides easy to ride, calm and smooth bike for decent price
What didn’t you like about the MTS950s and replace it with the Tracer? That’s one of the bikes I’m considering to replace my everyday bike, a Versys 650
When Yamaha fix the instrumentation display I’ll be interested to ride the bike as a candidate. So much to like about the bike but there’s no decent place for a GPS on a bike that would be a go to for solo touring.. and the windscreen is a bit lame
@@bennettsbikesocial Suzuki GSX S1000F but did have a MT09 before that. I too have missed gears with the Tracers QS but I put it down to not been more positive with my gear changes 🤷♂️
I have the 2019 tracer 900 gt, with 25.000 miles on it. I just bought it. Was still expensive, but in an amazing condition. Feels brand new. And so far i love the bike. Im going touring with it and long distance. Using the quickshifter and the cruise control on the highway is the best feeling ever
A tip, After having the screens configured, go to the icon of heated handles. press until fo icon is highlighted. from there, whenever you use the button on a wheel, it only sets the level of the heated handles. Of course it can be reversed to go back to tinkering with the settings, press the wheel for a few seconds and voila.
I’m also not a fan of the two TFT displays. The way that they are shaped reminds me of something made in the mid-70s by British Leyland. And that is just depressing.
Yeah that dash is a real deal breaker for me, one would be sitting in my driveway if it weren't for the display. They sorted the pigs ear indicators and sold us porker with that dash. Holding out for better. When are they likely to update that?
actually, i love double screen visual idea... only one thing is missing: android/ios compatible/connectivity ... maybe one of the screeens may use for navigation working with phone connectivity... already ordered to my local dealer and still waiting for it, i think it takes at least one month...
Best review I have ever seen - great example of issue at night with LED's sharp triangle "blade" pattern. Reviews never show night riding. 19:03 At least you have a rear hugger. My NC700X doesn't have any! You could epoxy or rivet a small "visor" to you fender to help. Agree about having favorites menu for frequent suspension adjustments. Amazing to have electronic suspension!! And plastic comes off easy and is soft - my NC700X all the plastic overlaps so it is very complicated and hard to take off and get back on.
I have had my 2015 tracer for 7 years ,absolutely faultless amazing bike for touring to TT, with wife on pillion, great mpg ,performance, and as a general all round bike 😂
Great review. Real-world experience and insights like this are rare - so many reviews just regurgitate specs and prices. Anyone can get that from the manufacturers web site. I test rode the 9GT last weekend although it's not quite what I'm looking for, it's still a very impressive bike.
I think they have split screens so you don’t have to plough through a lot to get to what you want ?, I’m wanting a duel, a tourer and a scratcher, like the movable pegs
Great video again John I'm always looking forward to your reviews. However may I raise a little issue???? I watched 26 minutes and was very disappointed that Helen did not give her honest no nonsense review 😅 ....and tell the bosses we could do without the Bennett's advert every 20 seconds....we will still know what channel we are watching 😉👍
Ha - I'll make sure Helen's in the next video. The transitions are meant to be breaking up the sections, but also to promote BikeSocial, rather than just Bennetts now. Cheers, John
@@bennettsbikesocial Just to second the adverts were OK once, but after the fifth time, made me want to extract my eyeball from the orbital socket with a rusty screwdriver and some WD40.
@@threethrushes Sorry about that. I guess I could argue that each is just one second long, and intended as a transition (like the old Batman scene changes!), so even in total (I'll put fewer in during my next edit - I'm still learning), far less time was spent on these than unskippable mid-roll TH-cam ads, which I won't put in as I find them annoying, despite them being a potential revenue stream.
I've had mine for about 3,000 miles at the moment and just came from a 1200-mile trip from Delaware to Western Virginia (Back of the Dragon). I will say I love this bike overall, but the screens are definitely clustered pretty tight. The windscreen is not too great (I am 6'2") and it does wobble like you've had a few too many pints with your friends from Applebee's. The storage is alright but adding a top rack/case would truly help this bike if you're looking for more extra-long-distance touring. The tires are fine for me in the twisties. I never really gave them a hard try (like track riding), but they held up quite nicely on a long-distance tour. The seat is not too bad honestly. No matter how comfortable your seat is on your bike... your butt will definitely feel it after a while. The suspension modes really aren't too crazy. It is meant for long-distance riding and not necessarily (although very capably) hard track days. I do not do much night riding with the bike, but the lights work.. haha they aren't going to blow you away, and the cornering lights are somewhat useful. Overall, the bike is wonderful, and I plan on doing many trips with it. If you are going to get a Tracer (I tried to the earlier versions), I do recommend the 2021+ version for extra power, suspension, looks, luggage capacity, electronics, etc. but that's just me. Thanks for the wonderful review! I am glad you love yours also.
Ordered the Tracer 9 gt in the middle of March her in Denmark and i am still waiting. Price in Denmark around 22,000 pounds. Good review i enjoyed watching it, can't wait to get mine. The dealer kept my tracer 700 when i ordered the 9 so I have nothing to ride so a few days ago i bought a new Honda CRF 300 L to play with while I'm waiting for the Yammy, now I'm looking for some green roads.
I chose a Tracer 9GT out of the Versys, VStrom, Tiger GT Pro & BMW F900xr/F1000xr. I have to agree, for the money it's superb & that 3 cylinder engine isn't "a compromise" it's simply "Just Right". The Tracer costs less, has unrivalled reliability & (for me) a MUCH lower insurance cost. Out on the road it's easy to see where the money has been spent, with great handling, lots of willing engine power, a smooth ride from the semi active suspension & the assurance of Cornering ABS (which Inhave had to use already when someone came around a corner way too wide!) Short comings, for me are the clocks. Yamaha probably thought they'd stand out from the crowd & I can see wanting be to little different, but seriously these need to be updated on the next refresh. Phone/navigation integration needs to be included, too. The seat is awful, it's hard & sloped forward. My cheap & nasty, old Suzuki GS500 had a better seat. Come on, Yamaha, how come you can't beat such an ancient design? The mouse wheel is annoying, but BMW has the Industry Standard there & Triumphs mouse button is a close second. The lights aren't enough for me, I'll be adding PIAAs as soon as I can. The other thing I need to change is the touring screen, at 6'3" it's just not tall enough. And now we come to the thing I'd REALLY like to change.....Yamaha North America. While our European & Australian brothers are shown riding around with Tracer 9GT accessories such as top boxes, slider, engine case guards, screens, comfort seats etc etc...over in America The Cupboard Is Bare. Yes things show up on Yamamha's website, but rarely are they actually in stock & the list is pitiful to begin with. Comfort Seats? NO! Top boxes? Sometimes...allegedly... but brackets to mount any of them? NO! Radiator guards? NO!. I'm beining to wonder how come Triumph can launch a new model (Tiger 900) & have shelves of accessories in their US dealerships yet Yamaha can't despite them coming out at approximately the same time. So yes, the Tracer has rough edges, but the expensive, soulless BMWs didn't hold my attention long. The Suzuki VStrom was appealing, but is looking dated. The Versys 1000LtSE+ was 2 wheeled starship & I loved it, but heavy & very expensive. Triumph's Tiger 900 Gt Pro was my first choice, but outside of my price range.....No matter what bikes I tried all roads led back to the Tracer.....now if only Yamaha would sell the Tracer 7gt here, too & show the Versys 650lt how it SHOULD be done!
Only had mine for 260 miles, but so far love it. Only problems I have are the screen is very noisy (I'm 6' 2") so have taken it off and ordered a smaller after market one, the levers are at the wrong angle for my wrists (rotated them as far as I can) and I keep missing 2nd gear when changing up (can't tell if that's me or the bike). Edit: oh and I tweaked the display - it was pointed at someone a lot shorter than me so added some spacers on the lower mounts and rotated it up - now it's really bright and easy to read.
Without the screen it's the same as an unfaired/naked bike. More windy, but not excessively so. New screen is due late July so will post back with the results.
The new screen arrived and I've fitted it. Not been able to do a test ride on the open road yet only around town and a few hundred yards of dual carriageway. So far it seems to be a little more noisy compared with no screen and a lot less than with the original. If I stretch and raise my head by a couple of inches the wind noise drops dramatically. So it seem at least for me, my helmet is very close to the turbulence line.
The hugger issue is the same on my 2018 model and for me is the only let down. The bike is superb and I would certainly recommend one. When I do come to change this current model looks like it fits the bill. Still not sure about the split dash, but it’s about the ride, not the numbers.
