The all-new 2021 Yamaha Tracer 9 GT is an evolution of the bLU cRU’s popular sport-touring platform—dating back to the FJ-09 and the outgoing Tracer 900 GT—boasting significant upgrades that now distinguishes itself as an up-spec option in the category. With premium updates comes an increased cost: The Tracer’s price tag climbs by $1,900, now retailing for $14,899.
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But considering the improvements made to the Tracer, it still holds its place as a relative in-class value. The GT’s increased potential comes in the form of the bigger-displacement and more flexible CP3 engine platform, an IMU-based electronics package derived from Yamaha’s YZF-R1 superbike, semi-active KYB suspension, and a number of additional creature comforts that added a degree of versatility to its already respectable ride.
Hands down, the highlight of the Tracer 9 GT is its all-new 890cc liquid-cooled DOHC inline-triple CP3 engine platform, which is identical to that used in the 2021 Yamaha MT-09 streetbike. Initial throttle response and linear acceleration comes with a silky-smooth and natural feel from the Yamaha Chip Controlled Throttle (YCC-T) ride-by-wire system, ridding the 9 GT of the abrupt and cumbersome lurchy on/off fueling known with the previous-generation models. But just as before, it’s a torque monster. Easy-to-use and flexible power delivery paired with light clutch pull via its slipper/assist clutch makes for quick and easy launches...
Full story here: https://motorcyclistonline.com/story/reviews/2021-yamaha-tracer-9-gt-mc-commute/
Videography/edit: Bert Beltran
Photography: Jeff Allen
Motorcyclist Shirts: https://teespring.com/stores/motorcyclist
Shop Products We Use: https://www.amazon.com/shop/motorcyclistmagazine
See more from us: http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/
--
But considering the improvements made to the Tracer, it still holds its place as a relative in-class value. The GT’s increased potential comes in the form of the bigger-displacement and more flexible CP3 engine platform, an IMU-based electronics package derived from Yamaha’s YZF-R1 superbike, semi-active KYB suspension, and a number of additional creature comforts that added a degree of versatility to its already respectable ride.
Hands down, the highlight of the Tracer 9 GT is its all-new 890cc liquid-cooled DOHC inline-triple CP3 engine platform, which is identical to that used in the 2021 Yamaha MT-09 streetbike. Initial throttle response and linear acceleration comes with a silky-smooth and natural feel from the Yamaha Chip Controlled Throttle (YCC-T) ride-by-wire system, ridding the 9 GT of the abrupt and cumbersome lurchy on/off fueling known with the previous-generation models. But just as before, it’s a torque monster. Easy-to-use and flexible power delivery paired with light clutch pull via its slipper/assist clutch makes for quick and easy launches...
Full story here: https://motorcyclistonline.com/story/reviews/2021-yamaha-tracer-9-gt-mc-commute/
Videography/edit: Bert Beltran
Photography: Jeff Allen
Motorcyclist Shirts: https://teespring.com/stores/motorcyclist
Shop Products We Use: https://www.amazon.com/shop/motorcyclistmagazine
See more from us: http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/
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SportsTranscript
00:00 Hello everyone and welcome to a windy day here in Southern California and a new episode of MC Commute.
00:07 And today we are going to be riding an all new model, that being the 2021 Yamaha Tracer 9 GT that you see here behind me.
00:16 Now this is the third generation of Yamaha's 100% road focus sport touring machine, previously named the Tracer 900 GT and prior to that the FJ09.
00:28 Now Yamaha has done a lot of significant upgrades to this model for 2021 and that being said, we're going to take you on a little bit different route to the motorcyclist office this morning.
00:38 Talk about this motorcycle in detail and get you the full scoop. So that being said, we got a lot to talk about, why don't we hit the road.
00:46 Alright ladies and gentlemen, the 2021 Yamaha Tracer 9 GT and what a beauty of a machine this is, if I may say so myself.
00:58 Now this particular unit, our test unit is dressed in the liquid metal colorway, that polished silver, black and blue and honestly it reminds me of the premium up spec Yamaha YZF-R1M super bike that just looks so fantastic.
01:14 In my personal opinion, I think it looks great. Anyways, we got to talk about the big stuff.
01:19 Literally, the bigger Yamaha CP3 inline triple power plant that's now grown from 847cc to 890cc in this new trim along with the updated Yamaha MT-09.
