Yamaha Tracer 900 GT (2019) first ride review | Does sport-touring mean less fun?

I test ride the 2019 Yamaha Tracer 900 GT and after talking some specs I give my two cents on its looks, build quality, ergos, acceleration, braking, suspension, comfort and flickability and what the pièce de résistance of this bike is. Spoiler alert: it's the engine.

[@msg238]

I just purchased the 2020 and absolutely love riding it. I wasn't crazy about the looks at first but they are growing on me.

[@motozest7856]

It's a great bike.

[@The66Leadfoot]

You're the first reviewer to mention engine temperature. I was wondering about seat heat but hearing that even your legs remained cool was good to hear. Great review!

[@motozest7856]

Thanks, mate! More coming up👍

[@TrendingHeadlinesTV]

I just went on a demo ride today from Yamaha. The 2019 Tracer 900GT was in front of me. What a great looking sport tourer! Looks amazing with the side pinions on. Matches the bike beautifully. The one that was at the demo ride today had the Yoshimura Tracer 900 pipe and it sounded nothing like stock!! It was a pure beast of a sound! If anyone is purchasing this bike, highly recommend adding the Yoshimura to its demenor. You will deffinatley be turning heads with the sound! Amazing bike!

[@motozest7856]

Can't say I agree with you on the looks department, but this is a great sport touring bike indeed! Yoshis always sound amazing but they don't usually comply with the Euro regs, so they're pretty much a no-go here in Portugal...

[@MotoJournoKris]

Great run down, your chortles of glee rolling on the throttle hard sums it up!

[@motozest7856]

It's hard to keep a straight face when twisting the throttle on this one!

[@MotoJournoKris]

@@motozest7856 Yea that triple is wicked.

[@stephenprizeman6669]

Brilliant review

[@motozest7856]

Thanks, Stephen!

[@MrPepper312]

Thanks for no music

[@motozest7856]

Some videos, like these bike reviews, really don't need it.

[@delta9652]

Boas, não sei se sou o único mas apesar de eu perceber perfeitamente inglês, adoraria ver os teus vídeos em português, talvez algo como o Cager ou assim, ótima qualidade de vídeo, narração, etc, era só uma ideia, ótimos vídeos colega de estrada!

[@motozest7856]

Obrigado, amigo. Essa é uma questão que estou a analisar de momento, confesso. O que é que gostavas de ver em português? Exatamente o mesmo vídeo, um vídeo ligeiramente diferente, um totalmente diferente, uns em português e outros em inglês...?

[@delta9652]

@@motozest7856 Acho que exactamente o mesmo, os vídeos na minha opinião estão super bem produzidos, mas ver na nossa língua materna seria ainda mais interessante de assistir!

[@gsmotor8807]

Nice video 💯✔

[@motozest7856]

Thanks!

[@paulocelso68]

Nice video! One doubt: does the bike lift the rear (RL) when you break abruptly? or it breaks fine?

[@motozest7856]

No, it didn't lift the rear (and I was braking hard while going down). You can feel it dive a bit, but it felt totally controllable. And you can always play with the compression damping on the front.

[@paulocelso68]

@@motozest7856 thanks for your answer.

[@DucatiST3sSpeciale]

Thanks for this well-explained review 👍🏼, I now drive a Ducati ST3s with a Bigebore engine 1079cc and 120hp with 135Nm measured on the rear wheel (stock 992cc and 102hp with 92Nm crankshaft measured). I am considering switching to the Tracer 900GT because I think that Ducati today only has that ugly Multistrada as an alternative and that is not an option for me. My question to you is, do you know if it is possible to give this Tracer 900 more power with a software update and of course remains reliable. Thanks in advance, Wil.

[@motozest7856]

I didn't know about that big bore kit for the ST3... Has it been reliable? The Multistrada is pretty ugly but this Tracer is not exactly a looker, either😂 There are some ECU flashes you can do to increase both power and torque across de rev range and get a better AtF mixture (I know CJS Racing in the UK does a great job with Ducatis, for instance). You can also opt for a Power Commander, but because it is a piggy-back solution I usually prefer an ECU flash. In terms of warranty they usually void it, especially if the warranty claim has anything to do with the engine or transmission. Personally I wouldn't do any of the two while I was on my warranty period...

[@DucatiST3sSpeciale]

MotoZest Thanks for answering my question 👍🏼. Officially, there is no Bigebore set for the ST3s, we drilled the cylinders and used the pistons of a Ducati 996. Furthermore, I changed many other things on the ST, as result with a weight reduction of 18.25 kg. If you want to see a few photos of the changes to the Ducati ST3s Speciale, you can see a few photos on Instagram ducati.st.dutch I hope you keep going to make these awesome videos 👌🏼Cheers.

[@gregbonham8659]

Video quality is unreal, mate... Are you using a GoPro?

[@motozest7856]

Indeed! A Hero 7 Black. I do a lot of post-processing though, straight out of the camera the IQ is nowhere near this good, especially in terms of dynamic range. One of my next videos will be about the GoPro specs I use - stay tunned.

[@JoseOchoa-dw9vk]

I thought rebound is on the right and compression on the left.

[@motozest7856]

Nope. www.yamaha-motor.eu/kv/kv/products/motorcycles/sport-touring/tracer-900-gt-2019/techspecs/

[@hdidane00]

MT10 over this all day long. but Tracer is a nice bike too.

[@motozest7856]

Totally different bikes - this is a sport-touring bike with rider comfort in mind, the MT-10 is a hypernaked made for aggressive canyon carving and general hooliganism.