Still breaking mine in. I would agree with all comments. I have not fully dived into the engine power because of break-in still ongoing. First, I am 6'4" with shoe size 14 and I had to play with the shifter and brake pedal position quite a bit to get it working for me. It's still not perfect but after raising the shifter position and lowering the brake pedal position I feel much better with it now. I also had the situation where I could not complete a shift with the quick shifter. That is usually the case when I did not fully engage or release the shifter. That is what I played so much with its position. And with my shoe size 14 it's even more tricky. My opinion is that the very short shifter lever and it runs counter to the rotation of your foot is a bad design. My 1978 XS1100E has the SAME design and even though it fits my feet and body better, it also has some of those shift issues. A shifter should rotate with your foot and not against it ! I also needed mirror extensions to not just look at my arms in them. Easy fix for $10 US. Lastly, I fitted a Pyramid Fenda Extenda Extra. A MUST MUST MUST HAVE on this bike. It integrates very nicely into the look of the bike and makes a HUGE difference in what gets thrown onto the bike from the road.
Love your insights and wanna start first By thanking you for the time to make the video. I have a 2020 Tracer ! Misses the downshift quick shift and larger saddle bags. But in MY defense has a more usable Dash. I prefer my dash to the newer version. I love the bike! In watching reviews I knew the windscreen to be a problem. I bought a better one from Revzilla the 1st month and ran comfy with that all last summer. Only real problem Ive had since then is I find I can't stay in the saddle longer then an hour cuz I get bum sore. So I purchased a Bagster seat from Chromeburner last week. Sooo comfy. I chose the cheap shipping option but received the seat in 2 days. So anyone with concerns I endorse ChromeBurner. They sent the part the next morning before I even got outta bed. It has stitching that comes down the center and doesn't quite mesh with the gas tank(looks 1/4 lean to one side which I don't like). But for 365 US Im still happy with that upgrade. It otherwise hugs the bike very well and got rid of the wobble produced by the stock seat. The stock seat just wiggled all over and I'm glad to be rid of that. And not having to wait months to get it on the bike made me very pleased. Every rider has to decide but that Tracer brings my 53 year old ass a lot of fun and comfort and joy...
Excellent review. There's a bucket load of reviews that are very similar, you do cover more points here. I am very tempted by this bike. Can't get a test ride though, because it seems the dealers can sell all the bikes they can get hold off ! Maybe now the ship that blocked up the Suez Canal is on the move (I'm sure I read there are some Yamahas on the ship!) , maybe they'll be a few more available.
Hey, thanks for this great review. I got my bike ordered few months ago and it is on the way. Still going to have to wait for 3 weeks though. Will be so happy to finally get to ride it soon
Also I ordered the screen protection from Eazy-Grip as soon as I saw you recommend it. Scartching that already massively reflecting screen would be a nightmare...
Others have claimed the 9GT does have the same frame as the latest gen MT09. Are you sure you didnt compare it ro a 2021 xsr900? Which I understand did not get the new frame until 2022. I thought the only difference was the swing arm length other than the subframe and suspension with both the XSR and the Tracer 9 getting a 2" longer swingarm as opposed to the MT09
Can you completely disable all electronics (ABS front/back, TCS, Slide control, wheelie) one by one are all at once? I love "safety" but real feel is like nothing else.
1:00 I actually bought the Tracer 900 GT in 2018, never driven a kilometer, and had the tires replaced before picking up the bike from the dealer! I had test ridden their demo bike and the OEM tires where just really really bad!
It's a weird thing for manufacturers to do (well, I get that it's a cost thing), but those tyres don't reflect what you'd get if you bought the 'same' model off the shelf! Cheers, John
@@bennettsbikesocial Yeah it's so weird! I imagine they lose a lot of sales when people come and try the bike, and then find out it's rubbish. A lot of people don't know the tires can have that big an impact. By the way, I really like what you said in the video. It was thorough and well thought out. It's a shame the wind screen hasn't been fixed. It was bad on the last model.
I'm trying to decide between versys 1000 se and 9gt... I'm not a speed fan. Comfort and no vibrations is my premium goal. Me and my wife love touring and camping, also photographing. Looking forward for your advice. Thank you so much.
Got one new being delivered this week hopefully! Made the decision to put up with the dash for the benefit of all the good stuff and will let you know how it goes… by the way John thanks for the inserts to fit the Schuberth C5 took a while before I fitted because with it being new visor was fairly stiff … fitted now bit of a fiddle but all great cheers
I’m 5’8 and ride the second gen 900. That screen almost put me off the bike having owned it 2 weeks. I took the smaller sports screen route and yes whilst you are more exposed the buffeting noise that drives crazy has gone. I also wear ear plugs, but the buffeting was too much. Motorway speeds are a breeze now and you can even gun it a bit for a few miles on a private road of course .
TFT's look great on a showroom floor, but I wonder how they will look after weathering the elements of the Western US (where I live). I'm not referring to the scratches on the screen. I'm saying I don't have a garage, so I wonder if it will look weird after a few years.
I think they'll weather fine, though I do prefer an analogue dial! Cheers, John
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How about suspension? How does it compare with the older model? I have a 2020 gt, and I find the springs a bit weak just with the rider. I had to set it almost full preload just for me. So I get almost no preload adjustment for when riding with passenger with luggage. Great review 👍
Hello from Australia. Good honest review and I just bought one based on your last review! I had a 2017 Tracer and loved it (still do). This GT just adds so many minor improvements that come together to make an outstanding motorcycle. I've been riding for 20+years and lost count of motorcycles I've had. The old Tracer was a good allrounder but the GT just seems to take it to another level of refinement. Yer every motorcycle (or car for that matter) has little annoying things. My only gripe is the instrument cluster is a bit harder to see in daylight shadows. And for some reason the seat feels the same height as my old one, but is meant to be lower. I'm going to have another go at lowering it. Main positives for me is the suspension - just so more confidence on bumpy corners. Bars are the right width. Bike is very stable at high speed. Panniers take a helmet (I have the top box on back order). I'm still running in the engine, but so far there's far more to like than to gripe about. I threw my leg over some other bikes before going with a Tracer again, but they just didn't have all the same features for the price. Great tip on the instrument screen protector - just bought one!
@@bennettsbikesocial Cheers John. As I'm a bit vertically challenged it does narrow down my options a bit. I looked at the small and large multistrada - both very nice bikes but didn't come standard with some things the GT Tracer does, and a lot more cash for the Ducati. Also the bars are so wide!!! No good for lane filtering which is legal in most of Australia. BTW really enjoyed your first review with your pillion partner as it helped convince my wife the GT will be more comfortable. Haven't got her out on it yet as its a bit cold over here at the moment.
@@rustysalami8088 I reckon you've made the right choice. Just remember the width of the panniers if you're filtering with them on as they stick out past the bars. I use a top-box mostly though, so it doesn't bother me. Have a great time with it! Cheers, John
@@bennettsbikesocial just following up on this John as I've now run the motor in a bit and given it the beans. Crikey! Went on on 350k ride on some back roads with some mates and it's a different level to my old Tracer. My mate on 2020 Ducati 950 Supersport couldn't keep up with me on the twisty bits. We were both impressed and I'm no racer. I've done a few track days in the past on sports bikes and I'm seriously thinking of doing this on the GT just to see how it would go around a track. Cheers
Thanks for the review. The one thing that I don't like about the 2019 version is that the display doesn't seem to include a Range value, but only fuel consumed. Does this newer version display Range?
Had mine for 6 weeks & already clocked up 2000 miles, brilliant do-it-all-bike!.. The fuel gage a little odd though, I’d say the first (long) block is not quite half of the tank - as it looks! That usually drops after 90-100 miles… the 3 remaining blocks are “each” worth around 25 miles before they disappear. Which would mean that the last (flashing) reserve block should get you 50 miles!?? If it’s to achieve it’s quoted mpg/mileage figures correctly. Most reviewers say it has an 18L tank, but in the manual it states it has a 19L tank! Yesterday I rode it until the fuel gauge went down to its last “flashing” reserve block, then immediately filled up not 2 miles later, I brimmed the tank & only managed to squeeze in just under 14 litres, which would suggest I either have 4 (or 5) litres remaining, even though it was flashing like I was about to run dry very soon.. 🤷🏻♂️
Update on the Tracer 9-GT’s fuel economy … I’ve recently got back from Touring around Scotland, having covered a total of 1,530 miles - and averaging 60.5 mpg as a total for all these miles. It’s such a frugal/flexible motor is this new CP3 unit! And today I ran it as low as I dared for the first time with the last bar ‘flashing’ at me, pulled into the fuel station after 31 miles, after it was telling me to get fuel.. I still after totally brimming it only managed to fit in 16.40 litres! So this means if it has an 18L tank you’ll get 45 miles once the last bar starts ‘flashing’ at you, however if it’s a 19L tank as the manual states, then that’s 60 miles of ‘flashing’ before you run dry!! Info like this is gives such peace of mind if you ever find yourself low on fuel (or so it makes you think) while out in the middle of nowhere, when that last fuel bar is blinking at you! 👍🏻
Thanks for this review! Got one question though! I’ve got a the mt-09 tracer right now, but the old S1000XR is screaming at me to buy one. You’ve got the old S1000XR and have driven this new Tracer 9 a lot. Which one do you prefer and why? Thnx a lot in advance.
