Super comfortable specification that can run for many kilometers!Yamaha TRACER 9 GT ABS is a high-performance sports tourer that allows you to fully experience the benefits of electronic control.

■ This season's adventure bike is now available from Yamaha

Recently, the genre of adventure has been attracting attention in addition to full cowl and naked.

Adventure is a basic large class, originally derived from overseas races such as rallies that run on deserts and forest roads, and is a genre that has emerged as a motorcycle that can be enjoyed not only as fast but also as touring.

Recently, a sports tourer in the shape of an on-low domain adventure bike has also appeared. Introducing this time is a sports tourer sold by Yamaha!

TRACER9 GT ABS is a model based on the company's naked sports bike MT-09.

It was a bike that appeared immediately after the release of MT-09, and it was named MT-09 TRACER, TRACER900, but now it is named TRACER9 GT.

This model has been redesigned from the conventional model in terms of engine, frame, styling, etc.

The engine is equipped with the same water-cooled parallel 3-cylinder 888cc and crossplane as the MT-09.

The main engine parts such as pistons and connecting rods have been redesigned from the conventional model to reduce weight. At the same time, the fuel system has been reviewed and fuel efficiency has been improved by succeeding in further efficiency and weight reduction.

In addition, by reducing the operating load of the clutch lever, the lever operation becomes lighter, and it is designed so that you will not get tired even if you drive for a long time.

The front and rear suspensions use KYB electronically controlled suspensions.

You can choose from two modes: sports mode (A-1), which supports aggressive riding and wet roads, and comfort mode (A-2), which makes the ride comfortable even on rough roads.

You can change the mode at hand, but the damping level is automatically adjusted while driving, so the ride is outstanding! From the moment I started running, I was able to experience the difference in electronic suspension.

The brakes are front and rear discs with ABS.

It's not a sports bike, it's a tourer, so you can ride it in a relaxed riding position.

The meter panel is divided into two parts on the left and right, and you can see the basic functions as a meter such as speed and tachometer, as well as the driving mode, traction control, electronic suspension settings, etc. at the same time while driving. The design is reminiscent of a rally car.

It is no exaggeration to say that it is the strongest touring machine, so comfort equipment is included in the genuine product. The light is an LED light and is equipped with a cornering lamp.

When the bike is tilted while cornering, the headlights only illuminate the front of the vehicle, which can make it difficult to see the corners. However, the cornering lamp is a separate light that automatically detects the tilt of the car body and illuminates the tip of the corner. These days, it is an equipment that is often seen in cars.

The screen has a height adjustment function. Since the height can be changed manually, it can be adjusted according to the rider's best line of sight and driving situation. In fact, even in this test drive, thanks to this, it was very helpful to prevent the running wind at the proper position.

You can change various settings with the left switch box. As well as driving mode, traction control, electronic suspension settings, etc., the TRACER9 GT has a cruise control function, so you can also operate it with the switch box.

I think the benefits of cruise control are great for long touring at high speeds.

In addition, the ETC antenna is also standard equipment, and you can use it just by connecting the ETC body to the connector of the car body.

It is a motorcycle that is equipped with various comfort equipment genuinely that is incomparable to ordinary motorcycles.

This kind of bike has a large body, so it seems that the height is high, but the seat height of TRACER 9 GT is 810 mm. Surprisingly, it's the same height as a normal large motorcycle.

The height of the tracer seat can be adjusted, and it can be changed to 810 mm for Low and 825 mm for Hi according to the rider's physique.

In the photo, I'm 170 cm tall and I'm straddling my toes, so I can't say that my feet are good, but other companies' adventure bikes have only one toe. In that respect, I think the TRACER 9 GT is designed to be relatively easy for anyone to ride.

This time also a test drive at the Sodegaura circuit. The TRACER 9 GT is larger than the MT-07 and MT-09 introduced in another article so far, but when I straddle it, it doesn't feel that big.

Also, the weight of the car is lighter than you can imagine (220kg), so once you start running, you will feel as if you were on a big boat! If this is the case, it will be fun to run 500km a day.

The straight-line stability is also high, and thanks to the screen, I hardly feel the running wind, so if I was not aware of it, the speed was quite high. When I noticed it, it was 200km before, but even though it is not a sports bike, there is no wind even in that speed range, and it is amazing that if you brake, you can decelerate normally and stably.

If you change the driving mode, you can also accelerate aggressively because it is based on MT-09.

Since it is a 3-cylinder crossplane engine, it is an engine that takes advantage of both the torque from below like a 2-cylinder engine and the power at high rpm like a 4-cylinder engine. The feeling of blowing up is like a sports bike.

If you set the driving mode to the gentlest and the traction control to the most effective mode, you will always be able to ride comfortably, although it is not fast. This time it was a circuit, but it seems to be very comfortable to run while looking at the vast nature by taking advantage of this space!

I think it's a bike that you can enjoy in various ways.

What surprised me most this time was the effect of the electronically controlled suspension. I ran in the sports mode main, but before the change in the driving mode, it always adjusts the damping in real time, so I can always run in the best condition regardless of the size of the corner and the strength of braking.

Once you taste this, it's extremely difficult to control it on the bike side to some extent even if you ride it properly, so I feel like I'm really good at driving. On the contrary, I was able to ride better if I left myself on the bike without controlling it myself.

Since it's a tourer, I thought it wasn't a bike that would appeal to me when I was aggressive, but I was surprised at the specs that were too fun and versatile. It's not as fun to operate as the MT series, but the feeling of manipulating a huge battleship with your own control and body to drive through corners is a refreshing feeling.

It may be that you have a high eye level, but it feels like you are manipulating it at the front like an off-road bike. It is the crystallization of modern technology and Yamaha technology that can do so many things with one machine. It was a bike that was so complete that it was too high-tech!

(Sentence: Moto Be / Photo: Tatsuya Mine)