Sum of its parts
Blackstock gets busy with the Tracer’s options list
IT’S BEEN A busy month for the Tracer. A week on the road with Kev Raymond and a few jobs for me as well as a cross-country blast to the north Norfolk coast for a day out at the beach. And while it’s a very wellaccomplished bike, it’s pretty basic in terms of its spec. There are numerous options available, including Yamaha’s own range of accessories, to tailor it to your needs. But are they worth the money? We tried what we feel are some essential add-ons to see.
Our list included the centrestand kit as well as what Yamaha calls the Weekend Pack, comprising a taller and wider Touring screen, soft panniers and rails, a dash-mounted USB socket and a tank pad and costing £709.80, a saving of £37.40 over buying the parts individually. We also sourced a smartphone holder so I could use its sat nav and music options.
The centrestand £204.90
The official main stand (centrestand) would make general maintenance so much easier. Six bolts and a lot of swearing to get the return springs in place and it was on and it works perfectly. The Tracer 700 is so light that getting it up on the centrestand is a doddle but it feels like it has reduced clearance — I’ve already scraped it twice in corners even though it hits at the same lean angle as the hero blobs (at least they are sprungloaded though).
Use string or wire to pull the return springs — individually — onto their retaining pin
The touring screen £142.70
It is huge compared with the original and does make a big difference, though it’s still not quite silent. If I duck my head, I can get silence but very little air flow which can be uncomfortable. It also makes the view of the road directly ahead of the bike tricky and a little distracting. Might need to revisit this in the coming months.
A dab of saliva will keep the rubber washers in place when fitting
The panniers £334 (rails £221)
I’d decided on soft panniers (hard ones are £1130 including rails in Sonic Grey) as I didn’t want to ruin the sporty look of the Tracer with hard luggage. Once on, the bags feel secure with locking catches but cheap padlocks. They are ‘water resistant’ but come with proper waterproof inner liners and hold a decent amount of clobber, so no ruckies or bags strapped to the pillion or rack. Much neater.
Get a bottle of threadlock before you start the job
The USB socket £26
Plugged in to the bike’s ECU and running only when the ignition is switched on, this delivers 2.1 Amps for smartphones or sat navs. Instructions don’t explain you have to remove half the bodywork to get to the ECU.
Not challenging but time consuming to find all the fittings. Works well once done though.
TOP TIP Easier to fit the socket if you remove the dash trim panel
The tank pad £23.50
A thick and pre-shaped pad to protect the back of the tank from scratches. But I didn’t like the look and feel of it, so I put it back in the box again — I didn’t think it would add to the bike at all.
TOP TIP You don’t have to fit everything
The phone case £64.99
I wanted my phone up front, so I sourced an Ultimateaddons case. With its soft inner sleeve, it reduces vibrations that can affect iphone cameras. I used a bar mount on the mirror boss for a clear view of the dash. Having control of music, calls and sat-nav app is so handy…
TOP TIP Make sure your gloves are touchscreen compatible before you head out
The ride £Priceless
That blat across country from the bottom edge of Suffolk to north Norfolk in the sun was delightful, made all the better knowing there was a picnic on the beach with the kids at the end of the ride. The Tracer is willing and able, it’s great fun and rewarding, is perfect for picking off slow-moving motorhomes or trucks and it’s also quick – fair to say, I love it.
‘You have to remove half the bodywork to get to the ECU’