2021 Yamaha Tracer 9 GT Review

The 2021 Yamaha Tracer 9 GT has undergone a major update, following on from the release of the next-generation Yamaha MT-09 with which it shares much of its DNA. And while I had very few complaints with the old Tracer 9 GT, the many improvements all add up to a better, albeit dearer, mousetrap. 

What’s new? 

The sportstouring recipe is simple enough in concept but tricky to deliver. Segment protagonists should have the performance, handling and clearance to hold their own on a winding road, yet also deliver all-day comfort for long-haul tours. It’s an inherent compromise, but one the Yamaha Tracer 9 GT pulls off. 

This model has been with us for six years. Originally launching as the Yamaha MT-09 Tracer in 2015, the platform is sold elsewhere in two variants: a base-spec Tracer 9 and the up-spec Tracer 9 GT. Australia only gets the latter. 

Powered by Yamaha’s ‘CP3’ inline three-cylinder engine, the bike features an aluminium Deltabox chassis and comes standard with touring-centric features spanning lockable hard panniers, a centrestand, electronic cruise control, heated grips and a manually adjustable screen. 

And following on from the recent overhaul of the MT-09 naked bike, the Tracer 9 GT now boasts a Euro 5 compliant engine that has jumped in capacity to 889cc, pumping out maximum outputs of 119hp (87.5kW) at 10,000rpm and 93Nm at 7000rpm. 

That’s the same as the new MT-09, by the way, but 4hp and 5.5Nm more than the outgoing model. And, significantly, that max torque is now delivered 1500rpm lower in the rev range. Add in a 7kg weight reduction, and the new Yamaha Tracer 9 GT has some extra pep in its step! 

Related reading: 
2021 Yamaha MT Range Review 
2019 Yamaha Tracer 900 GT Review
First ride: Yamaha MT-09 Tracer

Meanwhile a new ‘controlled-fill’ aluminium Deltabox chassis and a 60mm longer, more rigid swingarm are said to improve stability while enhancing feel. The engine is now more upright in the frame, while wheelbase has increased to 1500mm. 

The frame is based on that used by the MT-09, but features different engine mounts for better stability when loaded, says Yamaha, while the bike rides on new, lighter, spin-forged alloy wheels. 

The old manually adjustable KYB suspension has made way for semi-active suspension from the same brand. While preload adjustment is still manual, riders now have a choice of two damping modes, effectively sports or touring. 

Selected via a mode button and rocker switch on the left-hand switchblock, this KYB Actimatic Damper System (KADS) allows you to switch between settings on the fly, automatically adjusting damping rates to suit the prevailing conditions. 

There’s a new chip-controlled, ride-by-wire throttle, plus a new fuel injection system, an improved slipper clutch, slightly taller first and second gear ratios, and new bodywork. And then we come to the tech upgrade... 

Tricky tech 

As in the third-generation MT-09, the new Yamaha Tracer 9 GT benefits from a major electronics revamp. The arrival of a six-axis inertial measurement unit (IMU) brings cornering ABS and traction control, plus slide control (limiting the degree to which the back of the bike can step out, or ‘yaw’, through corners), and lift control. The latter is essentially wheelie control, and it limits the speed at which the front wheel lifts under power (or an inadvertently flicked clutch lever!). 

There are four ride modes – three unlocking full output but with differing throttle response and power delivery, and one essentially a lower-output rain mode. Each has preset levels of traction, slide and lift control. 

There’s also a custom mode to select your own preferred set-up. Three levels of intervention are available, with traction, slide and lift control all able to be deactivated entirely if desired, while you can also choose between standard ABS or cornering ABS. 

The old TFT display has been replaced by a new twin 3.5-inch TFT setup. The left-hand display is just like the one on the new MT-09, while the right-hand one allows you to display your four preferred elements of trip data. 

The lighting is now a full LED affair, with position lights and cornering lights that actually get brighter the further you lean in the bends, to better illuminate the inside of the corner. Oh, and there’s a 12-volt socket located just behind the screen on the left. 

On the road 

After throwing a leg over, I was pleased to note there’s now plenty of room to get the ignition key into the ignition (it used to be a real squeeze). 

And I do like the new twin TFT arrangement. While there’s nothing wrong with the standard single TFT setup on the MT-09 (though it is a little busy), the double screen on the Tracer 9 GT just gives you that much more real estate, allowing you to customise the second screen to display your preferred info (but, oddly, not the digi clock). 

The lower seat height will broaden the Yamaha Tracer 9 GT’s appeal and the ergonomics in general are great for longer days in the saddle. You do sit up fairly high, however, and I found it's quite a glance down to shift your gaze from the road to the dash (though I am on the taller side, at 188cm/6ft 2in).

But it’s an easy reach to the broad handlebar and there’s excellent legroom too, while the handlebar, footpegs and seat height all offer a degree of adjustment. 

The new Euro 5 engine, thoroughly revised from top to bottom, is a superb unit. I’ve never ridden a triple I didn’t like – in general they’re just really flexible powerplants, with a good whack of urge throughout much of the rev range, and they just sound brilliant too. That’s all true of the new Tracer 9 GT. 

It’s been a couple of years since I’d last ridden the last one and I do remember it was certainly no slouch, but this new model packs plenty of pace. The power delivery is quite linear but there’s a fat band of torque available throughout its midrange, and it all makes for fast and easy progress across a heap of riding situations. It’s got a storming top-end, too, which delivers plenty of heart-thumping thrills. 

But there’s a real sense of precision and refinement to this engine, and indeed to the Tracer 9 GT in general. The throttle is light and responsive, and provides a heap of feedback and feel, as does the braking package, which now packs even more power and fury thanks to an R1-style radial master cylinder. 

