Yamaha Tracer 700, Crossover for everyone [ROAD TEST]

That Yamaha has a leading role, at least in the old continent, is a fact. The twin-cylinder MT-07 and the three-cylinder MT-09, with their various variations, are among the products with the best value for money (quality/price ratio, if you prefer the beautiful Italian language) that can be bought at the moment . They are offered "smooth" or in a Heritage key (the XSR) and finally in the Crossover variant, which is very popular in our area.

The latter, the two Tracers, are among the best-selling Yamahas, firmly among the 10 in the Italian ranking, with the 900 just below the podium and the small 700 immediately behind the two nakeds (which on their side count on the very attractive price). To take home Iwata's entry level Sport Tourer you need 8 thousand euros (7.990 to be precise) and, if you have any doubts that it could be an economic compromise, we will remove all doubts after trying it. Fun and usable, it is a motorbike whose peculiarities will make lovers of the genre more than happy, especially if equipped like this example, with bags, heated grips and saddle and much more. Let's go and find out.

Aesthetics and finishes:

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The little girl wants to be a big girl and she does it really well!

The Tracer 700 is a beautiful product, you can tell at first sight. As soon as you get on the saddle you can't help but notice the comfort of the well-padded double-decker saddle, which allows for comfortable riding in any situation. The driving position has the right distance between the footrests and the double LED headlight appears essential in cases of low light and beyond. Derived from the MT-07, the Tracer 700 seems to represent the perfect combination of practicality and fun, a motorbike suitable for both long journeys and daily use, even city use; the Iwata company wanted to present a new product, designed to become the definitive Sport Tourer in the medium displacement segment.

It is easy to manage, fun, sporty and suitable for everyone, thanks to its performance that does not scare and the great handling and versatility that distinguish it. The Tracer MT 07 is characterized by an unmistakable style, very similar to that of the Tracer 900, but also with many details that take us back to the naked MT-07. We mentioned the accessories of this example, which in addition to the side bag kit is equipped with a heated saddle and grips, lower and upper engine guard kit, support for the navigator (with the nice crossbar on the handlebar and fog lights. Ready for adventure, even if it must be said, the 20 liter bags are not very roomy, above all they don't even contain a jet helmet, but only luggage with a small volume.

Engine and performance:

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The CP2 confirms itself as one of the best in its category

Like its little sister MT-07, the efficient 689 cc 4-valve DOHC twin-cylinder engine expresses a power of 74,8 horsepower at 9000 rpm and a full-bodied and linear torque of 68,0 Nm at 6500 rpm , making it pleasant in every situation, but also snappy when you want to set up a sportier and more fun ride. It has been updated to Euro 4, but what the cold numbers don't say is that the CP2 (acronym for CrossPlane 2 cylinders) precisely because of this characteristic with the conformation of the crankshaft with phasing at 270 degrees, is very different from a normal 2 online.

In some ways it even has more character than a V2, but it can be docile and regular for those who don't want to overdo it. When you become more experienced, it knows how to amaze, it has a nice reach and a progression which, if exploited properly, allows you to raise the front wheel with disarming ease. In this the Tracer pays on the one hand for a larger size than the MT-07, but once "mounted", the front wheel remains raised even more easily, thanks to the excursion of the motion at the rear and its softer calibration. An engine that is therefore perfect for the novice, with whom it will be smooth and linear, but also for the more experienced driver who will be able to enjoy its beautiful 75 horsepower, among the most fun you can find.

Ride and handling:

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Funbike becomes a Crossover, ready for travel and even a bit of off-road travel

The watchword of the Tracer 700 remains fun. In this, the close relationship with the MT-07 helps it. For example, the tubular steel frame is confirmed, which is very compact, with a minimalist design and which allows it to always be agile and reactive. In case you want to tackle fairly high speeds, the Tracer 700 appears very stable, thanks to a 50 mm longer swingarm (+12 mm of wheel travel), with a wheelbase of 1.450 mm. The front and rear suspensions now have travel of 130 and 142 mm, with softer settings to also facilitate driving on dirt roads. ABS is standard and the braking system offers us a double 282 mm front disc and a 245 mm rear one. The wheels are made of 10-spoke aluminum and the curb weight is 196 kg.

The Iwata-based sports Tourer also has a manually adjustable windshield (higher version as an option) and integrated hand guards, which are useful for moving the air flow, protecting the rider's hands. The double front headlight is LED, while the instrumentation, digital with LCD display, is complete and easily readable. The standard two-level seat, with passenger handles, has a height of 845 mm. The Tracer 700 stands out from other medium-sized sports tourers thanks to its ability to offer a different, sporty, exciting and intuitive driving experience.

The fairing and the fairing are able to ensure a comfortable ride, thanks to their protection of the rider on the sections of road most exposed to the air. The longer swingarm compared to the MT-07 allows for a stable bike in every situation; the driving position therefore appears even more comfortable when moving. The Tracer 700 is very easy to handle, also aided by the dynamic twin-cylinder engine. A nice mix, perfect for an easy bike, but at the same time extremely fun especially in mixed riding, where lean and adrenaline become the perfect protagonists of the road.

Price and consumption:

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Crossover for less than 8 thousand euros, without any compromise

As for consumption, it is difficult to get the Tracer 700 to drop below 20 km/l, even with "gritty" driving; it is easier to settle in the area of ​​the declared average value, of 23,3 km/l. The twin-cylinder is in fact economical and, thanks to the generous 17-litre tank, guarantees long journeys without refueling, in perfect Crossover style, devouring long journeys. The price of the Tracer 700 is 7.990 euros, you can choose it in this Tech Black, or Radical Red and Yamaha Blue.

As for accessories, the range is wide, while those you see on this example (very rich and almost a showcase of what you can fit) have a total cost of almost 3 thousand euros. Specifically we find the pair of 20 liter rigid bags, with relative attachments and lock sets (1.186,46 euros), the lower and upper engine guard kit (224,24 + 260,95 euros), the GPS support (53,48) , the heated grips (165,46), the heated saddle (453,88) and the fog lights (515,13, to which another 63,48 must be added for the assembly kit).

There are other accessories to make the Tracer more aggressive, such as the Akrapovic exhaust (around 1.200 euros) and much more. Finally, we would like to remind you that the Tracer 700 is also available in a depowered version (35 kW), which can be driven with an A2 licence.

PROS AND CONS
We like it:
Ready for anything and with an affordable price, brilliant performance, quality/price ratio
We do not like it:
Soft suspension calibration, when driven in a sporty manner

Yamaha Tracer 700: the Motorionline Report Card

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Gianluca Cuttitta collaborated

Tester clothing:
Jacket: Alpinestars
Pants, gloves and shoes: Dainese
Helmet: Suomy