THE YAMAHA TRACER 9: A CHAPTER CLOSING REVIEW
In my late 20s, after finding myself alone in a new country, I made one of the best decisions: buying a new motorbike. I chose the 2023 Yamaha Tracer 9. Now that chapter is ending, so I wanted to write a heartful review of this bike I'm very sad to sell. EDIT: I am moving to a far away country and won't be able to ride it, so best to let someone else start a new chapter ! :)
This is my 2nd bike. I'm no pro, I don't ride fast or do anything crazy. I use the motorbike as a way to enjoy the road safely and chill. I know very little about mechanics. I just rode the hell out of this bike for 3 years and want to share my experience.
To summary in one sentence: this bike is built to do everything well, but not the best of any category.
Sports riding – It has a real kick, I got scared many times at how fast it accelerates 🤣. It turns beautifully, but you can clearly see it's not a sports bike. I drove with some sports bikers and I could see the difference (I never rode a sports bike).
Touring – This is where the Tracer is stronger IMO. It handles any road: highways, mountain passes, soft dirt roads. I've done 8-hour drives smoothly. My record: 450km in one go, putting 18L of gas in it.
City riding – It's ok for a city riding bike, not too heavy to maneuver in tight spaces. The riding position is upright, so you have good visibility.
Sound – The engine has a "normal" sound I would say. It's pretty loud but if you have the money to put another exhaust, obviously it's going to make a big difference.
Comfort – Swap the basic seat for the GT one for more comfort as a driver. The passenger basic seat is already super comfortable. I'm 1.85m tall and felt I needed the extra windshield to reduce turbulence (I never bought it, something I'd do differently now).
I shared this bike with my beautiful girlfriend. We did so many trips, had countless conversations, experienced so many emotions on it. It even helped us move, carrying boxes loaded with our stuff. I'm grateful I never had an accident. I saw beautiful landscapes, made friendships. It was fucking worth it.
Final thought: if you have the money, do it. You'll never get those years back. When you're older, you'll regret not taking the deal,not driving through landscapes, not experiencing the world, not connecting with people. Riding a motorbike makes any trip exciting, and feel like an adventure, no matter how small it is.
If you have questions, reach out. I'm happy to share more experiences and recommendations about motorbikes and the Tracer 9, as a noob !
Drive safe :)