Emotionally, I prefer the XR as it's more aggressive. But it's also harsher... if I could only have one bike and I commuted a lot I'd have the Tracer. Cheers, John
A very in-depth review of the bike. I have test-ridden the bike agree with most of your reviews. keep up the good work. What happened at the end Ha ha.
I’d rather see a large display. All the info. But also able to run GPS. I love the looks of it. Hopefully when the 10 gets refreshed it has some touring add ons.
@@red.riot.2280 brakes, suspension, tft screen amazing, very fast bike, i am still not used to it how fast it is and scares me a bit and always gives me a nervous smile... But it feels very heavy when you try to park it or make a u turn etc. a lot more difficult to handle than my ex bike 'tdm 900'.
I just bought a new Tracer 9 GT, and I took one ride in the mtns and came straight home and ripped off the stock tires and went with a set of Michelin Pilot Road 5's. Much improved. The stock T32's had the rear step out on my twice on dry pavement. Not very confidence inspiring and I didn't like the profile and turn in...
@@bennettsbikesocial It was fine, the electronics stepped in and it was fine. I just didn't care for them. I would rather give up a bit of mileage in exchange for grip and handling...
Man i am in a quandary. I’m a dirt rider thats recently switched to street. I bought a tiger 850 to cut my street/traffic teeth. I now want more power but the tiger platform is so damn comfortable. I debated mt-09 but just dont like the hard seat and stuff hits your legs/ankles when stopped. Curious if the tracer 9 is seated differently than the mt-09. Basically I’m deciding between a tiger gt pro or a tracer 9. But i cannot find a tracer to sit on..mt-09’s yes but not the tracers. Question is, is the tracer more comfortable than the mt-09 platform…
I'd say yes, but we area all different. Guessing you're in the US where the Tracer's harder to get? Have you conidered a GS too? Expensive, but excellent on road
Had mine for nearly a week... first big bike after passing my mod2 on Friday. Absolutely loving it so far, but only really have my old MT125 to compare against
Dry the screens properly, using an absorbent microfiber and dabbing the water away rather than wiping back and forth, and you'll have far fewer scratches to deal with.
I got mine 4 weeks ago, its at 850 kilometers now. Realy love the quickshifter. Only thing I am going to get asap is a sport/short windscreen. The wind nois is verry turbulente around the helmet. Verry Nice revieuw 👍
You said you have t32 tyres fitted. How do you like them. I was thinking of having them on my xsr900. Currently running t31s but heard they are a bit vague due to wide sipes in tread pattern.
Hey Bud, brilliant review, but please, for more commute, back roads and dual carriageway riding which do you think might be better?, New Ktm 890 Adventure or new Tracer 9gt?, please? Ride safe.
Thanks for the good info -- you mention you have an MT10 ... what are your thoughts on the two compared? For someone like me, who is not a hooligan, doesn't try to outrun the police, and is 50+ years old, but is coming of a gtr1400 and recon 117HP is a bit on the low side. Carry a pillion maybe twice a year.
Add some big black eyes brows to those clocks and Groucho would love them , but seriously good review , if I could afford it I’d upgrade from my 2019 900 gt
Tremendous review Are handguards good ie do they keep wind and cold off hands or are they just for aesthetics . I’m worried about screen . I’m 6 foot. Have you found a screen that’s better than OEM
Great vid.. i just bought one with 3300kms on it.. i love it, but i have a horrible grinding noise when starting up from cold..anyone have any pointers?
Got to compare to the tumph tiger 1050 sport. I fitted the Mitchellen Road 5 on my pre-owned mt09 Tracer 2015 abs at time of purchasing due to Avon tyres that where on where in short worn out. Never looked back. Braided lines would be good. I fitted aftermarket yamaha led running lights and indicators in one unit. Even comes with the resisters as well. Bike looks like an xwing from the back of the bike.
ive got the 2019 tracer 900 GT , an absolute awesome bike , the 2021 looks great but not a fan of the croucho marx look, might wait a few years till i upgrade lol
Not really, o. I did notice it on a ride on Saturday, but that was behind a transit van on a motorway; just a very slight shimmy in the bars caused by turbulence. Even with a pillion, I'm not seeing this. Cheers, John
@@bennettsbikesocial With more weight, the wobbling will go away. In tests done by Dunlop, they found that speed wobble goes away completely when you have a passenger. Dunlop wobble and weave. th-cam.com/video/z3OQTU-kE2s/w-d-xo.html
Hi. Love this bike had mine now just about 2 months done 2400 miles and loving it just won't to ride all day no bum trauma its so comfy, i do think people nit pick if the clocks where on a bmw they would be the best thing since slice bread 🍞. And fuel wise on a nice steady day a good 265 a tank and thats not slow slow. 😀
Great review... again covering stuff that's really relevant. 14.55..fuel gauge, I'm pretty sure most gauges still read the level not capacity, so the shape of tank can affect the reading. I. E. halfway way down, but not necessarily half full.
Personally, I think it handles very well indeed. Two-up chasing someone far faster than me, it was no bother at all. It lacks the excitement of the XR, but the mid-range punch of the Tracer makes it still a hell of a lot of fun. The brakes aren't as good, but they're not bad at all. I get off the XR though thinking 'wow, that is amazing'. I get off this thinking 'that did everything very well'. Does that make sense?! Cheers, John
I’ve recently bought a 2019 r1250gs that has 6 months warranty left and 11k miles on it I’m not sure if I should keep it or go for a new 9gt with cash back my way. I like the idea of new bike and 2 yrs warranty. I’ve ridden the gt for a coupe of hours, def needs the screen replaced!! I’m 5’6 and my lowered GS is slightly lower than the lowered 9gt although so much heavier to move around. I’m literally having sleepless nights trying to decide. Heart GS, Head 9GT. My mrs found the Gs so comfy she nearly fell asleep last time out lol
as a new owner coming off a k1600, i was looking for something affordable and got a tracer 9gt. absolutely love it just hit 600 miles and the only thing i do not like is the controls like he stated in the video other than that all is good so far. the day i bought it had to ride 145 miles to get back home and they are going before the dealers even get them in stock.
@@bennettsbikesocial test rode the Tracer 9gt today & just couldn’t get on with it. The peg position stops you getting your feet down & getting to side stand without being a contortionist, some buffeting from screen at motorway speeds & instrument dials font too small/busy to see at a glance. Otherwise lightweight, punchy, comfortable, brilliant quick shifter & exhaust noise. Really wanted to like this bike, but didn’t suit me I’m afraid ☹️
@@grizzlystr3445 That's the beauty of bikes! I don't have the same problem with the pegs (I do on my S1000XR), but the other points I can see. Hopefully one of the bikes in our upcoming comparison test will suit you. What are you hankering after? Cheers, John
Great review! I just got my 9GT last week, and am looking forward to adding more miles once “break-in” is done. I noticed you have an Innovv remote on your handlebar. How do you like the dash cam? Any plan to review the dash cam on this bike?
Good spot - yes, I'm in the process of testing it. Once the review is in with the others, I hope to do a video comparing them all. Cheers, John www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial/reviews/products/motorcycle-technology (sort by most recent)
@@bennettsbikesocial Looking forward to the review video! It would be fantastic if you could include installation process, as well. I bought K3 dash cam and it just came in a mail last weekend :)
Thanks for the super thorough review. I have recently bought an xsr900 but am finding myself doing more touring than I anticipated and am wondering if I should have shelled out the extra cash for a tracer. Have subscribed so I can see more reviews like this in the future.
Thanks very much! The XSR is great bike (I used to own an XSR700), but if you are touring a lot the Tracer's a great option with the same awesome motor.
