Yamaha Tracer 9 GT review : Touring performance & pillion comfort (2021) 

Great - thanks! Glad you liked it. Cheers, John

Very artificially...

I try to do as many as possible as so many people do at least want to take their partner out every so often. It's great to be able to have the whole family involved and this really is an impressive bike two-up, so I'm glad we got the chance so early. Cheers! John

Those women must really love their men to have their buttocks punished for hours on a pillion seat. I believe the Tracer is really a solo tourer, I use the pillion seat to strap on luggage.

@@Ironhawx After two days on there, Helen disagrees - this is as much a two-up tourer as it is a solo one.

That's the main point for any bike

Exactly. Currently looking at trading up my Ninja 650 for something that can carry my fiance comfortably for more than an hour. Hard to find that information in reviews, but the tracer is at the front of the pack after this one!

Thanks SO much, that's really kind! Cheers, John

So cool!

Thanks a lot! All the best, John

She's got used to it! Cheers, John

Funny, my wife soaks those technical analysis up like a sponge…. she is an engineer and also likes to ride her own bike…. different world, isn’t it…

Thanks - glad you liked it! Cheers, John

Thanks very much! Cheers, John

Thanks a lot! Cheers, John

Thanks very much! All the best, John

Thanks very much! All the best, John

Thanks very much! The 900 is still a great machine, but this really has moved things on even further. Cheers, John

Thanks very much! I'm stripping it down shortly for the next video, where I'll go into more detail on everything. Cheers, John

Brilliant! I honestly think you'll love this one, having ridden the original to Belgium around 2015 or 2016 - it was great, but this is even better (though I liked the old clocks better). Cheers, John

Great - thank you! Cheers, John

Thanks very much! Cheers, John

Thanks very much! Cheers, John

Thanks a lot! Cheers, John

Good call - I'd guess you'll love it, but let me know how you get on. Cheers, John

Thanks! Have a great weekend, John

Thanks! Let me know what you choose in the end. Cheers, John

Thanks very much! Yeah, I think you can get so much more out of a bike if you can enjoy it with the family. Cheers, John

Cheers! John

Thanks a lot! All the best, John

Thank you! All the best, John

Brilliant! What do you have now? Cheers, John

You can follow everything here: www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial/reviews/bikes/long-term-test-bikes/yamaha-long-term-test-bikes/tracer-9-gt-2021 Cheers, John

Glad it was helpful!

Great! Let me know how you get on! Cheers, John

Thanks very much! Cheers, John

If a dealer doesn't want to help you in this climate, walk away! Cheers, John

Thanks very much! Cheers, John

Will aim for that! Cheers, John

Thanks so much! That's some great use you've had out of the 2018... you're going to love the GT! Cheers, John

@@bennettsbikesocial As going abroad is probably not going to happen for a while, I plan on doing some UK ‘challenges’ when I’ve collected the new GT. John O’Groats to Lands End in 24-hours and things like that. I’ll have to make some videos and stick them on here.

@@Yama_Apri_521 Brilliant - please do get them shared! Cheers, John

There's some stunning scenery around there! Cheers, John

Thanks! Have a test ride... what are you on at the moment? Cheers, John

@@bennettsbikesocial I've got a Speed Twin, and a Speed Triple. My wife will only get on the Speed Twin (Triple pillion seat is too high, hard and small !), I prefer riding the Speed Triple 1050 RS. So I am thinking of swapping in the Speed Triple for one of these. Yes they're quite different bikes. If I'm honest I never use anywhere near the full power of the Speed Triple, it handles well, sounds lovely, torque is brilliant, but sometimes the suspension is just a bit too hard (I should learn how to adjust it , but semi active suspension on the Tracer is tempting) I've been thinking about a sports tourer for a while. Adventure bikes don't do it for me. Most adventure bikes are too high, too big and in my opinion ugly ! The seat height on the tracer sounds perfect. (I'm 5 foot 10 inches tall too), it's a triple, has a QS, handling sounds good, and it seems it is really good for pillions ( according to Helen :) , only pillion review I've seen, so that was really good. ) I did think about the recently discontinued Tiger Sport 1050, but I sat on it in a dealers, and it was too tall for me. I like to flat foot. I did have a test ride of the new Tiger 900. I think the T plane crank mucks up triple engines, and makes them "lumpy". Don't know if it was the larger front wheel, the handling felt more vague than I'm used to. I guess I could always borrow more cash, build another bike shed, and just get the Tracer too, but that's getting a bit silly and expensive :)

Thanks! Cheers, John

Fantastic - must be one of the first in dealers. Let us know how you get on. Cheers, John

@@bennettsbikesocial yes think it was and I'm lucky as my dealer says if I left ordering it any later then I did it be around August time I'd be picking up. Will do and my wife's looking forward to getting on the back after this review 👍 Also hope the lower seat hight helps me out as I'm not much taller then your better half! 🤞🤞

@@bigt7559 Even though I'm lucky enough to have one on loan, sitting down in the garage, I'm genuinely jealous of the excitement you must have at the moment, waiting to go and pick it up! Enjoy!

