Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
Cruise control and heated grips are standard. The<br />
ten, (yes that’s right!), settings of the heated grips<br />
worked great in the chilly early hours of the Highveld<br />
winter and the Yamaha’s up-and-down Quick<br />
Shift System is perfect, even though the Tracer 9’s<br />
gearbox, with a new longer first and second gear, is<br />
already so lekker.<br />
The Tracer 9 GT, is equipped with a 2-Mode Brake<br />
Control, (BC), system that provides added chassis<br />
stability during emergency braking situations. Data<br />
from the IMU is constantly analysed, and when<br />
excessive lever pressure is applied to the front or<br />
rear brake by the rider, the pressure is automatically<br />
modulated by the BC system.<br />
The rider can select either of two modes: BC1 is<br />
the standard ABS-active mode which prevents<br />
wheel lock-up during emergency braking in an<br />
upright, straight-line situation. When set to BC2, the<br />
system offers an even higher level of intervention<br />
by controlling brake pressure when the IMU senses<br />
that the chassis is likely to become unsettled in<br />
situations such as sudden mid-corner braking.<br />
Impressive stuff this...<br />
Ergonomics and ride quality:<br />
Yamaha has gone more ‘minimal’ with the sleek<br />
design of the Tracer 9, some comments were that<br />
it looks a bit spartan. We however do like that.<br />
The layered plastics and panels promote better<br />
airflow while the rest of the ergonomics add to the<br />
impression of balance. Riders of various sizes will<br />
appreciate the Tracer 9 GT’s new adjustable foot<br />
pegs, which along with the dual-height seat and<br />
adjustable handlebar from the previous model allow<br />
ergonomics to be customized.<br />
Windscreen adjustment is simple and at its max<br />
setting is really tall to keep bug invasions and wind<br />
at bay. We have no complaints, as you’d expect<br />
from any sports tourer it’s made for long journeys<br />
in comfort. Everything is logically laid out and the<br />
juniors had no complaints sitting out back.<br />
The bike does not feel too tall either, even with the<br />
seat on the higher setting, no one complained about<br />
getting foot to ground.<br />
It’s a really fun bike to ride. Maybe not quite as<br />
lunatic fringe as the MT09 SP we rode a while back,<br />
(Isn’t that the case with most nakeds?), but still<br />
peppy and fun. It’s powerful too with good, smooth<br />
triple cylinder torque through the gears. This bike<br />
only had 350 odd kilometres on it, and we did not<br />
want to push her until properly run in, but she ran up<br />
to the 200KPH mark without breaking a sweat. That<br />
triple engine offers some really lekker mid-range<br />
punch, which is great out of the corners. Freeway<br />
cruising is effortless. And like we said earlier, she<br />
sounds very good, especially banging her through<br />
the quick shifter which is particularly surprising<br />
looking at the strange exhaust. The gearbox and<br />
clutch are slick and smooth.<br />
The electronic suspension does everything that you<br />
ask of it and feels significantly better than the old<br />
bikes - and you have easy selections. In mode 2 it’s<br />
a very smooth, comfortable ride. With Tristan on the<br />
back and going quite fast along the back roads, she<br />
behaved perfectly. Mode 1 firms things up a little,<br />
perhaps better for solo sporty riding.
Change language