Yamaha Tracer 700
Yamaha Tracer 700 £6849 + 689cc parallel twin + 74bhp + 196kg + 17L tank + 835mm seat Tester: Sarah Norman, marketing manager
WHILE I’VE BEEN riding a 125 bike for the past year since passing my test, I did borrow a Yamaha MT-07 for a couple of weeks last spring. It had just the right balance of power to feel thrilling on my morning commute, but not so much that I was constantly nervous of giving the throttle a squeeze.
So this Tracer seems like the perfect evolution for me. As a stereotypical girl, I’m always cold. Thankfully the half fairing with its adjustable screen deflects a decent amount of windchill, as do the knuckle guards. But I’m already scouring the Yamaha accessories list for some heated grips – a must in my book, as otherwise my numb fingers aren’t as gentle with the clutch as they should be, and with this bike that means unintentional wheelies.
The Tracer manual says to keep the engine below 5000rpm for the first 600 miles, after which it needs an oil change, then to keep below 6000rpm until 1000 miles. As a new rider, I’m pretty cautious anyway so I’m not sure how running the Tracer in will be too different to my normal riding.
The Tracer’s seat is 835mm high, but slender, so at 5ft 7in tall I can confidently plant both feet on the floor. After a year on my tiny Herald 125, the 196kg Tracer does feel heavy and as it’s also quite a bit taller the centre of gravity does feel quite different. Maybe it’s just psychological, but I was a bit daunted by this change – particularly when pushing the bike around. But it is getting easier already, so practice will doubtless make perfect. It’s less daunting on the move and after a couple of short rides I forgot all about the extra size and weight. The stability after my slightly skittish 125 is comforting. And the best thing is that the Tracer allows me to indulge my new-found love of lean angles in confidence.