Yamaha Tracer 700
Twin-cylinder sport-tourer packs enough punch to stir up the mid-size market
IT’S A SUNNY afternoon in the Dolomites, and all the world is on two wheels. Groups of riders on adventure bikes and tourers are picking their way past countless Lycra-clad cyclists on the narrow Valparola Pass that twists and wriggles its way over the mountain like a carelessly dropped forkful of spaghetti.
In the middle of it all, the Tracer 700 feels like an excellent compromise. Yamaha’s 689-cc sports-tourer might not have the power of an R 1200 GS or the lightness of a carbon-framed Cognalo, but the 75-PS, 196-kg parallel twin has the pace and agility to make these steep, twisty Italian roads great fun. And with over 150 kilometres covered and 80 more to go, it’s a lot easier and more comfortable than a bicycle.
There was something almost inevitable about the arrival of the Tracer 700, given that this twin-cylinder Yamaha is essentially a cross between the MT-07 and Tracer 900, two of most successful models in motorcycling of recent years. Unlike the naked MT but like the recent retro-styled XSR700, it has been developed and produced in Europe, rather than Japan (and will not immediately be available in many non-European markets).
Its look mimics that of the bigger Tracer, featuring a similarly shaped, angular half-fairing with waisted screen and aggressive twin-headlamp glare, plus narrow hand-guards for the raised, onepiece handlebar. It’s an attractive bike, in either its red, blue or black paint options, and a relatively simple one. Its screen is manually adjustable for height, after unscrewing a couple of wing-nuts, but, unlike the three-cylinder Tracer, its bars and seat can’t be adjusted, and it makes do without multiple engine modes or traction control.
The engine remains unchanged from MT-07 spec, apart from intake and exhaust tweaks (including extra precious metal in the catalyser) required to pass Euro 4. That means the DOHC, eight-valve engine gets its 689 cc capacity from dimensions of 80 x 68.6 millimetres, produces its 75 PS max at 9,000 revolutions per minute, and it is designed more for broad torque spread than outright power, putting out a healthy peak figure of 68 Nm at 6,500 RPM.
The tubular steel main frame is also taken from the MT but the rear subframe is strengthened to allow a higher load, and there is a new aluminium swingarm that is 50 mm longer, for increased stability. The Tracer also has a longer monoshock and re-designed linkage to increase travel by 12 mm, to 142 mm, and stiffen the rear end, especially under higher loads. Up front the 41-mm, non-adjustable forks also have slightly stiffer spring and damping rates but travel is reduced from 137 to 130 mm.
Predictably enough, the Yamaha felt vaguely familiar after I’d thrown a leg over its one-piece seat, which, at 865 mm, is 60 mm higher than the MT-07’s but still low and slim enough to allow most riders to get both feet on the ground. An MT-style digital instrument panel sits below the twin wing-nuts that can be loosened to adjust the screen, and ahead of a slotted, pressed-steel accessory mount that covers the one-piece
handlebar’s cross-brace.
The handlebar is higher and further back than the naked MT’s, combining with the taller seat and unchanged footrests to give a slightly more upright riding position and some welcome extra legroom. This bike is 14 kg heavier than the naked twin but still felt very light and manoeuvrable as I lifted it off its sidestand and fired up the engine; the gentle rumble from the stubby silencer somehow seeming acceptable rather than disappointingly dull as it had when coming from the naked MT.
This bike has been designed to cover distance on a wide variety of roads, and with the launch base being in the Dolomites with spectacular views in every direction, there was no chance of any of them being remotely boring. That punchy parallel twin motor is another good reason. It might be pushing a few extra kilos, and a longer wheelbase that made the bike less wheelie-happy than the naked MT. It even had the power-sapping effect of high altitude to cope with.
But the Tracer still pulled with effortless enthusiasm as we headed towards the first of the day’s mountain passes, fuelling crisply from below 4,000 revs, and punching through the midrange with the same torquey feel that makes the MT so quick and entertaining. Like the naked bike it stayed sufficiently smooth at high revs to
encourage plenty of throttle abuse, too, the 270-degree crankshaft motor’s single balancer shaft’s efficiency contributing to the rev-happy feel.
