YAMAHA

Yamaha Tracer 9 GT+, the flagship of the sport touring class

The Tracer has been on the market for a decade, being one of Yamaha's most successful ranges. It's no wonder it accounts for almost a third of sales in its segment in Europe, with figures exceeding 20,000 units annually.

What started out as a semi-faired version of the naked MT-09 (the first model retained that acronym in its name) has become the most popular sport touring class, exemplifying how to combine sporty handling with comfortable travel.

Currently, the family consists of five models (two 700 and three 900), with this GT+ at the top. Why? Because it's the most sophisticated Tracer ever produced. And compared to its sister, the already highly equipped GT, it represents a significant technological leap.

Y-AMT as its flagship... The first and most obvious thing that catches your eye is the absence of a clutch lever and clutch control. Indeed, this GT Plus comes standard with the Y-AMT transmission, which automates the use of the clutch and gearbox, developed for sporty motorcycles. This system allows you to use the motorcycle in pure automatic (AT) mode, but also in manual (MT) mode, with a gear selector for upshifting and downshifting activated from the handlebar with two paddle shifters.

Another gadget that places this GT+ among the most select motorcycles on the market is adaptive cruise control. It uses a radar located under the headlights to monitor the distance to any object in front (you can adjust it to four positions) and allows you to always maintain a safety margin while riding at a constant speed and without touching the throttle.

This system, known as ACC, works in concert with the engine, brakes, and suspension. It first uses engine braking to operate and then applies pressure to the discs thanks to the exclusive Unified Braking System (UBS). To ensure this entire process is as effective and comfortable as possible, the final element to come into play is the electronic suspension adjustment, which prevents excessive movement during acceleration and deceleration.

It also features a new forward collision warning system, which activates in two stages: a visual one, where an orange "impact hazard" warning light appears on the TFT screen; and a physical one, with the rear brake briefly activating as a warning, ensuring the vehicle's stability is maintained. To further enhance safety, it also features a blind spot detector, which warns of the presence of a vehicle in the blind spot zone with a flashing light in the rearview mirrors. The good stuff we know... Much of the Tracer's worldwide fame is due to the proven CP3 three-cylinder engine, which in this update receives no new features beyond being homologated for Euro 5+. It also includes a fifth customizable driving mode (Sport, Rain, Street, and Custom 1 and 2) in manual MT mode, while two modes remain in automatic mode (D and D+, with a bit more playfulness and less electronic intervention).

These are improvements already incorporated in the new GT version, as well as the updated Deltabox, with a different subframe, 50 mm longer and 150 g lighter, which reduces its weight.

Another notable aspect common to this new generation Tracer is the Matrix technology lighting system. The new full-LED optics give this sport touring car its modern personality. It features adaptive headlights, which adjust light intensity to avoid dazzling oncoming vehicles. A technology widely implemented in the automotive sector, but very little used in the two-wheeled sector.

The control center can be operated from the new 7-inch TFT display, which is fully customizable with three different backgrounds. It also includes a navigation system integrated with the Garmin Motorize app with real-time mapping, 5G connectivity for updates, and cloud services. And, also new to the GT+, it allows you to monitor tire pressure in real time.

Premium Touring...Yamaha prepared a high-profile presentation for a motorcycle as dedicated to touring as this one. We were invited to Slovenia, at the foot of the Julian Alps, for an intensive debut, as the brand had planned a kilometer-long route, crossing the borders of Austria and Italy and several mountain passes. The route also included some highway and urban stretches to put all the goodies the new Tracer GT+ has to work.

With the Keyless system, you just have to put the key in your pocket and turn the dial at the end of the fuel tank to start the bike. In both automatic and manual modes, you have to activate the left paddle shifter to shift into first gear and set off. At first, the many buttons on the shift paddles seem overwhelming, but you quickly get used to the controls.

I start in automatic mode (AT) and the transmission works like butter, with no jerky shifting. I know we all like to shift gears up and down with the foot lever, but you have to admit that this system makes life much easier in the city and on the highway. That's when I start playing with the cruise control, which is impeccably designed, and I experience one of the bike's strong points: ride comfort, with very natural ergonomics and a protective screen that covers the shoulders and can be electronically adjusted in height with a 100 mm travel.

We leave the highway, the road gradually winds, and it's time to operate the manual mode (MT). It has two paddles, and although both have two positions for upshifting and downshifting, the natural thing to do would be to shift gears up with your index finger and down with your thumb. It may not be intuitive at first, but at least in my case, when I got down to work in the mountainous area, it felt natural.

For a bike more focused on touring, the engine remains as responsive as ever. It feels very full at any rpm and stretches a lot, allowing you to correct any potential errors in the gear engaged. It's also very agile when changing direction, and you can feel the quality of the braking system and its semi-active suspension when you push it to the limit.

And believe me, we did. We ended up with almost 400 km under our belt, without having used a tank, but having filled up halfway, just in case. Although I believe the 450 km claimed range of this Tracer 9 GT+, which left such a good taste in my mouth.

CONCLUSION...I have more than enough reason to say that this is the best Tracer I've ever driven. It's more focused on the touring side, but I don't quite believe that its profile is 70% touring and 30% sport, as Yamaha claimed at the presentation. I'd rather match those figures, because you can have a lot of fun on winding roads, and its performance isn't penalized in this regard by the other 900 Tracer models.

Where it surpasses them is in the areas of comfort and safety, with a technological display that justifies a price that also places it at the top of the range: €19,599, €3,200 more than the bare GT and €6,800 more than the standard Tracer, always referring to versions equipped with the Y-AMT transmission. This GT+ is sold in two liveries: Cobalt Blue, which is the one you see in this review; and Icon Performance, in Yamaha's livery.

Reporter: Chechu Lazarus