Thank you for spending time discussing and demonstrating the lighting, especially at night (other reviewers please take note). To me the setup seems overly complicated: this light's off when 'dipped,' (US rider here) these are on all the time, these are turning lights ... I don't understand the rationale/appeal of having one main light off during the day ... is it a safety thing, as in not confusing the relative distance of the vehicle? Anyway ... I really appreciate the down-to-earth, nut-n-bolts review of the bike's features.
Thanks very much! I will try to find out at some point, but I know there are limits to maximum permissible light output. For instance, the JW Speaker cornering lights weren't able to run in full-beam with cornering as it exceeded the regs. I will try to dig deeper though... cheers, John
@@bennettsbikesocial the single light is a yamaha things since many years. It looks ugly but it's a safety thing as MadChalet said. Look at this from the other side - when you drive a car and you see two small lights coming your way on the other side of the road you think that is a car and it's far away because gap between lights is small and you start to overtake. Surprise, that wasn't a car far away, that was a bike just in front of you...
As far as I can tell it's the same thing as popping it on high-beam - the low beam stays on whether you flash or switch. Over-heating isn't the issue it used to be with halogens, and the two lamps are separate units with their own heatsinks. Cheers, John
You guys put a lot of work into this one. Great real world review. Not a bike I’m interested in personally but I watch them all. 8:00. Those clocks definitely do look like two eyes, nose, eyebrows etc. Once you see it you never forget it. I blame neeves for that one.
I have been debating so hard between this and the XR... Having ridden extensively the Tracer and the XR, would you still choose the XR? How's the handling compared? I do ride aggressively in the backroads sometimes. Thanks for the video!
Compared to my 2019 S1000XR, it's not as premium feeling, or as precise. On the other-hand, it's much easier to ride in tight trafic and on awkward surfaces. It's a better overal package, but it doesn't have some of the truly outstanding features. If I was riding it every day, I'd want the Tracer. The XR is a toy really (an expensive one!). Cheers, John
Perfect review! Though I am still lost whether I should by standard or GT version. What would be your advice if use bike for weekends short- mid tours and city commuting? Thanks in advance! Simas
Best bet would be to try them both if you can, to feel the difference the suspension makes. Also, if you can make do with just a top box then you maybe don't need the panniers of the GT. Cheers, John
Thanks for a brilliant review. In general, very much the same experiece as you have, so I will also add protective film over the instruments. As many owners might have missed from reading the manual is how to "highlight the heated grip function by"press and hold" - Then the right handlebar instrument/ controller wheel is DEDICATED for adjusting heat grip setting between 0-10. This comes handy while driving, and makes adjustment much more safe and easy. Many riders have reported this fiddeling with the wheel as an "issue" , so you better try this out :-) Setup is stored also if bike is turned off. Happy driving:-) Best regards from a huge 9GT fan from Norway
I'm going down to the garage to try that now! We don't get owners manuals with loan bikes, but I do have the PDF so I've no excuse! Cheers, John
Brilliant - it works! Have pinned this comment, thank you!
I've had my Tracer 9GT Redline for five weeks and also covered 2000 miles. I'm an experienced rider, this is my 78th bike. I also have one of the new Katana's in my garage. One of the reasons I went for the Tracer 9GT was the weight. As I'm getting older, my last touring bikes were three Tenere's, a V Strom and an Africa Twin and these bikes were getting seriously heavy fully loaded to drag out of the garage or manouvere at a standstill. The Tracer feels light as a feather in comparison and once on the move is much quicker and handles better than these bigger adventure bikes. The engine is just amazing, it just drives in any gear at any speed at any revs and is pretty frugal. The panniers are easy to mount and take off, I have the inner bags and they work fine. They do however scuff very easily. The twin screens are not an issue for me. I have trip 1, trip 2, air temp and the fuel guage on the right hand screen and the main information you need on the left screen, speed, gear indicator and revs are easy to read. I agree the heated grips are a bit difficult to swithch on, on the move. One of the issues I have with the lights is the fact that the bike is not easily seen in the daylight. I do ride in a group and the guys say that the bike is very difficult to see when I am behind them. Another issue is the availibilty of accessories for the bike. I know that this is a temporary hiccup, but I really could do with a topbox for a seven day trip to Scotland at the end of this month. The topbox is available but you can't get the mounting plate. All in all, I am absolutely delighted with the bike.
So glad you're enjoying it! Hope you can get that mounting plate soon. This was one of the launch bikes, so I got lucky in that it was already equipped; I know that Yamaha UK is fighting hard to get the accessories through as quickly as possible. Cheers, John
It certainly inspires confidence because it’s so light and handles so well. It has more than enough power for the road and has no worries keeping up with far more powerful bikes.
Hello Alan,
I have mounted a plate from a Tmax on mine (it is the same one), hope this helps.
@@cofiSRB Where did you get it from ? I've heard that the Niken plate also fits. Thanks.
@@alanhedley8622 I got it from my local Yamaha dealer. The plate that I got is for the previous Tmax (I presume), those are the ones they already got on stock.
Should have been a single 8 inch screen, with Google or apple compatible.
Thank you very much for your review.
Here a 57 yo rider with 40 years of riding experience, 12 bikes enjoyed.
After a DEEP market research (Tiger 900, AT, F900XR,...), I'm waiting for my T9 to be delivered in August.
I agree with you in 95% of your appreciations. Dashboard is not an issue for me, seat confort is; I will go for upgrading options.
Thank you again !!
Thanks for watching... enjoy your new bike! Cheers, John
As a new Tracer 9 owner, this review puts all my thoughts to words. Ridden 3000km on mine now and I looooooove it. It's also my first "big" bike(more than 650cc). Only thing is that I actually like the dual displays but would not mind them using the right display a bit better. Awesome review that makes me proud to own a Tracer 9
Brilliant, thank you! You'll have a great time on it!
was so pissed that I waited two years for this "upgrade" ant they go ruin the damn display 😤 No to mention the lack of connectivity... on an almost $15k bike!? WTF are you thinking Yamaha!!!!!??? Im due for a bike upgrade this year but they may have lost me as a customer with this one.
@@CPLBSS88 But honestly the display is relatively minor downgrade compared to the things truly upgraded over the previous gen ...it really is an almost entirely new generation of the model rather than just an upgrade of the existing one. (I think the only thing in common is the basic engine platfrom although that is heavily reworked) I suspect anyone that like yourself really sees the display as a deal killer can simply hold off for the upgraded 2023 version of the same bike which is apparently getting a new single large display along with upgraded radar adapative cruise control...(I bet at least $500 more on the price though) The connectivety issue is sure a fair gripe the bike really does lack value considering how much it shares in common with the MT09 which is dang 50% cheaper! I hate they force us to buy the side cases which adds $1000ish to the price... that was almost a deal killer for me except the only other two bikes I was interested in (GSX and Ninja sport tourers) are or at least were totally unavailble here locally so the Tracer won my business by default and even then no one would deal on the price...the best I could was finding a dealer that charged me "only" full msrp with nothing added on top. I do really enjoy this bike though! I can never get over this motor! SO satisfying! But IF Yamaha would come up with an R9 with a not crazy ergomonomice? At 60 oe 70 pounds lighter than this piggy? I just might not be able to control myself! Even though I am too old for such foolishness THAT will be hard to resist! ~~~>th-cam.com/video/MOjFREhu4Ao/w-d-xo.html
Watching this as I do the dishes (lamb roast) dreaming of that next bike. Will it be the Tracer? Maybe, but it’s always nice to hear your very well put voice, almost like listening to a good mate down the pub. And then you mention that the user can reset the service light. I don’t think I’ve ever heard any reviewer mention things like that and for me who refuses to buy new (hence looking at a three year old review) and loves to do my own maintenance it’s a bloody god send. Thank you mate, you’ve just made my evening,
Now this is a proper review. Not the press day test drives. Not the all praise with the "I wish the wheels would be a different color" so you feel you said something negative not to sound too much like a commercial. When I rode my 2018 MT-09 for the first time at night I had a shock to discover I can see absolutely nothing in turns because of the led lights pattern. I watched more than 50 youtube "reviews" before, nobody mentioned it, go figure.
Thanks! All the best, John
The only time the dash looks good is when the lights are off in the garage!
Yamaha nailed it with the GT all those extras that are usually options. Triumph should take note.
Triumph, at least in Greece, did take a note and they offer their 2024 Tiger with 3 hard cases and some other GT related stuff, free of charge.