01:34 Both of those motorcycles use this power plant. What they're trying to do is meet the same performance, maybe even improve it while also meeting stricter emissions standards and we'll talk about that all as we get out on the road.
01:48 It's got a new die cast aluminum chassis with optimized steering geometry and some of the really neat up spec features of this motorcycle are going to be this KYB semi active suspension.
02:04 I think they call it the KYB Actimatic Damping System. You can see the wires going into the forks here. We'll talk about that again once we get out on the road.
02:15 And finally, I love this, dual TFT 3.5" screens at the front of the Tracer 9 GT. It's a really kind of futuristic feel and honestly, I love it.
02:32 So, this motorcycle has got a lot of premium high spec features. One more thing to the Tracer 9 GT standard for 2021 are these 30 liter hard cases that Yamaha has fitted to the motorcycle as standard.
02:52 We're just going to open this up. As you can see, as standard equipment on the Tracer 9 GT, a nice little touch Yamaha has given this motorcycle.
03:02 That 890 cc CP3. Man, you can't beat the sound of an inline triple. Alrighty. You can't beat the sound of the inline triple, but I think it's even better to ride.
03:27 Now, beginning with the updates, first and foremost, the updated CP3 inline triple powerplant that we've already discussed slightly. Yamaha has increased the displacement from 847 cc to 890 cc.
03:42 That was via a 3mm longer stroke of the crankshaft increasing that displacement. And really what their goal was, as I know we've already touched on it, was to maintain the same performance, if anything, increase the performance levels of the CP3 engine while meeting stricter emission standards.
04:04 Now it's got a whole host of updates internally to make that happen. A lot of internal parts, new exhaust, updated transmission. But what I have to say is the highlight of the new Tracer 9 GT is how smooth and how easy to use the power is.
04:24 How direct connection of the throttle you have via the Yamaha chip controlled throttle, the YCCT. Now in the past, if we remember on previous MT-09s, FZ-09s, Tracer 900, FJ-09, the throttle was very abrupt.
04:43 The fueling was not precise and it kind of struggled, especially in low speed scenarios. When you ask for a twist of throttle, it would kind of shoot you back in the seat and it just grew tiresome.
04:58 Now with the updated ride by wire system, Yamaha has done an amazing job smoothing that out and that really plays well into its very linear power delivery characteristics as well.
05:18 Distracted drivers, sitting on their phone, story of California. Alright, super smooth power delivery. Getting around town, out on the road, it's a motorcycle that really entices you to...
05:40 I'm going to stop at this. Shucks. It's a really well balanced throttle delivery, throttle feel that entices you to cruise, it entices you to get aggressive, it's not really going to throw any curve balls at you like it may have done in the past.
05:59 Launching from a slightly taller second gear, no problem. Great clutch feel, very little clutch effort, love it.
06:10 Now along with the updated engine comes a new electronics package for the Tracer. That being a 6-axis IMU based Yamaha YZF-R1 Superbike derived electronics package.
06:27 So what you're going to get is the top level electronics that Yamaha has to offer. Now where that begins is you're going to have four throttle response settings.
06:37 The first three are actually, they just tailored the delivery of a full power map. Now the fourth map is the new map for 2021 and that's actually going to limit the maximum power output and significantly detune the delivery of this motorcycle.
07:02 And really I kind of see that as maybe a rain setting or when the conditions on the road are less than ideal or dirty or wet, I think that that fourth mode will play a good fit to those conditions.
07:19 But that's the boring stuff. The cool aspect of the Tracer's new electronics package is the addition of and the sophistication of the updated traction control system with Yamaha's wheelie control which they dub lift control, slide control, and they also updated the ABS system that we will talk about a little bit later on.
07:46 Now Yamaha has lumped all these settings together in two preset TCS settings, TC1 and TC2. For a combined preset setting of all these electronics as I mentioned before, there is a third manual setting which you can individually select those traction control, slide control, wheelie control, turn one off, leave one on,
08:13 to really personalize the electronic intervention to your liking. Now I appreciate that. I appreciate the simplicity of Yamaha linking all those settings together in TC1 and TC2 but then allowing the freedom to manage those settings in a personalized way really to extract the performance of the motorcycle.
