First impressions - and a conclusion...

[Guest lawrenceofsuburbia]

Well, dear chums, today I took a decent test-ride of about 140km and a little less than two hours on a new Tracer, the weather being perfect at a balmy 28°C (83°F).
 
For the record, I’m about 80kg with all riding kit on, and 177cm (5’9” and-a-bit tall on a good day).
 
My ride covered varying types of terrain: well-surfaced Freeway; some outer suburban major roads; some lesser-used semi-rural minor streets; roundabouts (traffic circles); and some bumpy poorly-maintained stretches of road. I was very familiar with every inch of the route I took, so had valid comparisons to make.
 
I have been keenly following this Forum since the Tracer was launched, so I had certain expectations and a number of questions, of course. My riding preference is for longer distance-touring rather than flitting to the nearby shops for a six-pack, or riding to the next suburb for a coffee and catch-up with mates. So certain things are important to me, given my use of the bike.
 
I like the looks and style of the Tracer, and in particular its promise of a high-up sit-up-and-beg riding position, its ergonomics reminiscent of my BMW GSs of happy memory (but now, alas, getting a bit tall and heavy for my aged frame and limbs).
 
A local dealer allowed me to take the bike for a decent ride after I’d explained my intended use, saying that a quick round-the-block ride would be of no value to me.
 
So off I went after a demo of the various features and a splash or three of petrol into the tank. The bike was very new, with only 41km on the odometer, so I took things easy while it warmed-up.
 
First impression: easy to climb on and off, and to flat-foot at rest with the seat on its lowest position; very light on the road; very ‘flickable’; very smooth with no perceptible vibes through ‘bars or foot-pegs; good smooth gear-changes (the gear lever was not set quite right for me so I ‘fluffed’ a couple of into-neutral shifts, but that was me); a perceptible ‘clunk’ when shifting into first gear from neutral, very BMW-like, but not untoward.
 
The engine was very smooth and powerful, with considerable ‘urge’ – I am at one with those who have written here that it is easy to surprise oneself with the speed at which the bike is travelling!
 
Acceleration, even when in top gear at 80, 90, 100kph, was startling – I was in Std mode at all times apart from a very brief spell of a kilometre or two in B (softer) mode, just to see how it felt. Not markedly different, I found, with this brief trial in that mode but I could see it being used in wet conditions and in heavy stop-start traffic. I did not get into A (super-sporty) mode at all – that’s not my scene! Importantly, I found no trace at all of the ‘snatchiness’ of the throttle: I had experienced this on an early ride on an MT-09, but was reassured by claims it has been fixed on the new Tracer.   It seems to have been
 
So dynamically, all felt good, if not very good.
 
The front brake, although not called-on in anger, felt fine, the back brake like almost all others I have had, being weak and inefficient and needing considerable downward force to effect any reaction, it seemed. Maybe some adjustment might improve things; I’d hope so as I tend to use rear brake quite a lot when cornering, roundabouting, and so on.
 
The sci-fi-like screen was, I found, far more efficient than its size and shape might suggest. It was set on the higher position, perfect for my height, directing air-flow onto the upper part of my helmet visor. I stopped briefly to put it into the lowest position, just for a trial, but couldn’t shift the locking nuts! No matter – the higher setting would suit me fine.
 
Passing and being passed by speeding, heavy trucks had no discernible effect on the bike’s stability at speed – it was rock-solid all the way.
 
I’m disappointed that the clutch-lever is not span-adjustable, while the front brake lever is. Easily fixed: I thought the clutch was going to be very heavy, but in practice it was OK, although I’d think about installing longer (and adjustable) levers as an aftermarket enhancement.
 
The throttle had a bit more free play in it than I’d like, but again probably only a matter of a minor and quick adjustment.
 
Tyres fitted were Dunlop Sportmax.
 
When the bike was started by the dealer so he could run through the various displays, I found the engine (I assume) to have quite a penetrating whining sound – cam-chain??? I was a bit worried about this, but riding off with my custom earplugs firmly screwed-in I found the noise to be greatly reduced, and at 100kph or thereabouts it was hardly noticeable unless I deliberately concentrated on the sound. Once used to it, I doubt it would bother me on a long day in the saddle.
 
