Hexhead Vs Tracer 900

[Jimeroo]

I sold the TB and bought a Tracer, for the reasoning of wanting something lighter and therefore easier to shift around. And its done the job. But I would not pretend for a second its in the same league as a GS.
But for the money, (£7900 as opposed to £16500 to replace the TB) My time of life etc. Its proved the right move for me.
There is a speed wobble! but you need to be in the three digit area to experience it, weather stiffening the suspension would cure that? It doesn't bother me to be honest.

 

[Bendy toy]

Why oh why do manufacturers ruin otherwise good bikes by fitting crap suspension?

We are told its 'cos they are 'budget bikes' but do different rate springs and different valving really cost more at manufacture?
Moan over.

I did 40,000 on a Yamaha Diversion 900 I quickly fitted Yamaha's own blue spot brakes (straight swap). 1000% better. I had plans to fit one at the back though that needed engineering.

The suspension was crap too much fork dive, harsh at the back and rapid wear suspension bearings. I put up with it for lack of money. I suspect had Wilbers been fitted, the bike would still be in my hands.
The big issue is that cheap forks often can't be upgraded.


Sent somehow.

 

[Phil-H]

Cheap forks (I'm presuming you mean damper rod rather than poorly setup cartridge forks) are easily & relatively cheaply upgraded with the likes of Gold Valve Emulators or Intiminators.

 

[Bendy toy]

Cheap forks (I'm presuming you mean damper rod rather than poorly setup cartridge forks) are easily & relatively cheaply upgraded with the likes of Gold Valve Emulators or Intiminators.

I meant the Diversion had cheap forks - oil filled with basic rebound damping only.

Bikes with cartridge forks from new are easy to upgrade. Who knows if older forks could be adapted for cartridge dampers.


Sent somehow.

 

[wessie]

Why oh why do manufacturers ruin otherwise good bikes by fitting crap suspension?

We are told its 'cos they are 'budget bikes' but do different rate springs and different valving really cost more at manufacture?
Moan over.

there are active suspension components only in the one leg to keep the costs down. Plenty of upgrades about to add cartridges to both sides to provide proper damping.

The suspension is adequate. The people that moan are those transferring from much more expensive bikes and therefore have unrealistic expectations. Those that trade up from bikes like an ER6 or CB500 are usually very satisfied.

A friend went through the process of adding Adreani fornt and Ohlins rear upgrades but did not get the results he was looking for. He bought a KTM SDR.

My point is that if you want a bike that has top handling then buy a used bike for the same money or keep saving for couple more years to buy a bike that is engineered to perform the way you want it. This is part of the reason why I have a Tracer and R1200RS with fancy electronic suspension.

 

[Bendy toy]

I always raise this point. But yet again we have bikes with below par suspension because adequate teleforks are affordable but really good ones cost a fortune and soon go off with use.
Norman Hossack solved the problem with his parallel linkage forks. BMW found a way to make them expensive (Duolever) but that's their way.
Sadly unless we can build our own frame & forks it's just not available. So I'll go off and ponder what might have been.


Sent somehow.

 

[Flipfly]

I test rode a Tracer and it was pretty fantastic and good value for money. At normal riding speeds it was fine, not as plush as my 1150 but far more direct and sooooooo easy to sling around. Suffers from the usual over enthusiastic throttle in sport mode, but felt bang on in normal mode.
The suspension is budget, but it only really shows when pressing on. Never had any wobble at any speed so not sure why that happens.

I'm still tempted, wifey has a 700 tracer and it's a lovely bike.

The tracer engines (700 and 900) are just brilliant and have real character.

 

[jetjock]

I test rode a Tracer and it was pretty fantastic and good value for money. At normal riding speeds it was fine, not as plush as my 1150 but far more direct and sooooooo easy to sling around. Suffers from the usual over enthusiastic throttle in sport mode, but felt bang on in normal mode.
The suspension is budget, but it only really shows when pressing on. Never had any wobble at any speed so not sure why that happens.

I'm still tempted, wifey has a 700 tracer and it's a lovely bike.

The tracer engines (700 and 900) are just brilliant and have real character.

 

[comberjohn]

Firstly, I would say I have thought of making the change to one of these Yamahas myself.
But is the main reason to change down to price?
If a GS and the Tracer were the same price, allowing for better suspension on the Yam, which one would we chose?
I know there's a couple of people who've bought them as a commuter and that's a valid argument. But if you had a choice between a new Tracer and a new TC for the same cost and it was your only bike, which one would you buy?
My point is that, like most people, we buy with our heart rather than our head and there's more to the decision than numbers.

 

[brut33]

Firstly, I would say I have thought of making the change to one of these Yamahas myself.
But is the main reason to change down to price?
If a GS and the Tracer were the same price, allowing for better suspension on the Yam, which one would we chose?
I know there's a couple of people who've bought them as a commuter and that's a valid argument. But if you had a choice between a new Tracer and a new TC for the same cost and it was your only bike, which one would you buy?
My point is that, like most people, we buy with our heart rather than our head and there's more to the decision than numbers.

This is a good point. It also gives food for thought, if all bikes were the same price which would be the best seller?

 

[Rushy]

My point is that, like most people, we buy with our heart rather than our head and there's more to the decision than numbers.

Only if you have unlimited funds, relatively speaking. I'd love to have a go at new LC ownership but I can't justify the outlay nor the potential costs after the warranty expires. Renting just doesn't appeal and is an even more expensive option.

Something like a Tracer 900 seems very appealing I must get a go on one. An Africa twin is another option as is an R9T as they are both simpler , less complicated bikes and cheaper too than an LC. The newesr 2015 VFR800 Crossrunner is also a good but an often overlooked bike. It's much improved over the original and won a couple of group tests in magazines. The V four is lovely and sounds amazing with the Akra on.