08:35 Now the most impressive aspect of those electronics is it's not Yamaha's safety net of trying to detune this motorcycle, make it, just tailor it down to where anyone can ride but really extract the absolute performance of the package.
08:57 Tuning those TC levels down, it really does have influence from the Yamaha YZF-R1 in managing traction, limiting wheel spin, but still allowing you to get off of corners in the most efficient and fastest way possible if you choose to do so. If you want to go back to a setting with more intervention and kind of go out for a cruise, those settings will do that just well.
09:24 Alright, let's jet past this guy. Make use...yeah! Make use of the all new bi-directional quick shifter now that's going to allow for clutchless upshifts as you rip through the gearbox but it's also going to auto blip the throttle as you make your way down through the gears.
09:47 Alrighty, I'm going to get by this guy so we can have a little bit of open road as we rip through Santiago Canyon on our way to the motorcyclist offices.
09:59 Now settling into highway speeds, even though we're out in the canyon, settling into highway speeds, this tracer spins right around 5000 RPM in a very comfortable manner. You have plenty of RPM left in reserve to blow past traffic, get yourself in and out of situations, but it's also very comfortable.
10:23 It is very minimal in vibration and kind of just cruises down the highway. Nice overall balance.
10:31 I chose to make our route a little bit longer this morning just to give you guys a sense of how this motorcycle performs in the twisties even though there are just a few along this road.
10:44 But I wanted to highlight the updated chassis for this tracer. It's got an all new die cast aluminum chassis with optimized steering geometry and it's honestly another one of the big highlights of the updated model.
11:03 Now if you guys remember, if you have any experience with the outgoing tracer or the FJ09, my bad, the FJ09, it was always a little bit nervous.
11:18 It wasn't the most confidence inspiring chassis. It was always a little nervous. It was always a little bit twitchy on its feet. Sure it had tight steering geometry, but it didn't give you a good sense of contact and feel through the contact patches of the tire.
11:36 Now with the new tracer, I love it. I'm absolutely impressed with Yamaha's ability to tune that feel, increase the confidence in this chassis without losing the steering response of the outgoing model.
11:50 It's actually a little bit more stable and that's aided by the Bridgestone Battleaxe T32 GT tires fitted to every tracer model.
12:00 Let's rip by this guy. Hit a back shift. Yup. Giddy up. Giddy up. Giddy up. Yup. Uh huh.
12:09 Man, this thing sounds good. Maybe another back shift there would have been useful, but man, this thing really lays down.
12:16 And even further to that would be the addition of KYB's semi-active suspension. Now I know I called it out earlier, the KYB Actimatic damping system that's used front and rear.
12:30 Let's make another up shift there. This is KYB's semi-active suspension. Now, before we get into the settings of all of it, compression and rebound damping are available in real time.
12:47 Damping characteristics are changed in real time at the front fork. Now it's only rebound damping characteristics that change at the rear.
12:56 Spring preload, as I will show you up here, can be adjusted very easily manually.
13:03 Now, with the KYB semi-active suspension, there are two preset settings. A1 being a little bit more stiffer, more sport-minded setting. A2 a little bit more comfort and touring focus.
13:17 Now, but there is no manual setting. There is no ability to adjust the compression and rebound damping characteristics of the suspension internally to your liking, which at first struck me a little bit.
13:31 I thought that it was odd to see that as we've seen on other models. Specifically, I'm thinking the Yamaha YZF-R1M being able to tune the parameters of that suspension to your liking.
13:43 Now, people that want to tinker with it, maybe that's a downfall. But what I have to say is I've been pleasantly surprised at the ability and comfort of this system.
13:53 I've actually done probably 90-95% of my riding in the more comfortable A2 setting. I just find it a little bit softer. It soaks up the road's imperfections while still maintaining compliance and big hit support when you hit those awkward G-outs out on the road.
14:14 Overall, I found that to be a very pleasant surprise. Now, A1 might hold its place if the road is glassy smooth, if you're really whirling on this Tracer 9 GT, really loading the suspension and trying to keep up with your sport bike buddies.
14:32 But even in my opinion, lighter rider, 5'7", maybe 140 pounds, I've just really enjoyed the A2 softer setting.
14:42 Now, along with the lack of manual setting, I also found it interesting that KYB didn't include a frozen damping characteristic, more so like a traditional setup where you plug in your settings and they stay the same.
