Yamaha’s new Tracer GT proves incredibly practical on the UK’s toughest road test
Does Yamaha’s upgraded Tracer 900GT live up to its billing around the challenging MCN250 test route?
The last time I rode the MCN250 test route it was on the Triumph Speedmaster and it nearly broke me. This time I’m on a bike perfectly suited to a day in the saddle, Yamaha’s Tracer 900GT. This top-spec sports-tourer should eat the distance for breakfast and as I fill up with fuel in Oundle I’m excited about the ride ahead, a feeling that only improves as I set the Tracer to my preferences. People assume heated grips are for winter, but that’s not true. Grips can take the chill off, allowing you to wear summer gloves that give bags of feeling. With toasty fingers and the Tracer on STD power mode and level 1 traction control (a setting I know I won’t need to touch for the rest of
the day) I take to the MCN250.
At rush hour the A605 is one of those roads when you need to take advantage of every gap, and the Tracer’s triple suits this role perfectly. You can leave it in top, but for that instant burst of acceleration I find fifth is best as at 50-60mph it is right in the torque zone to squirt you past cars. Tracers have a bit of a weird set-up with long suspension and I’m pleased to discover that the GT’s upright riding position and tall suspension give me an almost adventure bike height to look over cars. Along the A605 and A45 I’m becoming fascinated with the GT’s active fuel economy gauge. I’m averaging 57mpg but have seen mid-60s figures at a steady 60mph when the ‘eco’ riding light is illuminated. I reckon I’m looking at over 200 miles before the need to fill up at this rate, which is bang on what I want in a sports tourer. I always worry about bouncing panniers off cars in traffic, but the GT’s hard luggage is narrow enough to forget about. If the bars make it through the gap, the panniers will as well. One thing that is starting to annoy me, however, is the gearbox. It’s not bad, it’s just stiff and lacks finesse. The first section of the MCN250 is all about commuting and it’s only when you pass the Super Sausage and head towards Banbury that you start to discover how a bike handles. These bumpy roads would have made the old Tracer’s soggy suspension throw in the towel, but the GT’s ride is noticeably firmer. The GT lacks the old bike’s bump-absorption when in a straight line and can feel a touch harsh, but in bends it’s considerably more composed and you can brake hard without the bike pitching back and forth when you release the stoppers.
By the time I pick up the M40 towards Continued over