Yamaha USA Announces 2024 Tracer 9 GT+

[betoney]

2 hours ago, fj09gb said:

New 2024 GT+ owner here from the States (previously had a 2015 FJ-09 and 2020 Tracer 900 GT).

I rented at 2023 GT+ for two weeks and knew I wanted to trade in the 900 GT.

Where were you able to rent a '23 model?  The US didn't get a '23 model, GT or GT+.

[Ride365]

5 hours ago, Cruizin said:

Holding out for the 2030 electric Tracer GT with warp drive, auto blowjob seat and 800 mile range.

I would ride the hell out of that bike!!!!

[mingo]

On 12/21/2023 at 11:09 AM, betoney said:

Where were you able to rent a '23 model?  The US didn't get a '23 model, GT or GT+.

In Europe, the GT+ has been available as a '23. In Europe they will continue to have a choice between the 9GT and 9GT+. Only the GT+ model gets the new switchgear and 7" TFT in addition to the other tech goodies, the GT continues with the 2 TFT screens, scroll wheel and the standard switch gear, much like when Yamaha introduced the 900 and 900GT models had different speedometers. 

I'll be trading in my 900GT for the 9GT+. In Canada, we only have the GT+ model available and it is priced within $300 of the FJR! I used to have an FJR and don't want any bike that weighs more than 500 lbs. My dealer informed me that the bike has been received, but Yamaha's pannier supplier has had supply chain issues so the panniers will be shipped to the dealer when they become available. It's winter here, so not an issue. I won't be picking up the bike till spring. 

Edited December 23, 2023 by mingo

[jdub]

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.

 

[OldBikers]

Nice report.  I did the Eidelweiss Alps tour on a Yamaha Tracer 900 GT in 2019 and was very impressed then with both the tour and bike.  Ultimately in 2021 I bought the Tracer 9 GT after riding an FZ01 and was, still, very pleased with how versitle it is.

[jdub]

18 hours ago, OldBikers said:

Nice report.  I did the Eidelweiss Alps tour on a Yamaha Tracer 900 GT in 2019 and was very impressed then with both the tour and bike.  Ultimately in 2021 I bought the Tracer 9 GT after riding an FZ01 and was, still, very pleased with how versitle it is.

Thanks. In 2018, three friends and I did the Edelweiss Stelvio Pass self-guided tour (first Alps trip for all of us) and it was amazing. I rented a Multistrada 950 for that trip which was a good choice, but the Tracer beat it hands-down. Doing a guided tour this time took things to the next level.

For anyone who's ever considered riding in the Alps, do it. Experience of a lifetime. 

[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 

 

 

 

 

[jdub]

2 hours ago, Artieb said:

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 

 

 

 

 

Small world, as Michael was indeed one of our two excellent Edelweiss guides, and it was fun staying with him and his very brisk pace. He did indeed play his guitar and sing a couple of evenings. Sounds like a great plan you have going, and I'll bet the Pyrenees tour will be outstanding. 

Sorry all for the slight thread hijack...

Edited January 4 by jdub

[OldBikers]

I've been to the Pyrenees and it is an awesome experience, however, it was not the extreme tour.  I also have done the high Alps tour.  This year I am planning to do the best of Italy tour in May.

[fj09gb]

Sorry for the late reply...like mingo, I rented a '23 GT+ on an Edelweiss tour, the Saint James Way.  (On an earlier Edelweiss tour, I rode a Tracer 900GT and then traded in my FJ-09 for a new Tracer 900GT).

I had some trouble with the GT+ rental; it was stuck in Rain mode until eventually the Mode button started working (the Machine Settings stayed greyed out most of the time).  Connecting my phone to the TFT was fussy, but it eventually worked.  Everything else on the bike worked great.

Back in the States, I rode a demo unit at Barber's and that sealed the deal.

I kept watch on Cycle Trader and I could see Yamaha was shipping the bikes to dealers.  I struck a deal with my local dealer and got a decent trade-in on the 900GT.  COVID-era sales and negotiations are over.  Heck, there was even a T7 on the floor for sale!

I have only 600 miles on the bike so far.  TFT, phone, and helmet config was a breeze.  The Yamaha top box platform for the rack doesn't seem to be available anywhere.

[fj09gb]

On 1/4/2024 at 12:46 PM, OldBikers said:

I've been to the Pyrenees and it is an awesome experience, however, it was not the extreme tour.  I also have done the high Alps tour.  This year I am planning to do the best of Italy tour in May.

Hello from a 68 year old biker!  I agree, the Pyrenees are great (I did Edelweiss Pyrenees Extreme tour and we hit snow on one of the passes).  Italy is great!  Try to get to Sicily someday...lots of fun.  Do a selfie in front of the Corleone sign!  All the best!

[Ride365]

11 hours ago, fj09gb said:

Sorry for the late reply...like mingo, I rented a '23 GT+ on an Edelweiss tour, the Saint James Way.  (On an earlier Edelweiss tour, I rode a Tracer 900GT and then traded in my FJ-09 for a new Tracer 900GT).

I had some trouble with the GT+ rental; it was stuck in Rain mode until eventually the Mode button started working (the Machine Settings stayed greyed out most of the time).  Connecting my phone to the TFT was fussy, but it eventually worked.  Everything else on the bike worked great.

Back in the States, I rode a demo unit at Barber's and that sealed the deal.

I kept watch on Cycle Trader and I could see Yamaha was shipping the bikes to dealers.  I struck a deal with my local dealer and got a decent trade-in on the 900GT.  COVID-era sales and negotiations are over.  Heck, there was even a T7 on the floor for sale!

I have only 600 miles on the bike so far.  TFT, phone, and helmet config was a breeze.  The Yamaha top box platform for the rack doesn't seem to be available anywhere.

Got my OEM case/rack from Revzilla, took a few weeks is all.

Edited January 6 by Ride365

[fj09gb]

7 hours ago, Ride365 said:

Got my OEM case/rack from Revzilla, took a few weeks is all.

Your timing is good!  Last week, the 'Trunk Mount Plate' was only available in Europe.  I checked today and Partzilla has them in stock.  I ordered the plate, some oil filters, and three plugs.

Bonus:  they also had the Honda Trail 125 Center Carrier (rack) so I have one of those on the way, too.  🎉