Touring bikes are great. They’ve got comfort in spades, powerful engines, and get the right one, it will allow you a whole lot of fun in the corners as well. However, they do demand a large financial commitment from you. And with the size that the premium ones have grown to, they will certainly not be ridden often. It’s a shame to have to invest so much hard-earned money into something that you won’t ride often.
Finding the balance between the premium feel of a motorcycle that is well put together and something kind to your pocket can be tricky. But there are more than a few customers who desire something like this, so manufacturers have been looking for solutions for a while. They have come up with a fair few ones, and there is one that we really do like for its ability to cater to these two seemingly opposite requirements. This is the touring bike that nails the balance between affordability and high-end feel.
The Yamaha Tracer 9 Is The Touring Bike That Nails The Balance Between Affordability And High-End Feel
There is a wide range of touring bikes to choose from. Some of the more affordable ones cost under $5,000, while the most expensive ones can cost you ten times as much. But finding the perfect place between the two can be a daunting task. The Yamaha Tracer 9 comes close to that, though. It is a tourer-cum-sports bike, and a great city bike all rolled into a single motorcycle. It all depends on what the rider needs from it on any given day.
An Aggressive MSRP Makes The Tracer 9 A Value Purchase
The Tracer 9 is priced at $12,599, which can make some question the ‘affordability’ aspect of it. This is a valid query, since the Honda NT1100 DCT is available at $11,899, and it has a dual clutch automatic gearbox as well. However, for the extra $700, you get a six-axis IMU and a full electronics suite, including features like slide control. You also get 17 more horsepower and an extra cylinder, which makes the premium completely worth it. And that makes the Yamaha Tracer 9 the touring bike that nails the balance between affordability and high-end feel.
Yamaha Tracer 9 Engine
The Tracer 9’s engine is quite an old unit now, but it remains one of our favorites when it comes to the fun factor. This is the CP3 crossplane engine that has inspired other manufacturers like Triumph to make their own version of a crossplane inline three engine as well. You get a great mix of torque at low-ish revs, while still offering exciting horsepower. Things get better with a by-wire throttle and six-axis IMU, with Yamaha offering ride modes including two whose parameters can be customized individually.
The Quickshifter And Blipper Are Optional
A six-speed manual transmission is all that is offered in the US, although an automated manual is available in other markets globally. The manual gearbox gets a standard assist and slipper clutch and an optional two-way quickshifter, and a chain drives the rear wheel.
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Yamaha Tracer 9 Chassis
Yamaha has utilized component sharing here; the Tracer 9 shares its chassis with the MT-09. This is a Deltabox frame, but the subframe is a stronger one to support the weight of a pillion and luggage. Its suspension has more travel than the street bike, though (5.1 inches at the front and 5.2 inches at the rear). Both ends can be adjusted manually for preload and rebound damping. The wheels are 17-inch alloy rims shod with tarmac-biased tires. The front brakes have a radial four-piston fixed caliper, and the rear has a single-piston.
Yamaha Tracer 9 Dimensions
The Tracer 9 has a decently large fuel tank, which should give it decent range if ridden sedately. The weight is low enough for it to be handled easily, but the width and the slightly high seat height might make it difficult.
|
Fuel Tank Capacity |
5.0 gallons |
|
Length/Width/Height |
85.6/35.4/57.5 inches |
|
Wheelbase |
59.1 inches |
|
Seat Height |
33.3 inches |
|
Ground Clearance |
5.3 inches |
|
Curb Weight |
483 LBs (wet) |
Yamaha Tracer 9 Features
The Tracer 9 gets some useful features like a large 7-inch TFT instrument display equipped with Bluetooth and navigation. The matrix headlamp has cornering functions. The windshield height can be adjusted manually. The indicators are self-canceling and have a lane change function as well. Yamaha has also thoughtfully provided a storage space for your phone with a USB charging socket. This is all on top of the extensive electronics package via the IMU.
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Yamaha Tracer 9 Competition
There are quite a few touring bikes in the middleweight category vying for attention. The Ducati Multistrada V2 ($16,595) might have a 17-inch wheel, but its price is super steep for a middleweight. The BMW F 900 XR ($11,995) makes a very good case for itself with its base price, but for it to truly feel high-end, you’ll need to add an optional package or two.
The best tourer that matches up with the Tracer 9 thus is the Honda NT1100 DCT. This is a larger motorcycle, meaning more pillion comfort, and it is also a more open riding position for taller riders. It doesn’t have the sportiness of the Yamaha, but it certainly has the premium feel and affordability down, with its large touchscreen TFT with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, automatic gearbox, and a six-axis IMU, and all the benefits that brings to the table.
Yamaha Tracer 9 Vs Honda NT1100
|
Model |
Yamaha Tracer 9 |
Honda NT1100 DCT |
|
Price |
$12,599 |
$11,899 |
|
Engine |
I3 |
270° I2 |
|
Displacement |
890 cc |
1,084 cc |
|
Power |
117 HP @ 10,000 RPM |
100 HP @ 7,500 RPM |
|
Torque |
68.6 LB-FT @ 7,000 RPM |
82 LB-FT @ 5,500 RPM |
|
Curb Weight (wet) |
483 pounds |
547 LBs |
Source: Yamaha Motorsports