MT-09 Tracer gets major updates - have they worked?

Yamaha’s latest 900 is super- refined AND a proper bargain

With sales topping 30,000 in just three years, it’s fair to say the original Tracer hit the mark. But some riders wanted more – more stability, more comfort and more refinement. Yamaha have listened and for 2018 they have upgraded the Tracer 900. Best of all, they have added these enhancements without significantly upping its price.

Updated with the aim of boosting versatility, the new Tracer gains a redesigned screen. As well as being taller, it can be moved by as much as 50mm via a simple push-click system, improving on the old model’s fiddly adjustment that involved undoing a pair of winders.

As well as being adjustable in height between either 850mm or 865mm, the Tracer’s seat is now 5mm taller, wider and deeperpadded and the pillion’s pegs are lowered. The bars are also narrower and slimmer while the pillion grab rail is bigger. To improve the sports side of its ride, the aluminium swingarm is longer for better drive, increasing the wheelbase by 60mm to 1500mm. All this for just £9392 (£122.80 a month on PCP after a £2000 deposit), which is only £350 more than the outgoing model. But is it worth upgrading to if you own an original Tracer 900? After testing the bike in Spain, we weren’t totally convinced.

The screen is easy to adjust, but you can’t really spot any discernable change between its highest and lowest settings.

On twisty roads the forks and shock are set too softly, allowing the bike to wallow and pitch when you up the pace. This softness, combined with the longer swingarm, can make the bike run wide out of bends. There is some adjustability (preload and rebound on the forks, preload on the shock) but there does not seem enough to dial it out completely.

The new Tracer 900 is a little bit more refined here and there and you won’t be disappointed. But, if you want a Tracer 900 that has been significantly enhanced, then it may be worth waiting a few weeks as the Tracer 900GT will be arriving in the last week of May.

O Turn to page 48 for MCN’s verdict on the new Tracer 900GT.