Following suit after the MT hyper nakeds, Yamaha has gone with badging their sub-1000cc sports touring motorcycle as the ‘Tracer 900’ (used for the European market), replacing the ‘FJ-09’ we all were acquainted with up until now. This is part of “Yamaha’s ongoing initiative to unite the global community of Tracer riders who share the “Roads of Life.”
The Tracer 900 receives its first update ever since it was launched back in 2014 as the FJ-09. It gets tweaked to be less of a hassle during those long strides and to make touring even more fun. Then there is a ‘GT’ variant as well that gets pimped with premium equipment to mimic the big-fellas of touring, but with the same 900 underpinnings.
2019 Yamaha Tracer 900
Essentially, Yamaha took the naked MT-09 (FZ-09 before) and added a bunch of things to give us an entry-level soft-roader that could take you between states. For 2019, Yamaha has added some updates and refinements to take you to that extra mile.
Starting with the standard tracer 900, Yamaha has given it a larger windshield in the front to defer more air than before, and with the shorter handlebars, most of your body will be protected by the God of Winds while giving you a more natural riding position.
The tank shrouds now adorn a faux air-scoop, and the radiator covers/side panels bulks up for a sporty stance. Yamaha has also given a soft pad on the tank to give the rider added comfort on longer journeys. And the pillion gets a redesigned footrest assembly for greater support.
The saddle is redesigned to provide both the rider and the pillion enhanced comfort and feel. They also support the premium outlook the bike develops, especially in the rear along with the straight pillion grab handles. More importantly, you can now adjust both the seats in two levels of height positions.
Mechanically, however, the Tracer 900 keeps the 847cc three-cylinder torque-rich cross-plane engine making 115hp and 64.5 lb-ft of torque. Slip-and-assist clutch makes clutch actions a breeze, and the six-speed comes sans the quickshifter, unlike the MT-09. Enhancing the bike’s touring performance further, the Tracer gets newly designed aluminum swingarm as well as revised rear shock settings.
Electronic packaging is also unchanged with the Ride-by-Wire, traction control, riding modes and ABS which now comes as standard. The first 2019 Tracer 900 motorcycles destined for the US market are due to arrive in the 2nd half of 2018, and the MSRP will be announced in the coming months.
2019 Yamaha Tracer 900 GT
As aforementioned, the GT adds a premium feel to the existing Tracer 900 with the extra gizmos Yamaha has equipped it with. Color-matched hard side cases are the first thing your eyes fall on to help you differentiate between the standard Tracer 900 and the GT. 22 liters of space for all your requirements.
The dashboard on this GT has a new TFT instrument panel that gives the rider a comprehensive range of information in an intuitive manner. Adding comfort is the addition of heated grips for those cold morning rides.
The GT’s gearbox gets back the quickshifter as seen on the MT-09’s for aggressive sporty riding. The fitment of a cruise control system as standard equipment will allow long distances feel short and easy.
The suspension on the GT sees an upgrade as well with a fully adjustable front fork that comes in a gold finished polish that looks fabulous. The rear shock now gets a remote preload adjuster as well, both of which have been borrowed from the naked sibling.