14:57 Now, the reason why I say that is 90% of my experience with semi-active suspension has come on the racetrack. The Yamaha YZF-R1, the Aprilia RSV4 1100 Factory, a lot of these machines come with manual settings.
15:13 On the racetrack, I almost always choose the manual setting to freeze those damping characteristics, look for lap-to-lap performance.
15:23 But out on the open road, the effort, the force of being applied to the suspension on this Tracer just isn't enough to cause inconsistencies or cause sometimes a moment of panic when the damping characteristics do change almost unexpectedly.
15:43 So, that being said, I've kind of come to conclude that the Tracer doesn't necessarily need those frozen damping characteristics. Maybe some riders will appreciate that. I've kind of grown over it.
15:56 Overall though, I am really impressed with the suspension setup.
16:01 Now, even more electronics added to the Tracer. That is coming with Yamaha's new brake control system. Now, this is basically two settings of ABS.
16:13 The first setting being a traditional ABS setting with fixed sensitivity, basically based on wheel speed measurements. Now, the second setting is going to become more so a cornering ABS setting with input from the IMU, with brake pressure, with wheel speed settings to basically increase or decrease the sensitivity of the ABS
16:38 to give you the maximum performance of those Advix four piston calipers up front and your two piston caliper at the rear.
16:47 Now, I've always been impressed with the cornering ABS and Yamaha has done a very good job here as well.
16:54 Don't go try it at home, but you can feel the sensitivity change based on lean angle and it's really a neat safety feature that a lot of manufacturers have incorporated into their models in recent years.
17:12 And honestly, considering that they still offer that traditional setting of BC1, I believe they call it, it's interesting the fact that they would do that.
17:23 I think that the performance of the cornering ABS is obviously superior and does a very good job at intervening without throwing too much pulses through the lever and hindering your ability to slow down.
17:37 I think Yamaha has crushed it. I don't know why they wouldn't just leave cornering ABS on all the time. I don't know, just my two cents.
17:44 Now, the Yamaha Tracer 9 GT is Yamaha's 100% road focus sport touring model and with that comes upright ergonomics.
17:54 You have this wide one-piece motocross style handlebar that gives you a really in-command feel.
18:01 The foot pegs are actually a little bit down and a little bit back, but in a comfortable way.
18:07 I think that it gives you, again, an in-command feel utilizing your legs to really muscle the motorcycle underneath you if you're kind of hauling butt through the twisties and trying to keep up with your sport bike front group.
18:27 It's giving you a good sense of leverage through your legs, but not so much to cramp you up.
18:34 I've honestly been very impressed on longer rides with the Tracer 9 GT. I've never really been uncomfortable.
18:43 Now, the relatively low 31.9-inch seat height, the standard seat height, lends itself to helping my 5'7" stature kind of work my way around town and through low-speed navigations with pretty good ease.
19:02 Now, along with the 31.9-inch seat height, the seat is very easily adjustable with no tools.
19:11 Popping it out of the tongue slot, putting it into a slightly higher tongue slot that raises the seat height to 32.5 inches.
19:20 A nice feature for taller riders maybe looking for a little bit more leg room to the foot pegs.
19:27 The foot pegs themselves are actually also adjustable and can be done in just a few moments with a couple tools required.
19:35 And there's other creature comforts too. You've got these hand guards up front just to block a little bit of the wind as you ride down the road.
19:43 Now, the heated grips. This is kind of a funny one to me. The heated grips are also adjustable in 10 different settings.
19:51 I believe the previous Tracer 900 GT was available in only 3. So, Yamaha went all out giving us 10 levels of adjustment to find that ideal setting.
20:07 10? I don't know. Maybe something like 5 could have even been a little bit more simple, but I appreciate Yamaha's thought here.
20:14 The windscreen is also adjustable on the fly through this one-handed grab.
20:21 Push up, push down. This is in its highest setting. I believe Yamaha gives us 50 millimeters of adjustment.
20:30 Personally, I'd like to see a little bit more. Again, I'm 5'7". Sometimes I feel like I'm still getting buffeted around.
20:36 But overall, very comfortable.
20:39 Now, along with all the premium fit and finish and build quality, Yamaha has given us a full LED lighting package with cornering ABS.
