2021 Yamaha Tracer 9 GT First Look Preview

On the heels of updates and a new model in its MT-09 range, Yamaha this week announced the all-new 2021 Tracer 9 GT. The Tracer 9 GT replaces the 2020 Tracer 900 GT, but it’s more than just a name change. Like the MT-09, the sport-touring Tracer is getting a reworked 890cc crossplane triple, a new die-cast Deltabox frame and a full-boxed aluminum swingarm.

But it’s the electronic trickery that will really set the Tracer 9 GT apart when it bows in March. First, it will get a version of the R1′s six-axis IMU, which will send a constant stream of data including forward, backward, up and down acceleration, as well as pitch, roll, and yaw angles. All those numbers will be used to control the bike’s traction control, brake control, slide control, and wheelie control systems.

The IMU data will also be responsible for controlling the bike’s KADS suspension. The KADS system is a semi-active suspension that uses IMU data to adjust to riding conditions, the bike’s load, how fast you’re going, and how bumpy the surface is. As you ride, the ECU figures out the best damping setting and automatically adjusts. The system has two modes: the sportier A1 setting, and the more relaxed, plush A2.

The 890cc triple has been punched out by 3 millimeters per cylinder, adding 47cc to the outgoing bike’s mill, which Yamaha says adds a sackful of low-end torque. The engine is the same layout and displacement as the mill in the 2021 Yamaha MT-09, and should give the upright Tracer a decidedly sporty edge.

The engine is routed through a six-speed box that is equipped with an up-and-down quickshifter that cuts power briefly when it senses movement in the shift rod. The result is lightning-fast up-and-down gear changes without needing the clutch.

As if those weren’t enough, Yamaha threw yet more bells and whistles at the Tracer 9 GT for 2021. The bike comes with heated grips, hard-sided luggage, LED cornering lights, Yamaha D-Mode engine map control and ride by wire. The dash is made up of two 3.5-inch TFT screens alongside each other.

The bike will be sold in a Tracer 9 GT exclusive Liquid Metal livery that takes its cues from the R1 and Yamaha’s Redline colorway. Expect it to hit dealers in March at $14,899.