Thank you for posting another detailed, informative, and well-written review, Steve. Good photos too! I had to laugh though when you said about halfway through your post, "now for the bad part". I didn't think the first half was exactly the "good" part. Your take on the bike up to that point in your review made features and characteristics seem more like they were simply "adequate". Another bike I don't need to spend any time looking at or reading about in the future. I'm looking forward to your review of the Tracer.
Yes mate, I just need to fix up a test ride but work is increasingly getting in the way of my serious bike research!
Sorry Nikki, I can't quite see me riding round on this and as for the square headlight? It's a no from me.
I don't know about the new big bore vstrom as I've not ridden it, but the original 1000cc bike was a great ride . A really good all round motorcycle......
I had a 2016 tracer and the seat was poor for a few days but turned into all day comfortable with a few miles on the bike,the suspension is a bit soft but for most riding it’s fine, I had mine upgraded which made a real difference, for me the tracer 900 is a lot more fun than a tiger 800 ,I found the power delivery on the tiger a bit boring we’re as the tracer is a cracking exciting engine especially in A mode,
I think you could be right as one of the Yamaha dealers I used was hopeless,in Yorkshire there 3 decent triumph dealers plus you can always ring triumph directly to speak to there technical department which I’ve used a few times whereas Yamaha have one decent dealer and no manufacturer back up,it’s one of the reasons why I went back to triumph.
The standard tracer is improved from the original in 2015 which was so hard it had you out the seat over every bump,it's the GT you must get a go on,a lot plusher suspension than the standard one and comfort seats means the rest of the bike can live up to the engine,it is smooth and refined in one mode and a quick bike in the other.
Well another good report @steve lovatt. I’d rather keep my non 270’ F8GT. All these bikes are just a copy of the first 270’ crank TDM850 TRX quarter of a century ago and nothing special. My TRX (same engine) is good for 145mph and these piles of premium crap struggle at lesser speeds. I took a 750 (850cc) GS out late last year with the new 270’ crank and no low down grunt nor did it have any high end either. In fact it felt like a non Turbo diesel car!! I tried for 100mph and achieved 98 and it was so laboured. It’s like a Harley in the sense of a lot of money for very little performance.
r.e. emissions, it is one of the reasons that I am hanging on to my old Merc diesel and Triumph Sprint. They both have more than enough electronic gimmickry and emissions cr@p (in the case of the Merc). I guess I shall eventually have to give them up, but I certainly won't be in the market for anything new as long as I can hold out.
