Test Yamaha Tracer 700 - The better MT-07

Test Yamaha Tracer 700 - The better MT-07

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ergonomics

It sits great on the Yamaha Tracer 700. Despite the 835 millimeter seat height, my feet can easily reach the ground. It is due to the shape of the one-piece bench, which is compared to the Yamaha MT-07 is completely different, as is half the rear. The seat is particularly narrow around the crotch and the knee fit is pleasantly tight around the flat, deep tank. In addition, the one-piece seat offers greater seating comfort and the step to the pillion area means you can perfectly support your butt when accelerating hard. The Yamaha guys conjured up a perfect seating position, very decent. Especially since the saddle rear line looks no less bold and sporty than its naked sister. There is further praise for the handlebars: not too wide, not too narrow, not too high, not too low. I sit perfectly at the top. Driving actively, but not aggressively biased. Well, the aluminum strut in between is unnecessary gimmick, but at least it looks valuable. The instrument arrangement is also different. Although the compact speedometer instrument is identical to that of the MT-07, due to the half shell it is not located above the handlebars on the fork bridge, but rather conventionally in front of the handlebars in the fairing. Effect: You no longer need to look at your own pace to see how fast you are going. This was a semi-optimal solution for the naked sister. The speedometer is now well within the rider's field of vision. The windshield can be infinitely adjusted using two screws and offers really decent wind protection, even for taller pilots. At 1.85 meters tall, I didn't notice any unpleasant air turbulence around the helmet. Not even on high-speed highway stretches. 

Handling

Like its naked sister, the Yamaha Tracer 700 shines with its low weight. With a full tank I measured 188.3 kg (96 kg at the front, 92.3 kg at the rear). This means that in our test it was only 0.3 kg higher than the MT-07, despite the half shell. In this respect, the handling wasn't any more cumbersome; on the contrary, it even seems a bit more manageable to me, but above all more stable. I think this is mainly due to the more upright seating position, the slightly longer wheelbase and the tires. The Tracer had Michelin Pilot Road 4 rubber fitted. And: Compared to the test drive with the MT-07, we had an almost summery 30 degrees in the sun instead of around ten degrees. Means: I got the tires nice and warm. In general, the MT-07 is foolproof in terms of handling, the Tracer 700 is the same, only a little more balanced. While the naked sister seemed a little wobbly to me in tight corners, the Tracer 700 always feels nice and stable in the radius. If you still want to correct the line, all you need is a minimal steering impulse and it will fall deeper into an incline or be set up in a playful way. It makes no difference at all whether you are cutting through tight, slow bends or high-speed curves. The Tracer can be controlled wonderfully neutrally by the driver and is never a mystery. These handling characteristics make the Tracer 700 a real weapon in the Winkelwerk. Larger models with significantly more fat will have to stretch a lot to avoid being eaten by the compact Japanese model. Well done! 

Engine/gearbox        

I praised the MT-07 to the highest degree for its engine and I'll repeat myself now with the Tracer 700: that's a magnificent engine! The data sheet says 75 hp, but it feels like it's a little more. The engine is already pushing very hard at the bottom, the middle is ideally tuned, easy to rev and with enough smoke. At the top there is another small fireworks display before the two-cylinder with its 689 cubic centimeters displacement quickly runs into the limited engine. The throttle response is simply perfect. Every small turn of the throttle results in immediate acceleration or deceleration. There is no traction control, nor is it needed. I'm actually really happy that the engineers of the Tracer 700 didn't miss any, because this means you can pull the little touring athlete onto the rear wheel in first gear at any time you want. This is a lot of fun. Oh no, it's addictive. If you have better technique and use your upper body correctly, you can pull the tracer into a wheelie in second gear and ride on the rear wheel until the tank runs out. Wow, that's a canvas! That's exactly how it should be. The gearbox plays along well, but was completely inconspicuous in the test. It does what it's supposed to do, shifts gears safely with feedback on the foot pedal and the clutch doesn't require any significant manual force. 

Undercarriage

Basically, the Tracer 700 uses simple components. A proven, non-adjustable telescopic fork is used at the front. At the rear, the preload of the central spring strut can be gradually adjusted. There is nothing more. But you don't need much more than that. Although I'm generally not a fan of simple chassis, the overall concept of the Tracer 700 is right: for the price you get a really homogeneous, neutral and fast device. I'm happy to scale back my expectations and admit: a simple chassis that still works really well. Of course, if you push really hard and brake at the very last point, then the fork dives in properly. And if you sweep over second-order roads with great motivation, then the rear starts to sway and pump. I wouldn't describe the vote as being much too soft. Rather than fundamentally comfortable, but with enough feedback to be able to erase the fear nipples on the footrests without stress. And honestly: what more does it take than turning the corner quite safely at the footrest? Then you're usually moving very quickly and don't have to worry about any opponents. Disadvantage: If you weigh a few kilograms more and like to travel with a pillion passenger, then you won't be able to avoid a solid retrofit shock absorber. This then offers the larger adjustment range and the necessary reserves. Or to put it another way: Buy the Tracer 700, invest another 1000 euros in the chassis and you have a real Winkelwerk weapon with a comfortable seating position and fully suitable for touring. 

Brakes

The braking hardware of the Tracer and MT-07 are identical. Axial brake calipers, axial brake pump, 282 brake discs at the front and a 245 disc at the rear. And of course ABS. Maybe it's the tire or the better condition during the test period, but it seems to me that the anti-lock braking system would have been improved compared to last year's MT-07. The control intervals seem a little shorter and gentler to me. And: The front and rear now feel the same; with the MT-07 it still seemed to me as if the system on the rear wheel was working more roughly than on the front. No matter what, the ABS is of course not at the level of a 20,000 euro superbike, but it is safe enough not to be on the nose even in the rain. Not even if I have gross motor skills. In this respect: It does what it is supposed to do, prevent the wheels from locking. Basically, I find the bite of the front brake very pleasant. Not too snappy, not too tame. When you press down, the feedback from the pad via the brake lever could perhaps be a little more direct, but for the purchase price the hardware is really okay and provides enough feedback and deceleration to easily master even fast stages. 

Noticed

The Tracer 700 has a 17 liter tank instead of 14 liters. Nevertheless, we felt like we were at the gas station more often. Consumption in the test was just under six liters per 100 kilometers. Admittedly, I turned the gears out more often and generally didn't save fuel. Nevertheless, the range was not spectacular – for a touring bike. The sound from the muffler stub is quite appealing and the optics are good. In general, I think the whole tracer is visually very successful. Beautifully modern thanks to the many edges, but still graceful and light-footed. The seat is really good and hasn't worn out even after 500 kilometers a day. 

Failed

As always: the rubber brake hoses. And the indicated hand protectors on the handlebars, which accommodate the indicator. They look very sleek, but will be of little help in the event of a fall and will only increase the repair costs. Nice idea, but not yet implemented convincingly. 

Test verdict: Yamaha Tracer 700, by p.bednar

More information about Yamaha Tracer 700

With kind support from  TOTAL Austria

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