Motorcyclists are demanding more and more from their motorcycles these days. While there are still dedicated motorcycles for pretty much everything from dirt bikes to sports bikes, today, versatility sells. Naturally, buyers are gravitating to the one platform that really promises everything – adventure bikes. Unfortunately, there are almost always compromised machines trying to be a Jack of all trades.
This is all good, and well for those who want a bike that can go off-road from time to time, but for the rest of us, a lightweight touring bike is a far better option. A bike that is light and practical enough to handle a city commute, yet also comfortable and powerful enough to handle long-distance travel exists. It just sits in the shadow of the current fascination with ADVs.
To give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from Yamaha. Whereas, the opinions are our own.
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The Yamaha Tracer 9 Is The Overlooked Middleweight That Gets Comfort, Power, And Value Just Right
MSRP: $12,599
In other markets, the Tracer 9 has actually been around for quite some time now. It is also accompanied by a higher-spec GT+ model that comes with virtually every conceivable motorcycle feature known to man. Yamaha brought that model out a couple of years back, but effectively replaced it with the base model last year. Although it is technically a base model, it still gets pretty much everything you need. At this price, it packs a huge amount of value, but it is up against some impressive opposition.
The Triumph Tiger Sport 800 is one of the few bikes to get an all-new engine. You don’t get any luggage, but you do get an equally powerful triple wrapped up in a lightweight package. BMW has the F 900 XR, which is well priced in base trim, but unlike the Yamaha, it leaves a few nice-to-have features off the bike and on the options list. Checking any option on that extensive list will almost certainly push the price above both the Tracer and the Tiger.
Honda has since thrown a cat among the pigeons with its NT1100. Although it is closer to a full-sized tourer in terms of size and weight, largely thanks to its ADV chassis, it is cheaper than all three middleweights. It offers buyers an automatic option in this space, which is a major point of difference, and is certainly worth a look.
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The Tracer 9 Has A Potent Triple-Cylinder Engine
Power: 117 Horsepower
In many ways, the CP3 is a bit of a strange engine. Yamaha had no real history with three-cylinder engines before this was developed, but you can see why this was the chosen configuration. This multi-platform engine needed to have certain characteristics; it needed to make a certain amount of power, and it needed to have a flat torque curve. Ultimately, it has proven to be one of the very best powertrains in its class. Yamaha has gradually rolled out several different bikes based on it, and all offer exceptional value. But it is far from perfect.
It Is Reliable, But Far From Perfect
This versatile powertrain is fun, engaging, and extremely reliable. When installed in the roadster, naked bike, and even the R9 sports bike, it shines consistently. Its only real drawback is the same thing that plagues pretty much any triple. It is almost impossible to balance a triple, and even though Yamaha has taken measures to mitigate the negative effects, you will still feel vibrations once you get up into the higher revs – or highway speed.
On another bike, this can be forgiven, but on a tourer where comfort sits pretty high on the list of consumer demands, it can be a dealbreaker. Certain riders won’t even feel these vibrations – if you are coming from a single, for instance – but others will, so a long test ride will be necessary to determine which camp you fall into.
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The Tracer 9 Strikes An Ideal Balance Between Price And Features
If those vibrations don’t bother you, this is a seriously comfortable motorcycle with fantastic wind protection. It may not be as feature-rich as some of the high-end tourers, but it still comes with a ride-by-wire throttle, ride modes, and cruise control, which is a must for any tourer these days. It also has great safety features like cornering ABS and lean-sensitive traction control. A TFT dash with smartphone connectivity is almost a given these days, but luggage is not. The fact that Yamaha opted to include the integrated luggage at this price point makes the Tracer 9 a more compelling package.
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Overall, This Is An Underrated Sport Tourer
With a wet weight of 483 pounds, this is still a relatively light motorcycle that handles well thanks to its sporty chassis and competent, adjustable suspension. The playful nature of this powertrain will encourage spirited riding and will turn any ride into a genuinely enjoyable experience. As much as the added versatility of being able to go off-road has attracted many buyers to adventure bikes, for those who prefer fast-paced road riding and need something that can also handle the weekday commute, this is just a far better option. Versatility does not always mean having the ability to go off-road; it means being able to do everything you need the bike to do.