2019 base model

[Roxysdad]

Hello to the forum.  Excited to begin a new chapter in my motorcycle life.  Previous history are a few M900 Ducati monsters, an ST2, an FZ1, and a few VFR’s and CBRs before that.  I researched a ton for this latest purchase, and settled on the 2019 base model Tracer 900.  I think its the most bang for the buck sport touring motorcycle out there, except for perhaps a used FJ-09.  It’s a fantastic machine.  Was able to pick it up in Southern California for $7500 plus taxes, so all in all a great deal.  My goals are to keep it sport touring oriented, and do some fun trips around Northern California and the Pacific Northwest in the coming years.  

[Stew]

Wecome to the forum.
Enjoy your new bike, I'm sure you will

 

[KillEmAll4u]

Let the modding begin!

[Lone Wolf]

9 hours ago, Roxysdad said:

Was able to pick it up in Southern California for $7500 plus taxes, so all in all a great deal.  

Congratulations. Was that from "wheels in motion" in Chatsworth?
I have seen their prices on Cycle Trader and wondered if they tack on destination fees or something. Is that brand new?

[betoney]

@Roxysdad - Congratulations on the new bike, the base Tracer is a great bike and considering the reduced price over the GT,  you can modify it the way you please.  And to be honest, the TFT screen on the GT is pretty to look at but I prefer the larger (easier to read) utilitarian screen of the FJ/Tenere and Tracer. 

Enjoy the new bike! 👍

[Roxysdad]

4 hours ago, Lone Wolf said:

Congratulations. Was that from "wheels in motion" in Chatsworth?
I have seen their prices on Cycle Trader and wondered if they tack on destination fees or something. Is that brand new?

Yes, it was from them, and yes brand new zero miles with a full tank of gas. I live in NorCal and their destination fee was going to be around $350, so I just decided to take my truck down and pick it up.  Very easy to deal with.  They say “no fees” even though there was a freight fee of $400, but no additional markup or assembly fees.  It was easily 1K less than similar bikes up here, if not 1500 less.  I think I paid 8900 out the door.  All in all I was very happy and the sales guy Hugo, as he was very kind, straight forward, and helped me load the bike in my truck.  All in all a very fair deal if you ask me.  

[Roxysdad]

3 hours ago, betoney said:

@Roxysdad - Congratulations on the new bike, the base Tracer is a great bike and considering the reduced price over the GT,  you can modify it the way you please.  And to be honest, the TFT screen on the GT is pretty to look at but I prefer the larger (easier to read) utilitarian screen of the FJ/Tenere and Tracer. 

Enjoy the new bike! 👍

Thats what I thought as well.  I really leaned toward the GT, I just couldn’t justify the increased prices on the GT since this was such a good deal.  All the shops around here weren’t going down much on the GTs, so the price delta was too wide for my budget.  I feel I got a great bike for a great price, so thats what counts in my mind anyway.  I do like the screen on the base model, find it a little easier to read when I’m riding.  This bike is maybe 8/10ths of the GT, and I love the color.  So I’m a happy new owner.  

Edited September 17, 2020 by Roxysdad

[roadrash83]

Welcome to the forum @Roxysdad and congratulations on the new Tracer. You should have bought a 2020 900GT the color would have matched that sweet truck in you garage😉Enjoy!

[Alistair]

I also had to travel to get a good deal on the same bike here in the UK. 

Enjoy the bike, its one of the best i have owned.

[HGP61]

12 hours ago, Roxysdad said:

This bike is maybe 8/10ths of the GT

I went down the same route as you and went for a base model bike instead of the GT. only bit I disagree with is My Tracer is 9.9/10ths of the GT. I would never critisise anyone for their choice of bike. (even if they go for a cruiser) Owning a bike can sometimes be as much I want it rather than I need it, and if you want the bells and whistles you go for it. The only extra feature of the GT I lust after is probably the cruise control but for 95% of the time I am on the bike I woudn't be using it so I can live with the £5.00 throttle lock instead.

[Roxysdad]

33 minutes ago, HGP61 said:

I went down the same route as you and went for a base model bike instead of the GT. only bit I disagree with is My Tracer is 9.9/10ths of the GT. I would never critisise anyone for their choice of bike. (even if they go for a cruiser) Owning a bike can sometimes be as much I want it rather than I need it, and if you want the bells and whistles you go for it. The only extra feature of the GT I lust after is probably the cruise control but for 95% of the time I am on the bike I woudn't be using it so I can live with the £5.00 throttle lock instead.

