Yamaha MT-09 Tracer 2018 — Specifications

Imagine taking a roadster producing 115 horsepower, adding an engine guard, a windscreen, optional heated grips, and an 18-liter fuel tank, then repositioning the seat and handlebars so the rider can survive 600 kilometers without turning into applesauce. That's exactly what Yamaha did with the Yamaha MT-09 Tracer, and the result deserves serious attention.

The 847 cc CP3 three-cylinder remains the heart of the project. 115 horsepower at 10,000 rpm, 87.5 Nm of torque at 8,900 rpm, a die-cast aluminum frame that weighs what it should. Nothing has changed internally, and that's good news. This engine is lively, temperamental, with a powerband that sharply contrasts with the somewhat boring linearity of Japanese inline-four engines of the same era. Facing a Kawasaki Z900 or a Suzuki GSX-S750, the CP3 asserts its personality. The Yamaha MT-09 Tracer is not a smooth motorcycle, and that's what makes it so interesting.

What changes is everything else. The riding position is more upright, the handlebars are adjustable for inclination, the two-piece seat offers two heights, fixed at 815 mm in its standard configuration. For an average build, it’s manageable. The passenger isn't forgotten with grab handles worthy of the name. The windscreen adjusts in three positions tool-free, even if the 15 mm difference between each setting frankly limits the felt effect. Yamaha made the effort, but we would have hoped for better on this specific point. The 18-liter fuel tank more than compensates: expect around 300 km of range, enough to cross a good portion of the territory without stopping at every exit ramp.

The electronics deserve a mention. The D-Mode system offers three engine maps calibrated for road use, therefore gentler in their progression than on the original naked roadster. Traction Control TCS is switchable, ABS is standard on both wheels. At 210 kg fully fueled, the Yamaha MT-09 Tracer GT of subsequent generations will inherit these solid foundations. The double digital screen dashboard displays everything a touring rider could hope for: speed, revs, ambient temperature, consumption, gear engaged. The center stand and 12-volt socket complete a standard equipment list consistent with the advertised use. The Yamaha MT-09 Tracer price of 10,299 euros at launch places the machine in a competitive range against the Triumph Tiger Sport or the Kawasaki Versys 1000 of the time, more massive and more expensive machines.

What this motorcycle achieves is reconciling two DNAs that Yamaha seemed to have struggled to marry for years. The bite of an engine designed for fun, combined with ergonomics that don't destroy the lower back over time. It clearly addresses the rider who refuses to choose between sensation and practicality, the one who leaves in the morning with a textile jacket and returns in the evening with a smile intact. On the market for the Yamaha MT-09 Tracer used, well-maintained examples sell quickly, which says a lot about the owners' satisfaction. The success of later versions, up to the Yamaha MT-09 Tracer GT, confirms that Yamaha had found the right formula from this 2016 model year. Imperfect in the details, convincing in the essentials.