Yamaha Tracer 900gt
This is what happens when the brief says fun and engagement are as important as practicality
To avoid making you nauseous with the Yamaha’s very many positive attributes, let’s crack off with the less-thanideal. Slippery roads don’t bring out the best in the Tracer. The standard tyres play a big part, as although fine in the dry they’re too easily overwhelmed by the triple’s torque in the damp, and feel evaporates; the rangy Yam is also the loosest of the three, nothing like as inspiring when it’s grotty as the Honda or BMW. Some riders whine about screen buffeting, and diminutive Langy says, ‘I keep kicking the pillion handles swinging my little legs over – I’ve done it three times.’ But this short list is the lot. In every other way the Tracer 900GT is a truly fabulous device.
It’s the three-cylinder engine that makes the biggest and longestlasting impression. Grumbling, bubbling, whining, the 847cc triple is surely one of the finest road units ever created. Crisp to respond and grunty low-down, it surges in the midrange, snaps through gears like an overgrown enduro bike and soars to its top end. Just 10bhp covers all three bikes, but the Tracer feels by far the fittest. ‘I like the way the triple can feel like a subtle pussycat, yet fire through gears so quickly,’ reckons Dom. ‘I like the characteristics of BMW’S new twin and the F900XR sounds quite throaty and raspy too – but its power delivery and sound just aren’t as good as the Yamaha.’
Langy is equally enthused, claiming it’s a, ‘flippin’ brilliant engine that just wants to go and makes me want to ride’, but also notices the
Tracer encourages him into riding faster (‘like a tit’, as he puts it). He’s not alone – and maybe part of the wet weather experience is because the 900 is enticing you into riding a bit too quickly.
On dry, fast roads the Yamaha’s chassis more than matches its grunt. The triple feels lightest to wheel about and has a sense of being up on its toes. I expected it to be more agile than the denser F900XR, though it’s the BMW that’s more nimble negotiating roundabouts, flitting across town and darting down tight B-roads. There’s little in it though, and the Tracer is better when changing direction at speed and arcing through longer sweeps. Suspension quality isn’t as luxurious as either the Honda or BMW, yet is a fine medley of ride comfort, cornering control and feel. Despite being the largest bike physically (or certainly tallest) the sense of lightness means you feel like you can boss the bike, which boosts assurance. Size means spacious accommodation with room to wriggle. It’s a plugged-in-yet-relaxed stance that fits the bike’s fruity-yet-friendly air. I tend to slip forward with the seat in its low position – height alteration is all done at the front, so the seat slopes in the lower setting. The high location stops this and also gives the Tracer a lofty adventure-bike feel. Slight buffeting complaints aside, the grab-and-move screen is effective and being in GT spec means creature comforts include heated grips, centrestand and panniers.
There’s also a TFT colour dash that’s somewhere between the compact Honda and widescreen BMW. The EX-FJR switchgear on the left side has lots of buttons, not all of which do what you’d expect, and dash control is via a small thumb wheel on the right. It’s an unusual location (and action), though you get used to it. Very good headlight, cruise control and mirrors too, though unlike the other pair you have to remember to turn the winkers off. Standard is the best of the three throttle modes (A is too snappy, B too fluffy), and the up-only quickshifter requires load and revs. It isn’t as slick as the BMW’S.
Trinkets and trimmings aside, what makes the 900GT so appealing is the way it feels fast, light-hearted and engaging, yet thoroughly sensible at the same time. ‘I like the sense that the Tracer can be a real hoot, yet still see-off serious miles,’ notes Dom, poking the seat as if to somehow prove his point. ‘It’s got the most exciting engine, is involving tipping into a turn and I think it’s the best looking too – but also feels like it’d be the better touring bike. I reckon it’d be best on the back for the wife, too.’
And it’s every bit as good as that sounds.
‘Fast, light-hearted and engaging, yet sensible at the same time’