Artieb

On 1/1/2024 at 7:19 AM, jdub said:

Just found and joined this forum, and thought I'd post my experience with a rental GT+ in August 2023. I'd previously posted most of this in separate posts on another forum, and thought it might be interesting reading here. Bottom line: I was very impressed with the bike, and it's just a matter of time before one replaces my R1200RT.

 

From August 15:  I'm now four days into riding a rental Tracer 900 GT+ as part of the fantastic AMA/Edelweiss Alps Challenge II tour. This is a great bike; comfy, powerful, smooth, excellent handling and feels to me 75 lbs lighter than its published 491 lb weight. First time I've ever used a quick shifter, and found it addictive especially in the innumerable switchbacks here. I'm having fun!

One of the two friends I'm doing the tour with is also on the same bike, but is two-up with his wife. He buys and sells bikes for a living, and has a bunch of bikes in the garage at home including a Super Tenere that’s their two-up/distance bike. They both like the Tracer better than their ST, and he's considering replacing the ST with one of these. I told him to see what kind of deal his Yamaha dealer buddy will give if we buy a pair.

 

August 16 (in response to a question after my previous post about how the suspension handles broken/rough pavement): 

I've only encountered some broken pavement and a few ripples on some of the passes, and thought the suspension did well and I have no complaints considering it is OEM on a street bike. Better than the OEM suspension on my R1200RT, but not as good as my T7 or former R1200GS (with dynamic damping like the Tracer) in the same situations but both of those are long travel and just eat that stuff up on the road.

I started the ride in Street mode, and quickly noticed some minor wallowing when the pace really picked up. After selecting Sport mode, I've never even thought about the suspension again and my friend on the other Tracer did/said exactly the same thing.

I've found the little joystick selector and TFT display very easy to figure out and use for everything from heated grip selection (they work great, BTW) to tripmeter resets, etc., in spite of having no instruction manual for reference. I've also used cruise control during the few highway sections; very easy to use and it works as well as the CC on my old GS with ride by wire throttle, i.e., flawlessly.

 

September 1, after tour completion and accumulating 1,696 km during the bike's rental:  

A day or two after my previous post, we transited one riding section over some 'goat trails' near the top of a pass with narrow and broken pavement, which I loved as it reminded me of some roads back home. Toggling back to Street mode provided relief from the stiff Sport mode, which was a bit punishing there and was affecting my ability to hold a selected line when approaching corners. Once out of the rough stuff, back to Sport mode.

Later, during a stop at a red light (traffic lights were fortunately rare where we were riding), the suspension damping differences between these two modes was confirmed when I noted almost no fork or shock compression in Sport mode while bouncing on the seat and then holding the front brake and trying to compress the front end. Then I changed to Street mode, and after giving the suspension a few seconds to adjust I tried it again and the softened settings definitely allowed more travel at each end. When we got back into the mountains and hit the twisties at a spirited pace once again, I again noted some wallowing in Street mode and so stayed in Sport mode for 99% of our riding. For normal riding at home, Street mode would be my all-around choice most of the time.

While riding wet roads one morning during a bit of rain (the only rain of the trip), I selected Rain mode and right away noted how the throttle response was softened along with the suspension damping (throttle change was much more evident than Rain mode on my old Wethead R1200GS). While I believe this Rain mode would be very welcome when riding in hard rain and accompanying reduced traction conditions, that mode made it more difficult to keep up with those in front of me that morning so I soon changed modes again. The ability to easily select between each of these modes and then feel/benefit from the distinct handling and performance changes each offers is a testament to Yamaha's design and execution on this bike.

Several times, I also inadvertently experienced the radar-assisted braking 'feature'. It was often necessary to quickly pass one or two cars and then tuck in behind another while braking very hard to set up for the next switchback (gotta love Alps riding!). While the excellent and fade-free brakes always hauled me down very quickly, the radar noted my fast approach to the car ahead with the TFT display momentarily turning orange along with a car symbol and a large exclamation point (noted at a very quick glance). Twice when this happened it also felt like the bike slightly changed front-to-rear attitude before I let off the brakes (something I read later about the radar changing damping in those conditions), and once I believe ABS cycled momentarily which I wouldn't doubt with as hard as I was braking. Whatever was going on under me, the bike remained 100% composed and never made me wonder "what the hell was that?". Not saying whatever happened was necessary, but it didn't hurt. BTW, the sound emitted from the Triple whether at idle (a very pleasing burble) or wide open when passing and repeatedly tapping the quick shifter (a wonderful howl) is downright intoxicating.

My friend on the other GT+, who used to do endurance roadracing, was equally impressed with the bike's braking even when we were doing long descents with constant switchbacks. By contrast, when I swapped bikes for a couple of hours one afternoon and rode another guy's rental KTM 890 Adv S in those same conditions its front discs started overheating and distorting to the point I was getting feedback (shuddering) through the bars and chatter at the front end. When we stopped to switch back and I mentioned this, the KTM renter and both tour guides just smiled knowingly and said "we've all felt the same thing on the 890. Its brakes aren't up to this type of riding like the Tracer's. We like the Tracer".

I was also very pleased that my rental GT+ was wearing Bridgestone's excellent T32 tires (I've read all GT+s are delivered new with these), which I'm also running on my R1200RT (actually T32GTs on the RT). The T32s offer light steering (much better than the heavy-steering effort Michelin PR4GTs my RT came with) and are confidence inspiring all the way to the edges in a variety of temps and grip very well in the wet.

IMHO, Yamaha has built a real winner in the Tracer 900 GT+. I'm so glad I got to spend quality time on it as my rental bike, and when I decide it's time to replace my RT I have little doubt where I'll look next.