 

[Bendy toy]

Firstly, I would say I have thought of making the change to one of these Yamahas myself.
But is the main reason to change down to price?
If a GS and the Tracer were the same price, allowing for better suspension on the Yam, which one would we chose?
I know there's a couple of people who've bought them as a commuter and that's a valid argument. But if you had a choice between a new Tracer and a new TC for the same cost and it was your only bike, which one would you buy?
My point is that, like most people, we buy with our heart rather than our head and there's more to the decision than numbers.

A used Twin cam GS will be needing a new rear shock soon enough and the final drive is a consumable item so on costs alone the Tracer comes out best.
As already said the numbers give us the excuse to buy a new (to us) bike, but our head decides which bike we end up with.


Sent somehow.

 

[Rushy]

This is a good point. It also gives food for thought, if all bikes were the same price which would be the best seller?

A very good question indeed but that very much depends on what that price is . If the price was just £5k then I'd have at least 2 new bikes in the garage and might just stretch it to 3 as they are not going to depreciate much are they . If the price was £10k then I'd only have one bike and many would not be able to buy one at all.
If a Ducati 950 Multistrada was the same price as a VStrom 650 I reckon more poeple would buy the Multi. Similarly I'd buy a Pikes Peak in a heartbeat over a Tracer

I've never owned a Ducati but I think my garage would be a Diavel Strada , a Multi Pikes Peak and K1600GT if they were £5k each pAlthough somebody said you can still order an MGS01 which would be awesome to have.

 

[jags]

A very good question indeed but that very much depends on what that price is . If the price was just £5k then I'd have at least 2 new bikes in the garage and might just stretch it to 3 as they are not going to depreciate much are they . If the price was £10k then I'd only have one bike and many would not be able to buy one at all.
If a Ducati 950 Multistrada was the same price as a VStrom 650 I reckon more poeple would buy the Multi. Similarly I'd buy a Pikes Peak in a heartbeat over a Tracer

I've never owned a Ducati but I think my garage would be a Diavel Strada , a Multi Pikes Peak and K1600GT if they were £5k each pAlthough somebody said you can still order an MGS01 which would be awesome to have.

if they were 5k each your pound wouldn't go far with living costs so you wouldn't be able to afford more than one. there is always something buggers up our plans.

 

[Bendy toy]

For something big & blingy I'd have a Honda F6C the custom version of a Goldwing.


Sent somehow.

 

[Rushy]

For something big & blingy I'd have a Honda F6C the custom version of a Goldwing.


Sent somehow.

Already had one of those

 

[wessie]

Firstly, I would say I have thought of making the change to one of these Yamahas myself.
But is the main reason to change down to price?
If a GS and the Tracer were the same price, allowing for better suspension on the Yam, which one would we chose?
I know there's a couple of people who've bought them as a commuter and that's a valid argument. But if you had a choice between a new Tracer and a new TC for the same cost and it was your only bike, which one would you buy?
My point is that, like most people, we buy with our heart rather than our head and there's more to the decision than numbers.

It was the reduced weight that got me interested in the MT09.

I had a Super Tenere and put it in for a service. I had not ridden it much in the previous few months due to ill health. I was loaned an MT07 and found this to be a great bike. I was allowed to keep it for the weekend and put a lot of miles on it as it was so easy to ride and easy to wheel about at home to get in the garage. It got me thinking that I had to have a bike closer to 200kg than 300kg. A few weeks later, Yamaha announced they were making a Tracer version of the MT09 so I waited until Feb 2015 for the demo bike to arrive. I was first to ride it and placed an order, riding the first Tracer they sold out of the door in the first week of March 2015.

I firmly believe that if I had not ridden that MT07 then I might still have the Super Tenere which would not be ridden very often as I had begun to think it was too much effort just to get the bike out of the garage, let alone ride the huge thing. Nearly 2 years later, I have put 16500 miles on the Tracer and bought a 2nd bike as I am as keen as ever to ride.

So, for me, cost was not the overriding factor in the Tracer purchase. The one benefit of the lowish price was that I was able to buy the Tracer outright at that price as there was not much to pay in addition to the Super Tenere trade in price. 18 months on this has enabled me to get a 2nd bike, admittedly on finance, but the repayments are easy to make as I had saved a heft deposit.

Incidentally, if the Tracer was priced the same as the R1200RS it would be 50% dearer - it would need to come with posh suspension, a full luggage set, heated grips, electric screen, cruise control, quickshift, slipper clutch, shaft drive. Oh, that's the FJR.

 

[Greenman14]

Seems to me the best option is to buy a year old Tracer and spend some cash on suspension and a custom upholstered seat. My plan for next year.

 

[Bendy toy]

After my experience with BMW shaft drives I'd rather put up with a chain.

 

[Bendy toy]

Incidentally, if the Tracer was priced the same as the R1200RS it would be 50% dearer - it would need to come with posh suspension, a full luggage set, heated grips, electric screen, cruise control, quickshift, slipper clutch, shaft drive. Oh, that's the FJR.

The BMW suspension isn't exactly posh though some versions do have have push button controls.
BMW charge silly money for heated grips when a pair of Oxfords are around £50 and give more heat.
With the Givi AF 330 I don't need electric adjustment but I would now want one on whatever bike I buy. Chances are the Tracer isn't on the list.
Quick shift and slipper clutch only needed for folks who never learned how to use a bike gearbox. But to be fair a TCT would be nice.
Cruise control would be nice especially on long boring motorways where it's all too easy to wind it on.