Thank you for great in-depth review! I am waiting for mine to ve delivered - I am moving from Multistrada 950s and main competitor was Versys 1000SE. From my point of view, Tracer sits inbetween those two and provides easy to ride, calm and smooth bike for decent price
Excellent - hope you have some great rides on it. Cheers, John
What didn’t you like about the MTS950s and replace it with the Tracer? That’s one of the bikes I’m considering to replace my everyday bike, a Versys 650
+1 @desidius2003. What are your impressions of the Tracer after the Multi?
When Yamaha fix the instrumentation display I’ll be interested to ride the bike as a candidate. So much to like about the bike but there’s no decent place for a GPS on a bike that would be a go to for solo touring.. and the windscreen is a bit lame
I've had mine now for 8 weeks and can honestly say I really like it both on my own and with the Mrs...
Brilliant! What did you have before it? Cheers, John
@@bennettsbikesocial Suzuki GSX S1000F but did have a MT09 before that. I too have missed gears with the Tracers QS but I put it down to not been more positive with my gear changes 🤷♂️
I have the 2019 tracer 900 gt, with 25.000 miles on it. I just bought it. Was still expensive, but in an amazing condition. Feels brand new. And so far i love the bike. Im going touring with it and long distance. Using the quickshifter and the cruise control on the highway is the best feeling ever
Excellent - enjoy! Cheers, John
Great job on the nighttime LED lighting review!
Thanks! Cheers, John
I have to say you're the best reviewer on youtube. You talk about things that are very important to us but not other reviewer seems to care about.
Thanks SO much! Cheers, John
A tip,
After having the screens configured, go to the icon of heated handles. press until fo icon is highlighted. from there, whenever you use the button on a wheel, it only sets the level of the heated handles.
Of course it can be reversed to go back to tinkering with the settings, press the wheel for a few seconds and voila.
I hope you can get your hands on the new tracer GT + , your reviews are so good it would be interesting to see what you think of it.
I’m also not a fan of the two TFT displays. The way that they are shaped reminds me of something made in the mid-70s by British Leyland.
And that is just depressing.
Yeah that dash is a real deal breaker for me, one would be sitting in my driveway if it weren't for the display. They sorted the pigs ear indicators and sold us porker with that dash. Holding out for better.
When are they likely to update that?
yes,, what were they thinking?
actually, i love double screen visual idea... only one thing is missing: android/ios compatible/connectivity ... maybe one of the screeens may use for navigation working with phone connectivity... already ordered to my local dealer and still waiting for it, i think it takes at least one month...
Best review I have ever seen - great example of issue at night with LED's sharp triangle "blade" pattern. Reviews never show night riding. 19:03 At least you have a rear hugger. My NC700X doesn't have any! You could epoxy or rivet a small "visor" to you fender to help. Agree about having favorites menu for frequent suspension adjustments. Amazing to have electronic suspension!! And plastic comes off easy and is soft - my NC700X all the plastic overlaps so it is very complicated and hard to take off and get back on.
Thanks very much! All the best, John
I have had my 2015 tracer for 7 years ,absolutely faultless amazing bike for touring to TT, with wife on pillion, great mpg ,performance, and as a general all round bike 😂
Great review. Real-world experience and insights like this are rare - so many reviews just regurgitate specs and prices. Anyone can get that from the manufacturers web site. I test rode the 9GT last weekend although it's not quite what I'm looking for, it's still a very impressive bike.
Cheers! All the best, John
This is the best review on a bike I have ever seen. Good job!
Thanks! Cheers, John
I think they have split screens so you don’t have to plough through a lot to get to what you want ?, I’m wanting a duel, a tourer and a scratcher, like the movable pegs
Great video again John I'm always looking forward to your reviews. However may I raise a little issue???? I watched 26 minutes and was very disappointed that Helen did not give her honest no nonsense review 😅 ....and tell the bosses we could do without the Bennett's advert every 20 seconds....we will still know what channel we are watching 😉👍
Ha - I'll make sure Helen's in the next video. The transitions are meant to be breaking up the sections, but also to promote BikeSocial, rather than just Bennetts now. Cheers, John
@@bennettsbikesocial Just to second the adverts were OK once, but after the fifth time, made me want to extract my eyeball from the orbital socket with a rusty screwdriver and some WD40.
@@threethrushes Sorry about that. I guess I could argue that each is just one second long, and intended as a transition (like the old Batman scene changes!), so even in total (I'll put fewer in during my next edit - I'm still learning), far less time was spent on these than unskippable mid-roll TH-cam ads, which I won't put in as I find them annoying, despite them being a potential revenue stream.
I've had mine for about 3,000 miles at the moment and just came from a 1200-mile trip from Delaware to Western Virginia (Back of the Dragon). I will say I love this bike overall, but the screens are definitely clustered pretty tight. The windscreen is not too great (I am 6'2") and it does wobble like you've had a few too many pints with your friends from Applebee's. The storage is alright but adding a top rack/case would truly help this bike if you're looking for more extra-long-distance touring. The tires are fine for me in the twisties. I never really gave them a hard try (like track riding), but they held up quite nicely on a long-distance tour. The seat is not too bad honestly. No matter how comfortable your seat is on your bike... your butt will definitely feel it after a while. The suspension modes really aren't too crazy. It is meant for long-distance riding and not necessarily (although very capably) hard track days. I do not do much night riding with the bike, but the lights work.. haha they aren't going to blow you away, and the cornering lights are somewhat useful. Overall, the bike is wonderful, and I plan on doing many trips with it. If you are going to get a Tracer (I tried to the earlier versions), I do recommend the 2021+ version for extra power, suspension, looks, luggage capacity, electronics, etc. but that's just me. Thanks for the wonderful review! I am glad you love yours also.
Ordered the Tracer 9 gt in the middle of March her in Denmark and i am still waiting. Price in Denmark around 22,000 pounds.
Good review i enjoyed watching it, can't wait to get mine. The dealer kept my tracer 700 when i ordered the 9 so I have nothing to ride so a few days ago i bought a new Honda CRF 300 L to play with while I'm waiting for the Yammy, now I'm looking for some green roads.
Hope you get it soon! Cheers, John
So is the silver/blue only a Europe option? All I see in the US is the gray/bronze. Would love that blue option.
Great thorough and practical review John…good to hear a pillion opinion too as very few of those in reviews. Ride safe.
Thanks - you too! Cheers, John
I can't find link for pillion review...help please
@@HP-fj2pk www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial/reviews/bikes/long-term-test-bikes/yamaha-long-term-test-bikes/tracer-9-gt-2021
@@bennettsbikesocial thank you so much
what's the point of changing the mode ?? can't you control the throttle ,,,,leave it in A and go
I chose a Tracer 9GT out of the Versys, VStrom, Tiger GT Pro & BMW F900xr/F1000xr. I have to agree, for the money it's superb & that 3 cylinder engine isn't "a compromise" it's simply "Just Right". The Tracer costs less, has unrivalled reliability & (for me) a MUCH lower insurance cost. Out on the road it's easy to see where the money has been spent, with great handling, lots of willing engine power, a smooth ride from the semi active suspension & the assurance of Cornering ABS (which Inhave had to use already when someone came around a corner way too wide!)
Short comings, for me are the clocks. Yamaha probably thought they'd stand out from the crowd & I can see wanting be to little different, but seriously these need to be updated on the next refresh. Phone/navigation integration needs to be included, too. The seat is awful, it's hard & sloped forward. My cheap & nasty, old Suzuki GS500 had a better seat. Come on, Yamaha, how come you can't beat such an ancient design? The mouse wheel is annoying, but BMW has the Industry Standard there & Triumphs mouse button is a close second. The lights aren't enough for me, I'll be adding PIAAs as soon as I can. The other thing I need to change is the touring screen, at 6'3" it's just not tall enough.
And now we come to the thing I'd REALLY like to change.....Yamaha North America. While our European & Australian brothers are shown riding around with Tracer 9GT accessories such as top boxes, slider, engine case guards, screens, comfort seats etc etc...over in America The Cupboard Is Bare. Yes things show up on Yamamha's website, but rarely are they actually in stock & the list is pitiful to begin with. Comfort Seats? NO! Top boxes? Sometimes...allegedly... but brackets to mount any of them? NO! Radiator guards? NO!. I'm beining to wonder how come Triumph can launch a new model (Tiger 900) & have shelves of accessories in their US dealerships yet Yamaha can't despite them coming out at approximately the same time.
So yes, the Tracer has rough edges, but the expensive, soulless BMWs didn't hold my attention long. The Suzuki VStrom was appealing, but is looking dated. The Versys 1000LtSE+ was 2 wheeled starship & I loved it, but heavy & very expensive. Triumph's Tiger 900 Gt Pro was my first choice, but outside of my price range.....No matter what bikes I tried all roads led back to the Tracer.....now if only Yamaha would sell the Tracer 7gt here, too & show the Versys 650lt how it SHOULD be done!