However, one extraneous noise did interest me: it was more a soothing [em]‘thruuuum’[/em] than a whine or high-pitched screech and seemed totally independent of engine speed. Several times I throttled right off so that engine revs were at an idle/ tickover 1500 – 2000rpm, with no engine noise at all, but this [em]‘hum’[/em] persisted. Not in the least annoying, if anything rather soothing (not that I ride often with the engine idling!) – I wondered if it could be tyre noise.
 
At an indicated 100kph, the engine revs were at 4000rpm – more than I’m used to on a boxer twin, which runs at 3500rpm at that speed, but no cause for concern. The fuel-usage read-out seemed extremely optimistic I have to say, indicating <4L/100 km while cruising at 100kph!
 
I didn’t play too much with the various displays and menus, but it all seemed quite logical and legible (except that I’d like the larger ‘N’ indicator to be colour-highlighted – the second green but tiny ‘N’ symbol at the bottom of the display is hardly visible).
 
The engine seemed to pump out quite a bit of unwanted heat, directed straight at my left lower calf area, and it became a little uncomfortable after a while (temperature on the road was around 28°C/ 83°F). My late BMW F800 GT twin had the same issue, and I became used to having medium-rare calf – but I’d need to do something about it on the Tracer, as it’s not good, especially in this semi-topic clime in which I live, and is quite readily felt despite mid-calf length riding boots.
 
At a bit under AUD$16,000 ride-away, including twelve months on-road costs and useful good-capacity hard panniers, the Tracer seems to be bargain-basement, though nothing I could see about or on the Tracer seemed cut-price.
 
So – after half-an-hour on the bike I was pleased and impressed, and ready to do a deal.
 
BUT – taking only a couple of minutes at most off the bike to try to adjust the screen, halfway through the ride, I turned for home. It was not long thereafter that I became aware that I was very uncomfortable, thanks to the hard seat. And sadly, by the time I got back to the dealership I was in quite some discomfort – at less than 150km and less than two hours on the bike. Had I been on one of my long trips that would have been close to enough!
 
Very, [em]very[/em] disappointing – but a matter of such importance to me that it cannot be overlooked, no matter how satisfied I was with almost all other aspects of the Tracer.
 
I’m hoping the dealer may get in a comfort seat for me to have another extended ride on, for if it works I’ll probably buy the bike. But if it doesn’t – sadly, no way, Geronimo!
 
Lawrence of Suburbia [em](’39 model)
Brisbane
Queensland
Australia
[/em]
 

[Tracerforme]

Hi Lawrence,
finally you got that test ride done!
That's a very comprehensive review of the bike. I have to second pretty much word for word what you have described about the bike. Again, I took a quick half hour test ride before the family holiday to Japan. So, I never got to write up my review. Now, I seriously don't need to.
I too also found the throttle to be a little too much in the dead zone. I like the throttle to be tight. I don't understand why it can't be if there are no cables to get bound up!
except, I found the seat to be ok. Granted, half hour isn't much. But, I have my trusty old Air Hawk.
That will be used for longer trips like weekend getaways.
I think you're waiting on the BM S1000XR. But, mate it's going to cost a truck load. I know you know. I know you've had BMs before. The comfort seat won't make a huge difference, but an Air Hawk might. It's not going to cost you another 7K gorillas!
Its a great motorcycle for what it is. Now, it's my turn to turn Japanese!
Well done. Good for you to do it! Now, lock it away!
Cheers bud.
Steve

[deersSlayer]

Good honest review. Are there any custom seat manufacturers in Australia? The last 4 bikes I bought new all got aftermarket seats. Corbin for 1996 ZX-6E, and Sargents for 2000 SV650S, 2009 675 Street Triple R, 2009 WR250R.
 
I've only ridden my FJ-09 100 km, but I'm pretty sure I'm having a custom seat made next winter. I prefer contoured firm seats. I just bought a 2015 KTM 690 Enduro R, I'll definitely replace its '2 x 4' seat!
 
I'm not trying to sell you an FJ-09, but I would not rule out any bike based only on seat comfort.

[Guest lawrenceofsuburbia]

In the past I have had other bikes with hopeless (for me) seats - notably a Triumph Tiger 1050SE and a Yamaha Diversion 900 - great shaftie but with a seat that truly felt like I was sitting on a brick. Spent a small fortune on having these seats re-modelled by so-called specialists: never worked! Tried an AirHawk on the Triumph - didn't work, even after I discovered that the secret to the AirHawk is to inflate it only slightly.
 