Regarding the bike's adaptive cruise control (a 'feature' I dislike and have disabled on my four-wheel vehicles): I used the cruise control on the rental GT+ a few times on some highway stretches while riding third-in-line in a staggered formation with the seven bikes in my tour group, and was a bit surprised at how quickly the adaptive CC reacted when the lead bike(s) slowed at all. The adaptive CC up/down speed changes were very smooth, and I found myself thinking "Hmm, this is OK in this situation" because I had no other need or intention other than remaining in my place in that pack.

I have no idea if the adaptive part could be disabled on this bike, but if it can be and if I ever get a GT+ it will be turned off unless I'm somehow riding highways in another pack of bikes.

 

I too have a 2022 Tracer 9 GT and love it I too also have done numerous Edelweiss Tours and in your pics it looks like Micheal Goabel in the photo is the tour guide? 
Have had him on other tours good guy good rider did he play the guitar for your group? 

He will be our guide again in June for the Edelweiss Pyrenees Extreme tour I’m renting a Triumph 900 Explorer to try I’ve developed international riding friendships with 5-7 others thru Edelweiss tours and each year we try to do a trip great way to try new bikes and rip the best roads in the world 

Nice mod I did pretty much same thing but rose the front of seat with foam under the cover so I didn’t slide forward constantly use the same pad on top and had the seat tilt kit also finally comfortable 

Thanx guys hope that’s it

love the bike!

And which update are you referring too please?

My 2022 Tracer runs perfectly and had first throttle tube recall and reflash for stalling issue done at dealer before delivery to me in 4/22 and has no issues in 16000 miles  other than weird drop in engine braking below 3000 rpm which I’ve learned to live with it but it’s not really correct 

now due to bring it in for O2 recall and would like to have this rpm issue addressed what should I ask for is there a reflash for this one and only issue afraid it may make it worse?

My 2022 Tracer runs perfectly and had first throttle tube recall and reflash for stalling issue done at dealer before delivery to me in 4/22 and has no issues in 16000 miles  other than weird drop in engine braking below 3000 rpm which I’ve learned to live with it but it’s not really correct 

now due to bring it in for O2 recall and would like to have this rpm issue addressed what should I ask for is there a reflash for this one and only issue afraid it may make it worse?

They do look big in that photo,and now that the locks work the correct way are very easy to use and can leave them unlocked,my C-14 you needed key to open every time PIA

The Tracer bags are very light also and dont seem to move you around much at high speeds to restrict my use just got to swing you leg up higher on and off the bike

8 hours ago, Heli ATP said:

Tell us about your other bike?

1979 CBX  fully restored in 2013 w/19,000 miles just turn 34000miles  runs perfectly ride it often

Sorry can’t flip photo  Duh

jK3 D kit is as stated good quality fits fine and WORKS!

YRMV but along with bar/ back risers seat kit much more comfortable and laminar lip 

eliminated noise & buffering

smooth and easy on slab between 85-105 ish no problem

On 4/21/2022 at 7:49 PM, Artieb said:

Ordered mine checked parts #s and 21 & 2200 should be the same

3 days I’ll know

seems like 15 mm will be just right love it so far only got 300 miles

Installed and feel just right 

Pics of tail tidy up ,side case covers painted to match w/s laminar lip 

love this bike 522 miles so far

Both done and key turns to the 3 positions and works much better but still not high quality lock or bag but a least their light,I only use them on trips few times a year there sufficient for that 

thanx so much for the fix I’d have never figured that out on my own….

first Yamaha in some time

curious how they are a high speeds 90 + this a bike is relatively light,will find out soon 

anyone put a steering damper on one?

7 hours ago, stevesweetz said:

@Bernard

Hopefully this helps.  Forgive the production quality, I am not a professional videoist

 

Wow very well done I fix mine tomorrow 

On 4/16/2022 at 11:54 AM, TracerNed said:

I agree the locking mechanism on the cases seem cheap. The locks turn hard and the way they latch to the bike feels like something is going to break.  When I purchased my bike one of the locks was broken and they replaced the complete case.  I hope these aren't a problem as they age.

Your right key locks are very stiff I’m really careful it would be easy to bend key

hope they loosen a bit with use lock feels pretty cheap
painting my inserts in bags just prepped and primed matching red will post when done

i love this bike 475 miles and everything is getting better/looser
brakes bedded in 2 finger power now I can feel it

gas mileage up to about 48.5 mpg was about 47 ish first 250 miles and I really babied it and I really can feel the motor/gearbox is wearing in

Roll on power from 75 to 100 is impressive still treating it right and not loading or revving  beyond 6k but I see how it loves to spin up and decent low end grunt too! this bike is a keeper

i’m coming from a BMW GS 1200 and the quick shifter on the Yamaha is way better I’ve heard it said it’s the best quick shifter in the business I believe it

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08V8BHLM4?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1

we all know the dangers of leaving signal on I’ve done it too many times

this is a pretty bright flash in my face…… duh turn off signal 

wired in parallel to front signals and easy Peasey! Picture shows light on but it blinks with signal

going to use same ones for rear directional s  for my tail tidy setup when all  parts come in

Ordered mine checked parts #s and 21 & 2200 should be the same

3 days I’ll know

seems like 15 mm will be just right love it so far only got 300 miles

Who makes bar risers for 2022 model or will other years fit 

all listings are for other than 2022 model 

really needed but love the bike got 175 miles today can’t stop riding it

The plastic in front of gas tank is different from 2021 model I’ve been told making locking ring not compatible with tank bags is that true?
 just got my new Red 2022 red GT today loving it but want to get tank bag ASAP 

THANX IN ADVANCE