Just rented a Yamaha Tracer 900

[flynnstigator]

I’m about to return a Tracer 900 to Eaglerider this morning, and wanted to share a few thoughts and questions.

When I first took the bike and rode through SF and then to Tracy on the Interstate, I was in love! It had all the same good qualities as my 2012 Yamaha FZ6R (recently sold) but with a more comfortable and upright position, a shocking amount of acceleration, wonderful engine note, and nice features like hard saddlebags and a center stand. I won’t be back in the market to own another bike until after COVID, but I was convinced that I had found my next purchase.

On the ride home, however, I noticed a lot of the same gripes I had with my FZ6R, mainly that my knees protested at being tucked up at a fairly acute angle, and my backside would demand a seat pad or custom seat for longer rides. My FZ6R sported an Airhawk Cruiser which solved the second issue, but I could still never manage to ride longer than 1 1/2 hours before wanting to take a break. This Tracer felt like it would carry a similar comfort limit, which I was not expecting when I first rode it. Just like my FZ6R, if I were planning a tour or a ride to So-Cal or even Yosemite, I would want to get adjustable footpegs and hope that I could find a comfortable angle.

Everyone else who ever rode my FZ6R was in love and didn’t have the same issues that I did, so I must have unusual leg and arm lengths for my height (about 5’11”), but the bike just never quite fit me, and it doesn’t seem like the Tracer would fit me either. That’s kind of a shame, because at first I liked it even better than the BMW 1200 GS that I rented a couple months ago.

If anyone has had similar experiences with the Tracer or with Yamahas, did you find that the GT version of the Tracer had a more accommodating riding position? Were you able to cure the knee fatigue with aftermarket foot pegs or another solution, and how much cash and effort did you have to put into it? In your experiences, would I be better off looking at a Tenere 700 than the Tracer series for a <150 mi commuter and blue-moon tourer bike?

 

[dravnx]

Sounds like great questions to pose on a Tracer forum.

 

[davidji]

Have you checked bike ergonomics with & without customization on cycle-ergo.com? Customization options include you can enter include taller seat & lower pegs.

Don't know about your knee pain or if it would help, but I was able to solve my motorcycle induced lateral knee pain with IT band stretches. If the pain is on the outside part of the knee it's worth a try. If you don't know them, look 'em up.

On a bike like the tracer, highway pegs for the occasional stretch might help too. Better not to need them though.

 

[ScottRNelson]

Very few motorcycles have enough legroom for me at 6'1". I think the KTM 990 Adv was the best that I've owned in that regard. It's one reason why I gave up on ever having another Ducati Monster - the ST2 had several inches more legroom.

If legroom were most important to me I would be looking at a cruiser or big touring bike, but I absolutely detest forward controls, so forget that. Plus I try to never exceed 500 pounds on any bike - KTM 1090R was just barely over when full of gas.

After an hour or two of highway riding I'll dangle a leg to straighten it out a little. Fortunately I rarely have to do that. I also have the option on both of my bikes of standing up for a bit if needed, but that's not usually a reasonable choice above 40 mph or so.

The best thing to do if you're not in a hurry is to stop every half hour or so and stretch your legs off of the bike.

 

[robertwyu]

It sounds like maybe a taller, comfier seat may fix both issues. I think raising the seat would be cheaper than dropping the pegs? Maybe not, but I'd be more inclined to do that as I wouldn't want to lose ground clearance.

 

[usedtobefast]

Check out a KTM 990 SMT. Only available used now, but super roomy, easy on the knees, upright position, 17" wheels front and rear, and motor is tons for fun than a Yamaha 900.

 

[GAJ]

In your experiences, would I be better off looking at a Tenere 700 than the Tracer series for a <150 mi commuter and blue-moon tourer bike?

I really like my friends FZ6r, an under appreciated bike IMHO.

Have you considered a used BMW F800ST, ideally without ABS?

Or the newer used F800GT which I think has improved ABS over the crap on the F800ST.

Or these two which you could test ride used?

https://www.eurocyclesonoma.com/inventory/2018-triumph-tiger-800-xrx-low-windsor-ca-95492-10401371i

https://www.eurocyclesonoma.com/inventory/2017-bmw-f-800-gs-windsor-ca-95492-10574048i

 

[NoTraffic]

I have a '17 FZ09, same engine - just naked. #1 all time complaint is the seat comfort. It is like a wooden plank. Yes, the knees do bend fairly aggressive, they tried to ergo it like a supermoto.

All across the FZ09 forums it's - What did you replace your seat with? Yamaha make a comfort seat, Sargent, Corbin, etc.

I have an FZ1 and the stock seat is perfect for me.

 

[flynnstigator]

Have you checked bike ergonomics with & without customization on cycle-ergo.com? Customization options include you can enter include taller seat & lower pegs.

I hadn't heard of that site before but it looks like a great resource, thanks!