Even on short straights the Tracer rapidly put 120 km/h-plus on the impressively clear digital display, heading for a top speed of about 200 km/h. At speed the screen did a decent job of keeping off the wind, diverting the breeze efficiently enough that on a warm day it provided quite enough protection. Same goes for the slim hand-guards, though I might have been less complimentary in cold weather. The screen has a useful if not outstanding 80 mm of adjustment, and didn’t generate too much turbulence at either end of its range.
Such was the scenery that even following traffic through villages and along valley bottoms was enjoyable but, with a succession of mountain passes to navigate, the tyres’ centres didn’t get much wear. Throughout the day we were flashing past groups of cyclists and tipping into hairpin bends, and the Tracer was showing that its combination of light weight, well-chosen geometry and competent if not cutting-edge suspension results in enjoyably agile handling.
Steering geometry is tweaked to be slightly less racy than the MT-07’s, with rake increased by one degree to 25 degrees and trail remaining unchanged at 90 mm. Despite that and the extra wheelbase the Tracer flicked into turns with only a light nudge of its wide bars, and steered with effortless precision. Its revised suspension was still slightly soft for aggressive cornering, but sufficiently firm and well-damped to make the bike great fun through the switchbacks, some of which were so tight that I found myself slipping the clutch on the way out.
The benefit of the compliant suspension was that ride quality was very good, though the mostly well-surfaced Italian roads also contributed to the smooth feel. The shock will doubtless feel a bit soft when the Tracer is loaded with luggage, and especially with a pillion too, and it’s a shame that Yamaha’s focus on keeping cost down means there’s no hydraulic pre-load adjuster. Adding an extra notch with the C-spanner made a small but noticeable difference, sharpening the steering a touch at the expense of a slightly harsher ride.
Braking is unchanged from the MT’s setup, which means 282-mm wavy discs gripped by four-piston callipers up front, and a 245-mm disc at the rear. As with the MT-07, I found the front stopper adequate but slightly lacking in power,
Yamaha’s sports-touring twin looks sure to stir up the mid-sized all-rounder market just as vigorously as the MT-07 did the naked division on its arrival two years ago
suggesting that the lever will require a very firm squeeze for rapid slowing when the bike is heavily loaded.
The standard-fit ABS worked well, though, cutting in only under severe provocation, and even allowing stoppies when the road gave sufficient friction. That was quite frequently, not least because the Michelin Pilot Road tyres did an excellent job, combining with the slim bike’s generous ground clearance to let it corner at a decent pace with only the occasional boot-tip touching down.
So Yamaha’s new sports-tourer lived up to the sports part of its billing, and it also did enough to suggest that it will make a very passable tourer, albeit one better suited to relatively light loads. Yamaha’s parallel twin motor is impressively fuel-efficient, using less than six litres/100 km despite plenty of throttle abuse. That meant the larger, 17-litre tank (three litres up on the MT’s) managed almost 250 km before the fuel gauge started blinking, and a further 20 km without running dry.
By that time the seat was starting to get slightly uncomfortable, despite several stops during the day. A pillion would fare much worse on the slim rear section, but does at least have the benefit of solid grabhandles. Other equipment mostly works well, notably the clear, well-spaced mirrors and the digital instrument panel that includes a consumption figure. It’s a shame the information can’t be toggled from the handlebar, and that there are no self-cancelling indicators or, for that matter, a centre-stand, even as an option.
The Tracer can, however, be enhanced via a long list of accessories. It can be made more sporty with rear-sets, adjustable levers and an Akrapovic silencer, or more touring-friendly with a taller screen, 12V socket or heated grips and seat. Luggage options include a rack, top box and choice of tank-bags, as well as semi-rigid or hard panniers.
Even when fully kitted out, Yamaha’s middleweight won’t match an upmarket, large-capacity sports-tourer for pace or comfort but it’s an impressively entertaining and versatile bike; made all the more appealing by a typically competitive price. The Tracer costs roughly 10 per cent more than the MT-07, but considerably less than rivals such as Kawasaki’s Versys 650 and Suzuki’s V-Strom 650, let alone alternatives from the likes of BMW and Triumph.
The result is that Yamaha’s sports-touring twin looks sure to stir up the midsized all-rounder market just as vigorously as the MT-07 did the naked division on its arrival two years ago. The Tracer is quick, fun, agile, practical, stylish and inexpensive. It’s all the motorbike that plenty of riders will ever need.