The current state of price-sensitive crossover-type touring bikes is a bit sad in the US. The CFMoto Ibex 800E brings touring abilities, but long-term reliability and dealership support remain a question mark. Triumph’s Tiger Sport 660 gets the basics right, and you’ll need to dump more money to unlock the proper touring abilities. All this while, the Kawasaki Versys 650 and Suzuki V-Strom 650 both get you a really dated package.
That leaves a gaping hole in this popular segment for a modern machine that could minimize your compromise. And we think Yamaha’s Tracer 7 GT is exactly that bike. It has all the makings of an excellent sport-touring bike, all at an uber-strong MSRP overseas. A recent update further strengthens its package, which is why Americans will very well crave it this year.
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The Yamaha Tracer 7 GT Promises Oodles Of Long-Term Comfort
Comfort is a priority on a touring bike, so that’s where we’ll start. The Tracer 7 GT properly spoils you here. You sit on a large two-piece saddle, with your hands on a wide tubular handlebar and feet on mid-set footpegs. As part of its latest update, the seat has more padding than before, while the bars are 30 mm higher and 25 mm wider on each side. The pillion saddle is also longer for improved comfort for your partner. Notably, the seat has a tool-less height adjustment (with a 20 mm range).
In the meantime, the fuel tank is said to “maintain a slim profile for excellent handling and also fit with the rider’s lower body to make mounting and dismounting the bike as easy as possible.” It has plenty of capacity, too (4.75 gallons). Yamaha calls the entire riding triangle a ‘shoulder’s back’ position.
Creature Comfort Features Sweeten The Pot
When you’re aboard, you’ll appreciate the creature comforts on offer. For starters, a tall windscreen comes standard. This is adjustable, and the shape has been designed via computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis to reduce turbulence.
Yamaha has thrown in a centerstand as standard, too, along with color-matched hard saddlebags and an aluminum saddle stay. These bags can reportedly each hold a helmet. Lastly, heated grips (with three settings to suit varying temperatures on your road trip), turn-by-turn navigation, cruise control, and auto-canceling indicators round things off.
A Proven Chassis With Simple Yet Modern Suspension Is Present
Underpinnings-wise, the Tracer 7 GT looks really simple from afar. And it is. But you shouldn’t mistake that as “cutting corners”. The backbone steel chassis has undergone recent updates (increased torsional, longitudinal, and lateral rigidity) to improve stability while ensuring plenty of support for two occupants and full saddlebags. This is topped with a longer swingarm and updated suspension.
The latter comprises 41 mm USD forks and a monoshock. Both of these come from KaYaBa and feature adjustability to allow fine-tuning of the riding dynamics. It’s worth noting that very few bikes offer adjustable suspension in this segment. Another interesting touch is the remote preload adjuster for the monoshock. 17-inch wheels and Michelin Pilot Road tires elevate the package.
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Tight Dimensions Give The Tracer 7 An Edge
All of these components help the Tracer 7 promise tight dimensions. The headlining figure is the weight of 467 pounds. This includes the saddlebags, making it nearly 40 pounds less than the Versys 650 LT sold in the US. Also, the figure is just 10 pounds more than the Tiger Sport 660, which doesn’t have saddlebags and even has a smaller tank. Another advantage is the slightly longer wheelbase on the Tracer, which should mean better straight-line stability.
Yamaha’s Reliable And Punchy CP2 Engine Powers The Tracer 7 GT
Yamaha’s crossplane parallel-twin engine has made waves in the middleweight space ever since it debuted. Reliability, punch, and tractability are its strong suits. These also make it a great engine for a practical touring bike, so the Tracer 7 GT flexes the same mill. The output lies at 72 horsepower and 50 pound-feet, where the former peaks at 9,000 RPM while the torque kicks in at 6,500 RPM.
All that low-end grunt helps enable a claimed efficiency of 56 miles per gallon. Couple that with the 4.75-gallon tank, and you can easily enjoy 250 miles in a full tank. The figure is right up there with the biggest of touring bikes (the CVO Road Glide manages around 270 miles).
The Y-AMT Makes Touring Effortless
While touring, you’ll also appreciate the new-for-2026 Y-AMT transmission. That means you have the option to chuck the bike in “automatic” mode, where you don’t have to worry about shifting gears at all. There are two modes: D and D+.
D is said to deliver a soft gearshift experience, maintaining a low RPM. Whereas, D+ is for the one for spirited riders, as it allows the revs to climb near the redline so you can enjoy the power. And when you’re in the mood for hooning around, you have the option to shift gears manually via the buttons on the left.
Aside from the automatic transmission, you also get all the necessary ride aids. There are three power modes, three ride modes, two levels of traction control, and a dual-channel ABS. That is right up there with its rivals. All of it is accessible via a 5-inch TFT.
The Tracer 7 GT Has A Competitive MSRP Overseas
Finally, let’s talk pricing. The Tracer 7 GT sells for over $14,000 in Britain (£10,500). That is more expensive than what the Tracer 9 sells for in the US. However, look at the UK prices, and you’ll quickly realize the Tracer 7 is well-priced there. Its arch-rival–the Tiger Sport 660–sells for £8,995 for the base bike without saddlebags or an automatic transmission.
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Add the color-matched saddlebags, heated grips, and a few other nitty-gritty bits, and the price rises close to the Tracer’s figure. The automatic transmission would still be missing, which isn’t even available anywhere else in the segment. Thus, the value proposition is quite high here. If Yamaha were to manage such a price in the US, we think this would blow the competition out of the water!