2021 Yamaha Tracer 9 GT—Is It Enough?

It’s out with the old and in with the new at Yamaha in 2021, at least in the sport-touring category, with the Tracer 9 GT taking the place of the Tracer 900 GT. The news got me to thinking about the 900 GT and made me wonder if Yamaha has enough of a bike on its hands to warrant the $14,899 price tag.

To start, the 9 GT will have more pep than the 900, with the updated 890 crossplane triple. That’s well short of the liter-size engine proposed as a suitable mill for competitive advantage in the segment, however. It’s somewhere between mid- and full-size and though it’s a blast of an engine, it’s still short, in terms of output, of a Ninja 1000 ABS with saddlebags.

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On the other hand, the 9 GT is 28 pounds lighter than the Ninja 1000 and built with a rider triangle much more appealing to those with plans for long hours in the saddle. Perhaps a little less oomph won’t be a deal breaker.

Yamaha also put a lot of work into refining power delivery and creating a more comfortable and nimble chassis. Hopes will be high for the electronically controlled KYB suspension on the 9 GT, which would go a long way to improving the overall feel of the bike when compared to the old 900.

Plus, there are huge steps forward with the electronics, such as the new six-axis IMU, ride-by-wire, lean-angle-sensitive traction control, slide control wheelie control, improved ABS, and cornering LED lights. Some of these, especially the cornering lights, aren’t yet standard even on liter-size bikes from other manufacturers.

For context, here are some bikes you could get that are less than the Tracer 9 GT. A base Africa Twin starts at $14,399. The Ninja 1000SX (without bags) starts at $12,599. A V-Strom 1050 starts at $13,299. A BMW F 900 XR starts at $11,695 and an F 850 GS Adventure starts at $14,545. It’s true these bikes don’t all serve the same purpose, but this is the ballpark that the Tracer 9 GT will be playing in.

And in fairness to the 9 GT, I think it’s going to do OK. The bike in that list that may be closest in output and spirit is a bag-equipped F 900 XR. Dynamic ESA is an upgrade on the BMW, bags are an upgrade, cornering lights are an upgrade, etc. You’ll have a few thousand to spare between the base-model F 900 XR and the 9 GT, which can help get those extras covered. The F 900 XR also has a commendable suspension package and decent brakes. Two areas we’re keen to assess on the new 9 GT.

In spite of all that, I’m excited about the new Tracer. I just wonder if it will prove its value to consumers who fork over the cash.