Handling and suspension 

The way it handles will see you seeking out bends at every opportunity. Nicely balanced and with neutral steering, it’s so easy to throw into corners and while it holds a line incredibly well, quick changes of direction are no problem when required. 

At 100km/h in sixth the engine is bubbling along at 4000rpm; sixth feels a touch too tall for our highway speed limits, but fifth is fine and there’s no shortage of go for fast overtakes. The different ride modes make a tangible difference but I preferred the most aggressive map for the most part, which still allows smooth, glitch-free progress even at lower steady speeds. 

Fuel economy? Yamaha reckons the Tracer 9 GT delivers a nine per cent improvement in fuel economy. In any case, I achieved a solid average of 5.3L/100km, giving a safe range of around 310km from the 18-litre tank. 

I got in a quick 500km day trip aboard the Tracer 9 GT, looping from Melbourne up to Mansfield and then back again via one of my favourite roads – the back road from Jamieson to Eildon. It’s fully sealed these days, has been for a number of years, and its rise and fall in elevation, grippy surface, and everything from straights through the towering eucalypt forests to hairpin corners is a great proving ground for any bike. 

And the Yamaha Tracer 9 GT rose to the challenge. With poise and precision, it lapped up the ‘point-and-squirt' route as I reveled in the triple’s soulful note, all while marveling at the clever rider assistance systems. Keep it trim and tidy or let it hang out, the choice is yours, and while the footpegs deck more readily than those on the MT-09, there’s still plenty of fun to be had on a winding road. 

The chassis/suspension combo works a treat, but I’m more circumspect on the benefits of the new semi-active KYB set-up. Don’t get me wrong, the Tracer 9 GT’s handling is a highlight. But the old model was great in this respect too, and there’s not a massive amount of difference between the two electronically selectable damping modes. You still need to set preload via manual adjustors; at this price point I would have preferred a fully electronic arrangement. 

Other whinges? Only that the bike's oxygen sensor, which sits low at the front of the underslung exhaust system, is very exposed. It's just the same on the MT-09, and looks like a bit of an afterthought to me.

Pillions and pricing 

As for pillions and luggage, the Tracer 9 GT fares well. The pillion seat is broad and not too high, and benefits from a solid set of grabhandles. The standard panniers swallow plenty of gear (though they’re not big enough to fit my medium-size full-face lid) and they mount or dismount in a flash. There’s a carrier for an optional topbox too, so it’s well set up for longer trips, both solo or two-up.  

Priced at $23,299 ride away, I would have also liked Bluetooth connectivity and some form of smartphone mirroring (preferably Apple CarPlay and Android Auto), or a partner smartphone app to unlock features like turn-by-turn navigation. Hey, you could throw keyless starting in while you’re at it! 

The new Yamaha MT-09 naked bike is a bang-for-your-bucks hero at $15,149 ride away. Granted, the Tracer 9 GT has a far longer features list, and it is priced right in isolation, but is it worth $2200 more than its predecessor and over $8000 more than the MT-09? We’ll let the market decide... 

In the ballpark is Kawasaki’s Versys 1000 S (from $20,824 ride away), Suzuki’s V-Strom 1050XT (from $21,490 ride away), Triumph’s Tiger Sport 850 (from $17,990 ride away), and, jumping up in price, MV Agusta’s Turismo Veloce 800 Rosso (from $27,590 ride away) and BMW’s S 1000 XR (from $27,975 ride away). 

The verdict 

The Yamaha Tracer 9 GT was already a great package, but this update has made a remarkable thing better. It is not a value champion like its MT-09 cousin, but it is a well-featured, smarter, and safer sportstourer that does an excellent job of offering the best of both worlds. 

Specs: 2021 Yamaha Tracer 9 GT 

ENGINE 
Type: Liquid-cooled, four-stroke, DOHC, 12-valve, inline three-cylinder 
Displacement: 889cc 
Bore x stroke: 78.0mm x 62.1mm 
Compression Ratio: 11.5:1 
Fuel system: Electronic fuel injection, ride-by-wire 

PERFORMANCE 
Claimed maximum power: 119hp (87.5kW) at 10,000rpm 
Claimed maximum torque: 93Nm at 7000rpm 

TRANSMISSION 
Type: Six-speed, bi-directional quick-shifter 
Final drive: Chain 
Clutch: Cable, slipper 

CHASSIS AND RUNNING GEAR 
Frame: CF die-cast aluminium Deltabox 
Front Suspension: KYB electronic semi-active with KYB Actimatic Damper System (KADS) 
Rear Suspension: KYB electronic semi-active with KYB Actimatic Damper System (KADS) 
Front brakes: Twin 298mm discs with radially mounted four-piston calipers, cornering ABS 
Rear brakes: 245mm disc with twin-piston caliper, cornering ABS 
Tyres: Bridgestone Battlax Sport Touring T32, 120/70-17 front, 180/55-17 rear 

DIMENSIONS AND CAPACITIES 
Claimed wet weight: 220kg 
Seat height: 810-825mm 
Wheelbase: 1500mm 
Rake: 25 degrees 
Trail: 108mm 
Fuel capacity: 18 litres 

SAFETY AND TECHNOLOGY 
Chip-controlled ride-by-wire throttle, cornering ABS, cornering traction control, slide control, lift control, four ride modes, electronic cruise control, full LED lighting with position lights and cornering lights, bi-directional quickshifter, twin 3.5in TFT displays 

OTHER STUFF 
Price: $23,299 ride away 
Bike supplied by: Yamaha Motor Australia
Warranty: 24 months, unlimited kilometres