BTW, the best-by-far seats I've ever had were the 'komfortsitz' (self-explanatory) versions on my last cuppla boxers - GSs and Rs.   I recently did a 956km day on my R, and while I cannot claim I'd have been happy to have turned around at day's end and retraced my tyre tracks for another 956km, it would have been feasible!
 
So, while I appreciate the comments, unless I can try the specific Yamaha comfort seat I won't be pursuing other alternatives. There [strong]are[/strong] a few specialist after-market seat-makers here in Oz, and some are highly regarded by various folks who have used them, but I simply cannot afford to throw good money after bad and keep pursuing that Holy Grail!
 
L of S

[rexe]

That is pretty much everything I said in the other thread. I was about the same time in the seat, but I do have a bit more padding then what you have said. The seat on the bike I rode was in the high position(facing forward) I'm sure if it were lowered in the back it would be a lot different for me. The bike is defiantly a license looser if proper attention is not paid to the right hand movements. I meant to ask you L of S. When you put the bike in neutral, did it say so on the right hand gears indicator of the screen. I did see the little green display, but didn't notice what the gear indicator was reading. I fitted into the bike like a glove. Did you find the more you rode it the more you started trusting the front end feel ?
I liked your right up, after riding the bike myself yesterday, I could relate to everything you said.
 

[Guest lawrenceofsuburbia]

I meant to ask you L of S. When you put the bike in neutral, did it say so on the right hand gears indicator of the screen. I did see the little green display, but didn't notice what the gear indicator was reading. I fitted into the bike like a glove. Did you find the more you rode it the more you started trusting the front end feel ? I liked your right up, after riding the bike myself yesterday, I could relate to everything you said.

 
Hi rexe: sorry, I cannot now recall what the gear indicator read when in neutral and the 'N' showing up top, and the green micro-dot one below.
 
Front-end feel was fine; I swung with great confidence into tight-ish bends and roundabouts, tho' I must be honest and say that not at great speed, it not being my bike. I reckon that with 'better' hoops, say PR4s, it would be outstanding.
 
I didn't say in my report because I forgot that I did find the ride a little harsh at times. I have never believed that I have a sensitive backside, able to detect if tyre pressures are down by half a psi, f'rinstance, so I may be off-target here - but I did think when rattling over some rough damaged road surface at 60kph or so that the suspension did feel a trifle firm.   I'm sure it could be largely dialled-out with practice.   Bear in mind I'm used to the plushness of a fairly heavy BMW Roadster with its incomparable Telever front-end and ESA (as you ride Electronic Suspension Adjustment), which, BTW, I always had set to 'comfort'. Spoiled?... moi?

 
Coast dealership that I mentioned earlier (but not the one I dealt with today) is Team Moto Yamaha at 31 Lawrence Drive, Nerang. Ask for Ben - a young very pleasant and seemingly pretty straight-up no bullsh*t guy - I found him very helpful. He's following-up for me the comfort seat for, I hope, a trial and another extended ride... 0414 760 079 - please mention my referral if you talk to him.
 
Cheers and best - are you buying/ considering/ whatever?
 
L of S
 

[jimf]

In the past I have had other bikes with hopeless (for me) seats - notably a Triumph Tiger 1050SE and a Yamaha Diversion 900 - great shaftie but with a seat that truly felt like I was sitting on a brick. Spent a small fortune on having these seats re-modelled by so-called specialists: never worked!

Maybe it's not the seat :-). 
More seriously, I'm skeptical of the "comfort seats".  Coming from bicycles one thing I noticed is that a long day in the saddle is made better when the seat is basically hard as a rock.  If you're only sitting on it for a few minutes that seems to really suck, but using a soft comfortable seat that feels great right away turns awful as the miles pack on.
 
Most of the motorcycle seats I've owned were terrible in this way, using very soft foam.  On my SV650S I replaced the cushy stock seat with a leather-covered Corbin which was very firm.  The leather breathed a bit, unlike the stock plastic cover.  It had a more rounded profile, no edges that would become hot spots in a couple of hours.  I could ride that thing all week.
 
The Daytona 675's stock seat was firm like this, and while it didn't have the breathability of the leather it was supportive and the shape was good.  They offered a gel seat that some said was better, but I had no problem riding that seat for hours and hours.  (Of course the riding position was a rack and that wasn't any fun, but my butt was good to go. :-)
 
I can't speak to the FJ's seat yet, other than that it has felt good and firm and I liked the shape in short sit-ons, but for sure I wouldn't buy any replacement that was made with softer foam.