Glad you were okay! Cheers, John

Hey jeff im between versys 1000 and tracer 9 gt + ! I want it for touring 2 up with luggage, whay would you pick now after living with the kawa ?. I come from triumph 1200 xcx which gave me a hard time due to oil leaks ...

@@aldvex8541 Hi Aldvex, the only Tracer I've ridden was a 2017 FJR900 during one of Yamaha's test ride days. I would take the '19 Versys 1000 SE hands down over the FJR. But the new Tracer is a different beast and honestly I would have to talk myself out of getting the Tracer over the V1K. But there's no denying the comfort of the V1K for 2-up riding and the smoothness of the engine. I guess test rides are in your future lol. Good luck and ride safe :)

@@justjeff4173 thanks jeff !!

Brilliant - hope you enjoy it. Are you replacing anything with it? Cheers, John

@@bennettsbikesocial I have a mt09 sport tracker at the moment. Before this one i had a tiger 1050 sport. I am missen the comfort now 😉

@@MaartenvH Ah, Tiger 1050s are comfy bikes! Coming from the Sport Tracker, the Tracer 9 should be spot on I reckon. Cheers, John

Both great bikes. The Kawasaki didn't used to have the load capacity, if I remember correctly, and I'm a bit obsessed about having the option of panniers AND top-box. Cheers, John

Tricky one... This is very, very close in solo riding enjoyment because I can't get near using all the potential of the XR on the road, whereas with this I can feel like I'm working it a bit harder. On the other hand the BMW has some really nice details and touches that make it feel more premium (as you'd hope, given the extra cost). The problem I have with the XR is that height, which leaves me lacking confidence at times, so I'm planning on getting it lowered by Cymarc. If that doesn't work, at the moment it does feel like I'd want to buy this. All that's nagging at me is the idea that maybe, just maybe, there'll be a Tracer 10 one day. That motor, with a low stance still and a proper load capacity could be outstanding. Cheers, John

@@bennettsbikesocial Arr, as a 5 year long MT10 owner, I would love a Tracer 10. More tank range and a little more touring friendly.

Cheers! All the best, John

Thanks very much! Cheers, John

Great idea - I've put in in my planner. Cheers, John

Thanks very much! All the best, John

Thanks very much! Cheers, John

Thanks Graham! Cheers, John

Cheers! Lots more to come here: www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial/reviews/bikes/long-term-test-bikes/yamaha-long-term-test-bikes/tracer-9-gt-2021 Personally, I don't think the motor lends itself to motorways that much as it's not all that relaxed. It's good, but there are better motorway machines, especially if you don't mind something bigger. Though where's the fun in motorways?! Cheers, John

I'm afraid I haven't ridden a lowered Versys so couldn't honestly say. I'd assume it'd be close as the Versys isn't over-tall anyway, and has a pretty good stand-over height. Cheers, John

All I can tell you is that it was from Tamworth Yamaha to Lake Vyrnwy, then on to Nick Sanders' place, then back to Tamworth. Sorry - we were just following Potski! Get in that area though and it's all great! Cheers, John

She's well practiced in pretending to listen to me! Cheers, John

Helen and I didn't think it helped us, but it will depend on your bum! If you can, try one at a dealer. Cheers, John

@@bennettsbikesocial Thanks.

Thanks so much! Yes, Helen does get on that way sometimes, but for some reason she seems to prefer getting her leg wedged! Merry Christmas, Cheers, John and Helen

I'm afraid I haven't had a chance to ride that yet, so couldn't say. You can read Michael's review of it here though. Cheers, John www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial/reviews/bikes/ducati/ducati-multistrada-950s-review-2019

I really hope you can spark your wife's interest again as it's so great to be able to share each other's hobbies. Maybe a short ride together to the nearest cafe to celebrate the easing of lockdown restrictions? All the very best, John

We haven't needed one, so I'd stick with standard at first, and crank the preload up, then see how you get on. Cheers, John

At last! Someone noticed! Cheers, John

Nice - let me know how you get on. I think we'll see a bit of a shift in the market with more people going from big adventure bikes to more manageable machines like this. Cheers, John

Without being able to jump from one to the other, if I remember correctly they're very similar for comfort for me. I do think that John's extra confidence with this made me feel happier, but honestly, they're both great bikes. I'd get a test ride for the pair of you on both before you can decide. All the best, Helen