Life is a series of compromises. Whether it is your job, hobby, or relationships, the way we manage to get through them is with a little bit of compromise. But we are less tolerant of it with motorcycles. That’s because motorcycles in the North American market, at least, are overwhelmingly lifestyle choices and not needs. This has created a circle where motorcycles tend to be uncompromising as well, but they cannot be single-minded.
So what today’s motorcycles need is to have the minimum compromise. It’s a difficult balance to attain. And we don’t mean the literal balance simply because they’re single-track vehicles! There are a few examples that do this really well, but we think there is one model that nails balance without compromise – and here it is.
The Yamaha Tracer 9 Is The Motorcycle That Nails Balance Without Compromise
The Tracer 9 was designed to be a sporty tourer, and it is based on the MT-09, which is one of our favorite bikes ever. Yamaha has managed to retain that fun quotient with the Tracer 9 while adding a new dimension of long-legged capability for multi-day rides as well. This is why the Tracer 9 is the motorcycle that nails balance without compromise.
Yamaha Tracer 9 Price: $12,599
The Tracer 9 is priced a little toward the premium end of its segment. It is priced a little higher than even some European models in the segment. However, its list of features and the power it generates justify the price, making it a good value despite the high price.
Yamaha Tracer 9 Engine
The CP3 crossplane inline three-cylinder engine is one of the greats. It displaces 890 cc, runs a compression ratio of 11.5:1, and generates 117 horsepower at 10,000 RPM and 68.6 pound-feet at 7,000 RPM. It has torque down low and in the midrange, and it offers a lot of shove when you let it run to the redline.
The Tracer 9 has a by-wire throttle and six-axis IMU, so you get access to five ride modes (two of which are customizable), cruise control, cornering traction control, wheelie control, cornering back slip regulator, and slide control. The six-speed manual gearbox has an assist and slipper clutch, but a two-way quickshifter is an optional extra.
10 Cheapest Motorcycles For Long-Distance Touring
These affordable bikes prove that you don’t need to be rich to ride across the country
Yamaha Tracer 9 Chassis
Yamaha might call it a diamond frame, but what the Tracer 9 has is a twin spar aluminum frame of the type you’d usually expect to see on sport bikes. It is mated with 41 mm inverted forks by KYB with adjustable preload and rebound damping. There is the same adjustment available for the rear monoshock as well. The travel available is 5.1 inches front, while the rear has 0.1 inches more travel.
The brakes comprise twin 298 mm front brake discs mated to radial four-piston fixed calipers. At the rear, you get a 267 mm disc with a single piston caliper. It rides on sporty 17-inch alloy wheels, with tubeless tires. The six-axis IMU allows for cornering ABS and rear wheel lift mitigation.
Yamaha Tracer 9 Dimensions
The Tracer 9 is normally sized for its class, at 85.6 inches long and with a wheelbase of just over 59 inches. The seat is fairly high, at 33.3 inches, but you also get decent ground clearance of 5.3 inches. The fuel tank holds true to its touring brief and holds 5 gallons. Overall, this adds up to 482 pounds of weight, which is par for the course.
Yamaha Tracer 9 Features
There is nothing middleweight about the Tracer 9’s massive 7-inch TFT display. It offers a clear, easy-to-understand layout. This is important since there are so many customizable parameters. There is also a manually adjustable windscreen, cornering matrix headlamps, and a phone storage box with a USB charging port. The options list has necessities like heated grips and luggage.
In other markets, the Tracer 9 has features like the Y-AMT automatic gearbox, blind spot detection, semi-active suspension, combined brakes, and radar-based adaptive cruise control. It’s a shame that it doesn’t get the true top-spec model available globally with all the tech toys.
10 Sport Tourers That Nail The Sweet Spot Between Speed And Comfort
All these sport tourers mix go-fast fun with long-haul comfort.
Yamaha Tracer 9 Competition
There aren’t too many sport tourers that can keep up with the Tracer 9 at the price. The Triumph Tiger 900 GT at $15,195 is both a little too expensive and has a 19-inch front rim, which makes it more of an adventure tourer rather than a crossover. The Honda NT1100 DCT is a full-size crossover/sport tourer, but it is priced at $11,999, and the 2025 update gave it a six-axis IMU.
That makes it incredible value for money, considering it has a larger engine (albeit with one cylinder less than the Yam), and an expensive dual-clutch automatic gearbox. It also has the TFT touchscreen display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto that is nearly as large as the Tracer 9’s.
Closer to the Tracer 9 in spirit and size is the BMW F 900 XR. This is surprisingly priced lower than the Yamaha, but on closer inspection, the base price is just that, a base from which to build your preferred F 900 XR. If you want features like cruise control and a two-way quickshifter, they are included with other features in the Premium Package, which adds $1,755 to the price. This then restores the natural order of things, which is the European motorcycle being priced above the Japanese one.
Yamaha Tracer 9 Vs BMW F 900 XR
|
Model |
Yamaha Tracer 9 |
BMW F 900 XR |
|
Price |
$12,599 |
$11,995 |
|
Engine |
Crossplane I3 |
270° I3 |
|
Displacement |
890 cc |
895 cc |
|
Power |
119 HP @ 10,000 RPM |
105 HP @ 8,500 RPM |
|
Torque |
68.6 LB-FT @ 7,000 RPM |
68 LB-FT @ 6,750 RPM |
|
Curb Weight |
483 pounds (wet) |
476 pounds (wet) |
Source: Yamaha Motorsports