Don't know about your knee pain or if it would help, but I was able to solve my motorcycle induced lateral knee pain with IT band stretches. If the pain is on the outside part of the knee it's worth a try. If you don't know them, look 'em up.

On a bike like the tracer, highway pegs for the occasional stretch might help too. Better not to need them though.

Interesting. If I could solve the knee comfort issue I would seriously consider the Tracer for my next ride, but I'll keep trying out other bikes and see if there's anything that fits the bill in stock form.

Very few motorcycles have enough legroom for me at 6'1". I think the KTM 990 Adv was the best that I've owned in that regard. It's one reason why I gave up on ever having another Ducati Monster - the ST2 had several inches more legroom.

If legroom were most important to me I would be looking at a cruiser or big touring bike, but I absolutely detest forward controls, so forget that. Plus I try to never exceed 500 pounds on any bike - KTM 1090R was just barely over when full of gas.

After an hour or two of highway riding I'll dangle a leg to straighten it out a little. Fortunately I rarely have to do that. I also have the option on both of my bikes of standing up for a bit if needed, but that's not usually a reasonable choice above 40 mph or so.

The best thing to do if you're not in a hurry is to stop every half hour or so and stretch your legs off of the bike.

Good to know I'm not the only one! My legs are a little longer than average for my height so I would probably feel comfortable on similar bikes. I'll keep an eye out for any of those.

So far I felt good on an BMW R1200 GS so I've got that on my list of candidates.

It sounds like maybe a taller, comfier seat may fix both issues. I think raising the seat would be cheaper than dropping the pegs? Maybe not, but I'd be more inclined to do that as I wouldn't want to lose ground clearance.

That would probably be my first remedy. I think it does have an adjustable seat height and I'm sure the rental shop had it set in the low position, so that might have helped.

I really like my friends FZ6r, an under appreciated bike IMHO.

Have you considered a used BMW F800ST, ideally without ABS?

Or the newer used F800GT which I think has improved ABS over the crap on the F800ST.

Or these two which you could test ride used?

I was looking at several BMW's. I really liked the R1200 GS I rented last time, but I'd also like to try the sport-touring and adventure-styled 800's and 900's in their range. That Tiger 800 is next on my list of bikes to try. I've never heard a bad word about those!

 

[chrisweir.com]

I had one. They have a height adjustable seat and you would likely feel more comfortable if you adjusted it to the high position. I liked my FJ but I prefer the FJR I have now.

 

[gixxerjeff]

Sounds like great questions to pose on a Tracer forum.

A pretty snarky response considering this is a motorcycle forum. Nice way to roll out the welcome mat to a newcomer. :rolleyes

OP, the Tracer has been on my radar for a while now too. My Bandit 1200 is showing it's age and the Tracer checks a lot of boxes for me although I haven't ridden one yet. Where did you rent it from?

 

[davidji]

I was looking at several BMW's. I really liked the R1200 GS I rented last time, but I'd also like to try the sport-touring and adventure-styled 800's and 900's in their range. That Tiger 800 is next on my list of bikes to try. I've never heard a bad word about those!

F800 engine is outclassed by its competitors. F850GS & F900XR engines are much different and I'd to try them. The last one anyway.

The F900XR sounds like a lot of fun, though if you add all the gadgets (adaptive headlight, cruise control, etc) it can get pretty expensive. OTOH those aren't available for some competing bikes.

 

[WWWobble]

150 mile commuter bike and occasional tourer?

Let me throw in an FJR1300 if another 100 pounds or so doesn't matter.... Damn comfortable. Better in "sport" mode than many think. It ain't perfect by any means, but it's pretty good at everything.

 

[flynnstigator]

OP, the Tracer has been on my radar for a while now too. My Bandit 1200 is showing it's age and the Tracer checks a lot of boxes for me although I haven't ridden one yet. Where did you rent it from?

Eaglerider. I have the monthly membership so I can check out a lot of different bikes and see what suits me best, although their selection is basically limited to Harley and Yamaha at the SF location, with a couple of BMW's and Triumphs in the mix.

I haven't ridden a Bandit but I suspect you'll find the Tracer to be just as capable of hooliganism

 

[flynnstigator]

150 mile commuter bike and occasional tourer?

Let me throw in an FJR1300 if another 100 pounds or so doesn't matter.... Damn comfortable. Better in "sport" mode than many think. It ain't perfect by any means, but it's pretty good at everything.

Sometimes my mind does wander over to the FJR and Goldwing. The two things that always stop me are the fact that my garage space is sloped and needs to be backed into, which I already struggled with on a 500 lbs bike, and when I used to make a weekly trek to San Jose at 3:30 PM I had to lane split for a significant part of the journey. I know people lane split on FJR's, Wings, and big Harleys because I've seen plenty, but it biases me toward looking at "normal" sized bikes.

 

[berth]

The two things that always stop me are the fact that my garage space is sloped and needs to be backed into, which I already struggled with on a 500 lbs bike,

Sure, but the Wing has a reverse!