Only had mine for 260 miles, but so far love it. Only problems I have are the screen is very noisy (I'm 6' 2") so have taken it off and ordered a smaller after market one, the levers are at the wrong angle for my wrists (rotated them as far as I can) and I keep missing 2nd gear when changing up (can't tell if that's me or the bike). Edit: oh and I tweaked the display - it was pointed at someone a lot shorter than me so added some spacers on the lower mounts and rotated it up - now it's really bright and easy to read.
Please let us know how the smaller windscreen works out. What's it like to ride without a screen? Any buffeting?
Without the screen it's the same as an unfaired/naked bike. More windy, but not excessively so. New screen is due late July so will post back with the results.
The new screen arrived and I've fitted it. Not been able to do a test ride on the open road yet only around town and a few hundred yards of dual carriageway. So far it seems to be a little more noisy compared with no screen and a lot less than with the original. If I stretch and raise my head by a couple of inches the wind noise drops dramatically. So it seem at least for me, my helmet is very close to the turbulence line.
The hugger issue is the same on my 2018 model and for me is the only let down. The bike is superb and I would certainly recommend one. When I do come to change this current model looks like it fits the bill. Still not sure about the split dash, but it’s about the ride, not the numbers.
Getting mine tomorrow and really looking forward to it. The test ride was brilliant. Just need to munch them miles on my own machine now.
Brilliant! Let me know how you get on. Have fun! Cheers, John
Still breaking mine in. I would agree with all comments. I have not fully dived into the engine power because of break-in still ongoing. First, I am 6'4" with shoe size 14 and I had to play with the shifter and brake pedal position quite a bit to get it working for me. It's still not perfect but after raising the shifter position and lowering the brake pedal position I feel much better with it now. I also had the situation where I could not complete a shift with the quick shifter. That is usually the case when I did not fully engage or release the shifter. That is what I played so much with its position. And with my shoe size 14 it's even more tricky. My opinion is that the very short shifter lever and it runs counter to the rotation of your foot is a bad design. My 1978 XS1100E has the SAME design and even though it fits my feet and body better, it also has some of those shift issues. A shifter should rotate with your foot and not against it ! I also needed mirror extensions to not just look at my arms in them. Easy fix for $10 US. Lastly, I fitted a Pyramid Fenda Extenda Extra. A MUST MUST MUST HAVE on this bike. It integrates very nicely into the look of the bike and makes a HUGE difference in what gets thrown onto the bike from the road.
Thanks so much for this! Cheers, John
Love your insights and wanna start first By thanking you for the time to make the video. I have a 2020 Tracer ! Misses the downshift quick shift and larger saddle bags. But in MY defense has a more usable Dash. I prefer my dash to the newer version. I love the bike! In watching reviews I knew the windscreen to be a problem. I bought a better one from Revzilla the 1st month and ran comfy with that all last summer. Only real problem Ive had since then is I find I can't stay in the saddle longer then an hour cuz I get bum sore. So I purchased a Bagster seat from Chromeburner last week. Sooo comfy. I chose the cheap shipping option but received the seat in 2 days. So anyone with concerns I endorse ChromeBurner. They sent the part the next morning before I even got outta bed. It has stitching that comes down the center and doesn't quite mesh with the gas tank(looks 1/4 lean to one side which I don't like). But for 365 US Im still happy with that upgrade. It otherwise hugs the bike very well and got rid of the wobble produced by the stock seat. The stock seat just wiggled all over and I'm glad to be rid of that. And not having to wait months to get it on the bike made me very pleased. Every rider has to decide but that Tracer brings my 53 year old ass a lot of fun and comfort and joy...
Excellent info, thanks very much! Cheers, John
One of the best reviews I’ve ever seen .. perfect , and thank you !!
Thanks very much! Cheers, John
Excellent review. There's a bucket load of reviews that are very similar, you do cover more points here.
I am very tempted by this bike. Can't get a test ride though, because it seems the dealers can sell all the bikes they can get hold off ! Maybe now the ship that blocked up the Suez Canal is on the move (I'm sure I read there are some Yamahas on the ship!) , maybe they'll be a few more available.
Hey, thanks for this great review. I got my bike ordered few months ago and it is on the way. Still going to have to wait for 3 weeks though. Will be so happy to finally get to ride it soon
Also I ordered the screen protection from Eazy-Grip as soon as I saw you recommend it. Scartching that already massively reflecting screen would be a nightmare...
Fantastic - let me know what you think. Enjoy... cheers, John
I have bought the icon in may, still waiting, was supposed to be here 1`st July
Oh no! Hopefully it'll get to you soon! Cheers, John
Others have claimed the 9GT does have the same frame as the latest gen MT09. Are you sure you didnt compare it ro a 2021 xsr900? Which I understand did not get the new frame until 2022. I thought the only difference was the swing arm length other than the subframe and suspension with both the XSR and the Tracer 9 getting a 2" longer swingarm as opposed to the MT09
Can you completely disable all electronics (ABS front/back, TCS, Slide control, wheelie) one by one are all at once? I love "safety" but real feel is like nothing else.
Fantastic thorough review as always and so interesting to listen to. Keep them coming.
1:00 I actually bought the Tracer 900 GT in 2018, never driven a kilometer, and had the tires replaced before picking up the bike from the dealer! I had test ridden their demo bike and the OEM tires where just really really bad!
It's a weird thing for manufacturers to do (well, I get that it's a cost thing), but those tyres don't reflect what you'd get if you bought the 'same' model off the shelf! Cheers, John
@@bennettsbikesocial Yeah it's so weird! I imagine they lose a lot of sales when people come and try the bike, and then find out it's rubbish. A lot of people don't know the tires can have that big an impact.
By the way, I really like what you said in the video. It was thorough and well thought out. It's a shame the wind screen hasn't been fixed. It was bad on the last model.
@@sighheinrich Thanks! All the best, John
I'm trying to decide between versys 1000 se and 9gt... I'm not a speed fan. Comfort and no vibrations is my premium goal. Me and my wife love touring and camping, also photographing. Looking forward for your advice. Thank you so much.
Sounds like the Versys to me, but you really do need to test ride them ideally. Cheers, John
Hello! Can you remove the passenger handle? It doesn't look sporty at all. Or can you fit the old tracer handles on the new model?
Got one new being delivered this week hopefully! Made the decision to put up with the dash for the benefit of all the good stuff and will let you know how it goes… by the way John thanks for the inserts to fit the Schuberth C5 took a while before I fitted because with it being new visor was fairly stiff … fitted now bit of a fiddle but all great cheers
Glad they work! Cheers, John
That is a bit worrying for me at 6'1... another taller reviewer mentioning the noise/buffeting... Would the V85TT be a suitable alternative 🤔
I’m 5’8 and ride the second gen 900. That screen almost put me off the bike having owned it 2 weeks. I took the smaller sports screen route and yes whilst you are more exposed the buffeting noise that drives crazy has gone. I also wear ear plugs, but the buffeting was too much. Motorway speeds are a breeze now and you can even gun it a bit for a few miles on a private road of course .
TFT's look great on a showroom floor, but I wonder how they will look after weathering the elements of the Western US (where I live). I'm not referring to the scratches on the screen. I'm saying I don't have a garage, so I wonder if it will look weird after a few years.
I think they'll weather fine, though I do prefer an analogue dial! Cheers, John
How about suspension? How does it compare with the older model?
I have a 2020 gt, and I find the springs a bit weak just with the rider. I had to set it almost full preload just for me. So I get almost no preload adjustment for when riding with passenger with luggage.
Great review 👍
With Helen and me on there, we crank the rear preload up, but I haven't changed the front. Cheers, John
Hello from Australia.
Good honest review and I just bought one based on your last review! I had a 2017 Tracer and loved it (still do). This GT just adds so many minor improvements that come together to make an outstanding motorcycle. I've been riding for 20+years and lost count of motorcycles I've had. The old Tracer was a good allrounder but the GT just seems to take it to another level of refinement. Yer every motorcycle (or car for that matter) has little annoying things. My only gripe is the instrument cluster is a bit harder to see in daylight shadows. And for some reason the seat feels the same height as my old one, but is meant to be lower. I'm going to have another go at lowering it.
Main positives for me is the suspension - just so more confidence on bumpy corners. Bars are the right width. Bike is very stable at high speed. Panniers take a helmet (I have the top box on back order). I'm still running in the engine, but so far there's far more to like than to gripe about.
