Adventure motorcycles have captured the imagination of motorcycle enthusiasts all over the world. The idea of being able to go anywhere on a motorcycle has universal appeal, but for many, it remains just that, an idea. While taking a big ADV off-road might seem like fun at first, it requires a certain skill set, and for many riders, acquiring that skill set actually isn’t all that fun at all. This often forces riders to simply use their newly acquired adventure bikes as tourers.
They work pretty well, yes, but a dedicated touring bike is always going to be the better tool for the job. One of the off-putting parts of buying a dedicated full-size touring bike is how dedicated they are. Offering all sorts of comfort features adds to the cost and adds weight. This is where the middleweight class steps up to the plate, and out of all the great middleweight touring bikes currently on the market, there is one that strikes an ideal balance between comfort, power, and most importantly, value.
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.
10 Touring Bikes That Can Do It All
These versatile touring bikes can all commute, tour, and explore
The Yamaha Tracer 9 Is The Overlooked Middleweight That Nails Comfort, Power, And Value
MSRP: $12,599
While technically a base model, the Tracer 9 is still a feature-rich motorcycle. Yamaha initially tested the waters with the higher-spec GT+ model, but that fell flat on its face in terms of sales. With things like electronic suspension and radar, the price was excessively high for a middleweight bike. The Tracer 9 offers a far better balance, but it is most certainly not alone in this value-packed space.
It is worth remembering that the Tracer 9 sells well throughout Europe, and it feels as though Triumph brought out the new Tiger Sport 800 specifically to take it on. It doesn’t get any luggage, but other than that, it is very much a like-for-like alternative with near identical power and weight figures. BMW also offers the sporty F 900 XR. While it is technically cheaper than the Tracer 9, you will need to check an options box if you want luggage.
Neither of these European bikes is as much of a threat as the new Honda NT1100. It also gets sold without luggage, but it comes with a DCT transmission as standard, which, to some ,might be worth a lot more than hard cases. Unless you want to throw a maxi-scoot into the mix, this is the only automatic touring bike available in this highly competitive space.
Why The Honda NT1100 Is The Only Touring Bike You Actually Need
A tourer that ticks all the right boxes and offers enough extras to keep you happy
The Tracer 9 Has A Fun-Loving Triple From The MT-09
Power: 117 Horsepower
The CP3 was always intended to be a multi-platform engine, but it made its debut in the MT, or “Master of Torque” naked bike. It stood out on that bike to such an extent that the MT-09 quickly became one of Yamaha’s most popular bikes. While the suspension was never particularly good, its flat torque curve made it immensely tractable and genuinely fun to ride in the real world. It was also practical thanks to how reliable it was. Naturally, these factors translate favorably for a sport touring bike, but it is not perfect.
The Torque Master Offers Fantastic Reliability, But There Is A “But”
While tremendously versatile, a triple is inherently unbalanced. As a result, there will be some less-than-ideal vibrations higher up in the rev range. This is one of those things that will be felt by some, and others won’t even notice it. If you are after a buttery-smooth rider experience, then you might be shopping in the wrong aisle. This is a fun, engaging motorcycle, so a test ride will be the order of the day.
Here’s Why The Yamaha MT-09 SP Is An Epic Streetfighter
“If only you knew the power of the Dark Side…” – Darth Vader
The Tracer 9 Offers A Great Balance Between Price And Features
As you might expect from any touring bike, it is very comfortable and has great wind protection, which is also easy to adjust. Like just about any modern motorcycle, it has a ride-by-wire throttle, which enables ride modes and cruise control. Not every motorcycle gets a six-axis IMU, and this is what allows for safety features like cornering ABS and lean-sensitive traction control. Hard cases are an underrated feature, too, especially in the middleweight class, where they tend to get left on the options list. A TFT dash with smartphone connectivity rounds out a pretty impressive package.
Some Nice-To-Have Features Don’t Make The Cut
The two big omissions when compared to the GT+ are radar and the semi-active suspension. Having radar allows for things like adaptive cruise control, which is something that has now proliferated the auto industry, but seems unnecessary for motorcycles. Semi-active suspension is also a convenient luxury feature, but the adjustable suspension you get with the Tracer 9 is going to be more than adequate for most riders, especially those who are a little more frugal.
Ultimately, that is what the Tracer 9 is all about. It simply offers great value for those looking for a fun, reliable sport touring bike. While it is missing a couple of advanced features, it remains affordable, and still comes with a host of great safety and comfort features that aren’t even standard fare on some more expensive bikes.