[rexe]

Unfortunately my wife doesn't share my passion for motorbikes. So at this stage I won't be buying one just yet.

[Guest lawrenceofsuburbia]

 
 
 
 
 

Maybe it's not the seat :-).   QUITE POSSIBLY NOT - MAYBE SURGERY ON THE RIDER IS INDICATED! 
More seriously, I'm skeptical of the "comfort seats".  
 
I can't speak to the FJ's seat yet, other than that it has felt good and firm and I liked the shape in short sit-ons, but for sure I wouldn't buy any replacement that was made with softer foam.I'M NOT CLAIMING, BECAUSE I'M NOT AT ALL KNOWLEDGEABLE IN THIS AREA, THAT ANY SO-CALLED 'COMFORT' SEAT IS SOFTER.   I'LL LEAVE THAT TO THE EXPERTS - ALL I'D WANT IS A COMFY, DAY-LONG SEAT!  L of S

[jimf]

 
QUITE POSSIBLY NOT - MAYBE SURGERY ON THE RIDER IS INDICATED!
[...]
I'M NOT CLAIMING, BECAUSE I'M NOT AT ALL KNOWLEDGEABLE IN THIS AREA, THAT ANY SO-CALLED 'COMFORT' SEAT IS SOFTER.   I'LL LEAVE THAT TO THE EXPERTS - ALL I'D WANT IS A COMFY, DAY-LONG SEAT!

 
I don't know if it is softer or not either, and like you I'd prefer not to drop hundreds of dollars without ever being able to sit on it.
 
A lot of the comfort seats are little more than the stock seat but with gel inserts. Used judiciously gels can be great in some conditions, but I find they get hot as hell if left out in the sun and hard as rocks if left out in the cold. I'd rather just have firm foam shaped well.
 
Given the price of the Yamaha seat I'd be much more inclined to go with a custom seat from a vendor known to use a firm foam, like Corbin or Sargent here in the US, with a leather cover if at all possible.
 
Thanks for the review, by the way.
 

[suncoaster]

Thanks for the review Lawrence.
 
How about a sheepskin seat cover ?
I've found they can delay a numb bum by about half an hour.
 

[rexe]

I just read the 2nd long term test on another thread and found the answer to my previous question to L and S. Yes there is a big N on the gear indicator on the right side of the displays when the bike is in neutral (big picture of the dash). So I guess we can stop talking about the little green light at the bottom left.

[wessie]

Thanks for the review Lawrence. 
How about a sheepskin seat cover ?
I've found they can delay a numb bum by about half an hour.

these work well for some people but they will add a few more cm to the seat height

[wessie]

The perfect motorcycle seat is a something I have yet to find.
 
The Tracer seat is okay but I do find after 100 miles or so I want to get off and have a walk around for a few minutes. I start fidgeting after 60-70 miles and begin to drop my feet off the pegs or stand up for a stretch. I've done this on most bikes.
 
On my R1150GS I got hold of a Sargent seat from a guy who had bought a R1200GS. A completely opportunist thing as we were both getting tyres fitted at the same place. That improved things no end and is a high quality product but I would be loathe to pay the full retail price. As it happened, I paid £150 cash and then sold it 4 years later for £170 via the UKGSer forum! I like that sort of economics.
 
For the Super Tenere I acquired a set of seat modified by Tony Archer, an independent upholsterer based in the UK. I had no idea what work had been done to them apart from "a gel pad". Again this improved the seats. Bought used from the UKGSer forum and sold there as well after 2 years use. Cost me a bout £30 in depreciation.
 
So, as you pointed out LoS, you cheeky monkey, at 92kg I probably have a bit more padding than you at 80kg. I will probably continue to use the OE seat until some opportunity comes to buy a modified seat from someone else. With the way these bikes sell, there is likely to be someone looking for that elusive perfect seat I can do a deal with. Alternatively, for about £150 I could get Tony Archer or another chap called Digger to modify the stock seat. This would have to wait until next winter as it would mean being without the seat for a few weeks.

[johan]

Sargent has an Mt-09 seat, not the Tracer yet. It is an eye watering £319 for the MT-09 seat. But I always see such good reviews of Sargent seats that I am contemplating...