Excellent point.  I too don’t like to criticize choices - there are 31 flavors for a reason (to borrow from baskin robbins ice cream, 31 flavors, reference).  The more I look at and fiddle with the bike the more I see what a great piece of kit it is.  I too lusted for the cruise control, but it just wasn’t worth the extra dough.  I used a wrist rest, cramp buster I think it was called,  for many years with the older bikes, so that will be my method of choice going forward.  

I can’t believe how much tech Yamaha packs into this bike anyway.  It’s got plenty to keep me out of trouble, and fiddle with over the years to come.  It’s very much like a junior Multistrada, great tech, great looks, great motor, etc. and for such a great price as well.  Good times.   

[Dm23]

On 9/17/2020 at 12:20 PM, Roxysdad said:

Yes, it was from them, and yes brand new zero miles with a full tank of gas. I live in NorCal and their destination fee was going to be around $350, so I just decided to take my truck down and pick it up.  Very easy to deal with.  They say “no fees” even though there was a freight fee of $400, but no additional markup or assembly fees.  It was easily 1K less than similar bikes up here, if not 1500 less.  I think I paid 8900 out the door.  All in all I was very happy and the sales guy Hugo, as he was very kind, straight forward, and helped me load the bike in my truck.  All in all a very fair deal if you ask me.  

I got my base model from wheels in motion in Chatsworth about a month ago! Amazing price. I bought the side bags and rolled them into loan, installed an mc crusie cruise control which works great!! I've seen quick shifters on Amazon for about $150 but haven't pulled the trigger yet. I'm incredibly happy with this purchase. Previous bike was a multistrada 950 and tiger 800 before that. Got a trip with some buddies to Utah and back in a few weeks and I can't wait!

Ps. I also drove from nor cal to chatsworth to pick up. What part of nor cal you in?

[Roxysdad]

56 minutes ago, Dm23 said:

I got my base model from wheels in motion in Chatsworth about a month ago! Amazing price. I bought the side bags and rolled them into loan, installed an mc crusie cruise control which works great!! I've seen quick shifters on Amazon for about $150 but haven't pulled the trigger yet. I'm incredibly happy with this purchase. Previous bike was a multistrada 950 and tiger 800 before that. Got a trip with some buddies to Utah and back in a few weeks and I can't wait!

Ps. I also drove from nor cal to chatsworth to pick up. What part of nor cal you in?

Too funny.  Good idea on the bags!  I didn’t consider that.  I will likely get the quick shifter in due time, and am considering the single rear top case for luggage.  I’m in the Placerville area, off Hwy 50.  

Why did you ditch the Multistrada 950?  That bike seemed like a great one to buy, but way beyond my budget.  Many times I consider this Tracer a Multistrada Lite.  Perfect for my needs.  Now I have to figure out the seating position and I’m good to go.  This stock saddle is uncomfortable!  

[Dm23]

Ah. Ridden through their plenty of times! I'm in Sonoma county. 

Multi was a tank. Wanted something lighter and sportier. I found it! I also love triples. The tiger 800 is a triple of course. Multi sounded badass and had power but I like triple is just so much smoother and pulls basically no matter where you are in the rpm range. I'm shocked how much less shifting is needed on some of my favorite twisties on the tracer vs the multi.

One of my favorite things about the tracer is the ability to have side bags without the hideous mounts. And with the deal I got on the bike I went for it! I had a givi top box on the multi so I got the rack and have that as well for really long trips. 

Stock seat is def not great. I found a bagster on this forum actually and it's MUCH more comfortable but still tilts you toward the gas tank which my low back doesn't love. Got a gel pad I had from years ago and threw it on this wknd when I rode down to santa cruz (about 2 - 2.5 hrs) got rid of the tilt and my back was happy. 

[Roxysdad]

I agree on the lighter and sportier. I didn’t know the 950 was such a tank, good to know!  I’ll have to look out for a seat.  I went for another ride today and it was marginally better, but I need something for these longer trips I have planned.  It’s that darn tilt toward the tank!  

Such a great engine.  I agree on the rpm range and pulling ability.  It’s smooth, almost electric.  Reminds me of an old CBR1100 I rode - that torque on that bike was immense, and it just pulled and pulled.  This is somewhat like that, and I find myself shifting a lot less than I thought I would.