20:49 Or sorry, with cornering lights. My bad.
20:54 That will help improve visibility at night, give you some illumination to embark through those corners.
21:02 Nice little features. Now, those dual TFT displays up front. 3.5 inches on each side.
21:12 I love the look of it. I love it. I think it's rad. I think it looks futuristic.
21:17 I think Yamaha has done a good job bringing the Tracer up to 2021 speed and even kind of pushing it a little bit further beyond.
21:26 Now, on the left side, what you're going to have is you're going to have your basic riding information, your tachometer, your suspension, traction control, drive mode settings, your fuel level, your gear position, all things along those nature.
21:45 Now, over on the right, you're going to have four different separate quadrants.
21:48 Now, these things can be customized with selectable information that you choose to be priority.
21:54 I have my trip meter. I have the outside ambient temp, which it's a whole 89 degrees here in October in Southern California, and I am ready for it to cool down.
22:04 You have current fuel mileage and you have your average fuel mileage.
22:08 Now, if you notice over there on the right, the bottom right, average fuel mileage is about 41.2 miles to the gallon.
22:15 I've actually done my own analog calculations at the gas station based on the trip meter, and I've come in just slightly lower than that in the 40s.
22:27 But I think that you could easily chalk this motorcycle up to having about a 40 to 41 mile per gallon average from the bigger five gallon fuel tank.
22:41 Now, Yamaha has increased the capacity of that by 0.2 gallons from 4.8 to 5.0, giving it a little bit longer range.
22:49 Now, that being said, you could probably easily get 200 miles to a tank if you're really kind of babying this thing around town.
22:57 But with that triple sound, that triple exhaust note and that triple torquey feel, it's hard to do so.
23:04 I love ripping this motorcycle. I love ripping it. And obviously that's going to hurt fuel consumption. My bad.
23:12 We have the dual TFT displays. I love them. I've made that very clear.
23:17 If I have one gripe about them, one, they need to be able to turn up the brightness a little bit more.
23:24 These have three brightness settings, and currently it is in the brightest setting available.
23:30 And in hard light, these things honestly become a little difficult to read.
23:37 Now, when the sun isn't directly overhead or you're off at night, even right there in the shade, they do a good job at displaying that information.
23:47 But I like to see the brightness increased.
23:50 The Tracer 9 GT now enters a very premium spec with a lot of features that really increase the performance and the comfort of this machine.
24:04 Now you have things like the all new 890 cc CP3 engine. You have the semi-active KYB suspension.
24:14 You have all these little creature comforts. The updated Yamaha YZF-R1 superbike derived electronics package.
24:23 And you're thinking, "Gee, this is going to come with a huge cost increase."
24:28 But Yamaha has somehow done without that. The cost increase from the Tracer 900 GT, which retailed at $12,999, this Tracer 9 GT is now $14,899.
24:48 Yes, it's expensive. Yes, it's up there in terms of motorcycling prices.
24:56 But if you consider all the upgrades that you're getting over the previous model, it's really hard to not be enticed by this bike.
25:05 I would have to say that the suspension and the electronics alone, especially considering the cornering ABS and the added degree of safety that comes with it,
25:14 it's very difficult to look at this motorcycle and think that they've increased the price too much.
25:20 Add in the performance of the engine, all the little creature comforts, the dual screens, the 30 liter saddlebags, everything that comes with it,
25:32 I think that Yamaha has done an incredible job in the update of this machine.
25:37 And at $14,899 when you compare it to similar models, I'm just thinking off the top of my head that Kawasaki versus 1000LT.
25:46 Yamaha has packed a lot of value into the Tracer 9 GT and I have really thoroughly enjoyed riding it.
25:56 Of course, there's little gripes. Stuff like the adjustability of the suspension, I would personally still like to see a manual setting, but that's just me.
26:06 The brightness of the screens is a little bit down in my eyes. I like to be a little bit more visible as I'm riding down the road in hard light.
26:15 But overall, I'm impressed with the evolution of this Tracer 9 GT. I think Yamaha has done an amazing job and I can't wait to spend more time on it.
26:23 So, if you guys like this video, be sure to give us a like, comment, we want to hear from you, and subscribe to the Motorcyclist YouTube channel.
26:31 Head over to MotorcyclistOnline.com to read the full story and we'll see you guys next time.
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