I threw my leg over some other bikes before going with a Tracer again, but they just didn't have all the same features for the price.
Great tip on the instrument screen protector - just bought one!
Brilliant - thanks! What other bikes did you check out first? Cheers, John
@@bennettsbikesocial Cheers John. As I'm a bit vertically challenged it does narrow down my options a bit. I looked at the small and large multistrada - both very nice bikes but didn't come standard with some things the GT Tracer does, and a lot more cash for the Ducati. Also the bars are so wide!!! No good for lane filtering which is legal in most of Australia. BTW really enjoyed your first review with your pillion partner as it helped convince my wife the GT will be more comfortable. Haven't got her out on it yet as its a bit cold over here at the moment.
@@rustysalami8088 I reckon you've made the right choice. Just remember the width of the panniers if you're filtering with them on as they stick out past the bars. I use a top-box mostly though, so it doesn't bother me. Have a great time with it! Cheers, John
@@bennettsbikesocial just following up on this John as I've now run the motor in a bit and given it the beans. Crikey! Went on on 350k ride on some back roads with some mates and it's a different level to my old Tracer. My mate on 2020 Ducati 950 Supersport couldn't keep up with me on the twisty bits. We were both impressed and I'm no racer. I've done a few track days in the past on sports bikes and I'm seriously thinking of doing this on the GT just to see how it would go around a track. Cheers
what an amazing bike...in 3 months i get my A drive licence and i will go for tracer 9gt . my long term bike.
Thanks for the review. The one thing that I don't like about the 2019 version is that the display doesn't seem to include a Range value, but only fuel consumed. Does this newer version display Range?
Had mine for 6 weeks & already clocked up 2000 miles, brilliant do-it-all-bike!..
The fuel gage a little odd though, I’d say the first (long) block is not quite half of the tank - as it looks!
That usually drops after 90-100 miles… the 3 remaining blocks are “each” worth around 25 miles before they disappear. Which would mean that the last (flashing) reserve block should get you 50 miles!??
If it’s to achieve it’s quoted mpg/mileage figures correctly.
Most reviewers say it has an 18L tank, but in the manual it states it has a 19L tank!
Yesterday I rode it until the fuel gauge went down to its last “flashing” reserve block, then immediately filled up not 2 miles later, I brimmed the tank & only managed to squeeze in just under 14 litres, which would suggest I either have 4 (or 5) litres remaining, even though it was flashing like I was about to run dry very soon.. 🤷🏻♂️
Update on the Tracer 9-GT’s fuel economy …
I’ve recently got back from Touring around Scotland, having covered a total of 1,530 miles - and averaging 60.5 mpg as a total for all these miles.
It’s such a frugal/flexible motor is this new CP3 unit!
And today I ran it as low as I dared for the first time with the last bar ‘flashing’ at me, pulled into the fuel station after 31 miles, after it was telling me to get fuel.. I still after totally brimming it only managed to fit in 16.40 litres!
So this means if it has an 18L tank you’ll get 45 miles once the last bar starts ‘flashing’ at you, however if it’s a 19L tank as the manual states, then that’s 60 miles of ‘flashing’ before you run dry!!
Info like this is gives such peace of mind if you ever find yourself low on fuel (or so it makes you think) while out in the middle of nowhere, when that last fuel bar is blinking at you! 👍🏻
Really good review. Attention to details is excellent for example the pressure switch for the fuel gauge. It’s details like this is really useful
Thanks very much! Cheers, John
Thanks for this review! Got one question though! I’ve got a the mt-09 tracer right now, but the old S1000XR is screaming at me to buy one. You’ve got the old S1000XR and have driven this new Tracer 9 a lot. Which one do you prefer and why? Thnx a lot in advance.
Emotionally, I prefer the XR as it's more aggressive. But it's also harsher... if I could only have one bike and I commuted a lot I'd have the Tracer. Cheers, John
A very in-depth review of the bike. I have test-ridden the bike agree with most of your reviews. keep up the good work. What happened at the end Ha ha.
Cheers! John
I’d rather see a large display. All the info. But also able to run GPS. I love the looks of it. Hopefully when the 10 gets refreshed it has some touring add ons.
This reason I went for the s1000xr
@@TheAskme32 I’m leaning that way for next riding season? What are your thoughts on it? I’ll be coming off a mt10.
@@red.riot.2280 brakes, suspension, tft screen amazing, very fast bike, i am still not used to it how fast it is and scares me a bit and always gives me a nervous smile... But it feels very heavy when you try to park it or make a u turn etc. a lot more difficult to handle than my ex bike 'tdm 900'.
nice review, by the way in 2:29 which is the model of that KTM? thnks!
I just bought a new Tracer 9 GT, and I took one ride in the mtns and came straight home and ripped off the stock tires and went with a set of Michelin Pilot Road 5's. Much improved. The stock T32's had the rear step out on my twice on dry pavement. Not very confidence inspiring and I didn't like the profile and turn in...
Sorry to hear that - glad you're okay! I've had no problem at all with them in all conditions, and would happily keep running them. Cheers, John
@@bennettsbikesocial It was fine, the electronics stepped in and it was fine. I just didn't care for them. I would rather give up a bit of mileage in exchange for grip and handling...
Man i am in a quandary. I’m a dirt rider thats recently switched to street. I bought a tiger 850 to cut my street/traffic teeth. I now want more power but the tiger platform is so damn comfortable. I debated mt-09 but just dont like the hard seat and stuff hits your legs/ankles when stopped. Curious if the tracer 9 is seated differently than the mt-09. Basically I’m deciding between a tiger gt pro or a tracer 9. But i cannot find a tracer to sit on..mt-09’s yes but not the tracers. Question is, is the tracer more comfortable than the mt-09 platform…
I'd say yes, but we area all different. Guessing you're in the US where the Tracer's harder to get? Have you conidered a GS too? Expensive, but excellent on road
Had mine for nearly a week... first big bike after passing my mod2 on Friday. Absolutely loving it so far, but only really have my old MT125 to compare against
You chose wisely! Nice one... A Yamaha fan for life? Cheers, John
@@bennettsbikesocial certainly a yamaha fan so far
Dry the screens properly, using an absorbent microfiber and dabbing the water away rather than wiping back and forth, and you'll have far fewer scratches to deal with.
It's wiping rain off when you ride, if the bike's been sat, that can also cause scratches very easily. Cheers, John
I've a kawasaki z1000sx performance,been looking at the tracer but can't make my mind up if I should swap to the tracer
I did considering this. Thanks for the real review.
Very good review!
However, what are your thoughts in comparison to the Kawa 1000SX ? (even if it's a different approach and different kind of bike)
Which would you say would better for me. I’ve got a XJR 1300. And can’t decide between the Tracer 900or the Tiger 1250. What’s your advice ??
I got mine 4 weeks ago, its at 850 kilometers now. Realy love the quickshifter. Only thing I am going to get asap is a sport/short windscreen. The wind nois is verry turbulente around the helmet. Verry Nice revieuw 👍
Thanks! Enjoy your bike! Cheers, John
Question; seen a lot of pictures of bike and the six front ?ighting. I often only see one lite. Can they both be on full time?
You said you have t32 tyres fitted. How do you like them. I was thinking of having them on my xsr900. Currently running t31s but heard they are a bit vague due to wide sipes in tread pattern.
Hey Bud, brilliant review, but please, for more commute, back roads and dual carriageway riding which do you think might be better?,
New Ktm 890 Adventure or new Tracer 9gt?, please?
Ride safe.
Thanks for the good info -- you mention you have an MT10 ... what are your thoughts on the two compared? For someone like me, who is not a hooligan, doesn't try to outrun the police, and is 50+ years old, but is coming of a gtr1400 and recon 117HP is a bit on the low side. Carry a pillion maybe twice a year.
Add some big black eyes brows to those clocks and Groucho would love them , but seriously good review , if I could afford it I’d upgrade from my 2019 900 gt
Tremendous review
Are handguards good ie do they keep wind and cold off hands or are they just for aesthetics .
I’m worried about screen . I’m 6 foot. Have you found a screen that’s better than OEM
Thanks! I'm still looking for a better screen I'm afraid. But yes, handguards really do make a big difference. Cheers, John
Great vid.. i just bought one with 3300kms on it.. i love it, but i have a horrible grinding noise when starting up from cold..anyone have any pointers?
Do check with your local dealer - I haven't come across this before. Cheers, John
The TTF screen is hideous. What were they thinking? Not sure if i can live with it though the rest of the bike sounds great.
