Maybe a Tenere is too hardcore for you, with its single-cylinder vibrations, and 600 km tank range. You need something softer, more civilised… and something that can go up against the Triumph Tiger and Kawasaki Versys. Worry not, Yamaha have heard your pleas, and have revealed this, the Tracer 700. As the name suggests, it is a 700 cc motor that it shares with the twin-pot FZ-07.
Output is 75 bhp, and kerb weight is 196 kg wet – those are competitive figures for this class of motorcycle. The Tracer 700 has a 50 mm longer swingarm compared to the MT-07, increasing the wheelbase to 1450 mm. Yamaha says this adds stability for touring purposes, especially when two up. What will also help while touring are the 130 mm travel of the suspension, and the dual 282 mm front discs with four-pot calipers/ 245 mm rear disc with standard ABS. You can have your Tracer in red, blue or black, and with a variety of add-ons via the Yamaha Genuine accessories route (including hard panniers etc).
Yamaha hasn’t announced any plans to launch the Tracer in India, but if the price in the UK is of any indication, should they decide to, it will slot in between the Kawasaki Versys 650 and Triumph Tiger 800 XR.