Got to compare to the tumph tiger 1050 sport. I fitted the Mitchellen Road 5 on my pre-owned mt09 Tracer 2015 abs at time of purchasing due to Avon tyres that where on where in short worn out.
Never looked back. Braided lines would be good. I fitted aftermarket yamaha led running lights and indicators in one unit. Even comes with the resisters as well. Bike looks like an xwing from the back of the bike.
I love mine nearly had an accident with the dipped beam down somemcountry lanes the drop off is scary
ive got the 2019 tracer 900 GT , an absolute awesome bike , the 2021 looks great but not a fan of the croucho marx look, might wait a few years till i upgrade lol
Keep up with the good work! Did you feel any wobbling at high speeds? That's something many complaint about!
Not really, o. I did notice it on a ride on Saturday, but that was behind a transit van on a motorway; just a very slight shimmy in the bars caused by turbulence. Even with a pillion, I'm not seeing this. Cheers, John
@@bennettsbikesocial With more weight, the wobbling will go away. In tests done by Dunlop, they found that speed wobble goes away completely when you have a passenger. Dunlop wobble and weave. th-cam.com/video/z3OQTU-kE2s/w-d-xo.html
@Ritalie I've ridden it solo woth and without luggage for thousands of miles too, with no problems. Cheers, John
Good review, how different is the ergonomic compared to Mt 09(2021) ? Is the handlebar higher? Also is there the Buzz at 5k or higher rpm?
Hi, congratulations on the video. I'm damn undecided between the tracer 9 gt or the v strom 1050 ... help !!!
A great conundrum to have, but you're going to have to test ride them both, sorry... both great machines!
Sorry question on AUX lighting, can they both be turned on fulltime. I often only see one on
Those are the main lights, not auxiliary- one is dip, the other is main. Cheers, John
Excellent review.but we got to remember we are all different. 👍👍
Hi. Love this bike had mine now just about 2 months done 2400 miles and loving it just won't to ride all day no bum trauma its so comfy, i do think people nit pick if the clocks where on a bmw they would be the best thing since slice bread 🍞. And fuel wise on a nice steady day a good 265 a tank and thats not slow slow. 😀
Its a great bike but ill be waiting for the Honda 1100NT sports tourer.
Great review... again covering stuff that's really relevant. 14.55..fuel gauge, I'm pretty sure most gauges still read the level not capacity, so the shape of tank can affect the reading. I. E. halfway way down, but not necessarily half full.
Absolutely, so the gauge will be calibrated to the shape of the tank, and this one is pretty close once you get past that first half. Cheers, John
@@bennettsbikesocial yea I see what you mean.
any reviews coming on the newly released tracer 9 gt +?
i think they fixed what most people had issue with on the 9gt, screen, QS, seat comfort...
How does it compare to the XR on the curvy roads?
I just sold mine and I'm looking for a new bike. Thank you
Personally, I think it handles very well indeed. Two-up chasing someone far faster than me, it was no bother at all. It lacks the excitement of the XR, but the mid-range punch of the Tracer makes it still a hell of a lot of fun. The brakes aren't as good, but they're not bad at all. I get off the XR though thinking 'wow, that is amazing'. I get off this thinking 'that did everything very well'. Does that make sense?! Cheers, John
Need a comparison with the venerable Suzuki 1050 XT!
I’ve recently bought a 2019 r1250gs that has 6 months warranty left and 11k miles on it I’m not sure if I should keep it or go for a new 9gt with cash back my way. I like the idea of new bike and 2 yrs warranty. I’ve ridden the gt for a coupe of hours, def needs the screen replaced!! I’m 5’6 and my lowered GS is slightly lower than the lowered 9gt although so much heavier to move around. I’m literally having sleepless nights trying to decide. Heart GS, Head 9GT. My mrs found the Gs so comfy she nearly fell asleep last time out lol
Personally, I always buy bikes with my heart... Cheers, John
as a new owner coming off a k1600, i was looking for something affordable and got a tracer 9gt. absolutely love it just hit 600 miles and the only thing i do not like is the controls like he stated in the video other than that all is good so far. the day i bought it had to ride 145 miles to get back home and they are going before the dealers even get them in stock.
It's rightly a popular bike. Cheers, John
Such a comprehensive, very detailed review! Enjoyed watching it a lot! Thanks a million!!!
Thanks for watching! Cheers, John
can anyone answer me about the suspension..
Is it comfortable to ride?
Thanks for the review, got a test rise booked in a couple of weeks on a 9gt and a 900xr.......we will see.
Excellent - let me know how you get on! Cheers, John
@@bennettsbikesocial test rode the Tracer 9gt today & just couldn’t get on with it. The peg position stops you getting your feet down & getting to side stand without being a contortionist, some buffeting from screen at motorway speeds & instrument dials font too small/busy to see at a glance. Otherwise lightweight, punchy, comfortable, brilliant quick shifter & exhaust noise.
Really wanted to like this bike, but didn’t suit me I’m afraid ☹️
@@grizzlystr3445 That's the beauty of bikes! I don't have the same problem with the pegs (I do on my S1000XR), but the other points I can see. Hopefully one of the bikes in our upcoming comparison test will suit you. What are you hankering after? Cheers, John
@@bennettsbikesocial Agree no two riders the same so not every bike suits.
Looking forward to the group test 👍😎
Great review! I just got my 9GT last week, and am looking forward to adding more miles once “break-in” is done. I noticed you have an Innovv remote on your handlebar. How do you like the dash cam? Any plan to review the dash cam on this bike?
Good spot - yes, I'm in the process of testing it. Once the review is in with the others, I hope to do a video comparing them all. Cheers, John www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial/reviews/products/motorcycle-technology (sort by most recent)
@@bennettsbikesocial Looking forward to the review video! It would be fantastic if you could include installation process, as well. I bought K3 dash cam and it just came in a mail last weekend :)
Thanks for the super thorough review. I have recently bought an xsr900 but am finding myself doing more touring than I anticipated and am wondering if I should have shelled out the extra cash for a tracer. Have subscribed so I can see more reviews like this in the future.
Thanks very much! The XSR is great bike (I used to own an XSR700), but if you are touring a lot the Tracer's a great option with the same awesome motor.
Thank you for spending time discussing and demonstrating the lighting, especially at night (other reviewers please take note). To me the setup seems overly complicated: this light's off when 'dipped,' (US rider here) these are on all the time, these are turning lights ... I don't understand the rationale/appeal of having one main light off during the day ... is it a safety thing, as in not confusing the relative distance of the vehicle? Anyway ... I really appreciate the down-to-earth, nut-n-bolts review of the bike's features.
Thanks very much! I will try to find out at some point, but I know there are limits to maximum permissible light output. For instance, the JW Speaker cornering lights weren't able to run in full-beam with cornering as it exceeded the regs. I will try to dig deeper though... cheers, John
@@bennettsbikesocial the single light is a yamaha things since many years. It looks ugly but it's a safety thing as MadChalet said. Look at this from the other side - when you drive a car and you see two small lights coming your way on the other side of the road you think that is a car and it's far away because gap between lights is small and you start to overtake. Surprise, that wasn't a car far away, that was a bike just in front of you...
Is it possible to use the pass light on cornering to give more light, on other yamaha this uses low and high beam together
As far as I can tell it's the same thing as popping it on high-beam - the low beam stays on whether you flash or switch. Over-heating isn't the issue it used to be with halogens, and the two lamps are separate units with their own heatsinks. Cheers, John
You guys put a lot of work into this one. Great real world review. Not a bike I’m interested in personally but I watch them all. 8:00. Those clocks definitely do look like two eyes, nose, eyebrows etc. Once you see it you never forget it. I blame neeves for that one.
I have been debating so hard between this and the XR... Having ridden extensively the Tracer and the XR, would you still choose the XR? How's the handling compared? I do ride aggressively in the backroads sometimes. Thanks for the video!
Compared to my 2019 S1000XR, it's not as premium feeling, or as precise. On the other-hand, it's much easier to ride in tight trafic and on awkward surfaces. It's a better overal package, but it doesn't have some of the truly outstanding features. If I was riding it every day, I'd want the Tracer. The XR is a toy really (an expensive one!). Cheers, John
Perfect review! Though I am still lost whether I should by standard or GT version. What would be your advice if use bike for weekends short- mid tours and city commuting? Thanks in advance! Simas
Best bet would be to try them both if you can, to feel the difference the suspension makes. Also, if you can make do with just a top box then you maybe don't need the panniers of the GT. Cheers, John