All Tests – Test Yamaha Tracer 700: small road, big ambitions – The small Yamaha road to the test

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Yamaha Tracer 700 test: small road, big ambitions

All Tests - Test Yamaha Tracer 700: small road, big ambitions - The small Yamaha road to the test

Six months after the neo-retro XSR700, Yamaha offers a new version of its MT-07: the Tracer 700, with meticulously prepared cycle and plastic parts. Posted 1700 euros more expensive than the roadster, is the small road worth the cost ? Test.

The little Yamaha roadster to the test

As indicated on the first page of this new MNC test, the engine of the Tracer 700 is the same as that of the MT-07. Or, more exactly, the same as that of the XSR700, a slightly more recent motorcycle therefore more respectful of the latest antipollution standard.

We note, however, that whatever its version (Euro 3 or Euro 4), the 689 cc water engine develops the same power and the same maximum torque: 74.8 hp at 9000 rpm and 68 Nm 2500 rpm below if we are to believe the technical sheet of the Japanese manufacturer (published on the last page).

On the handlebars of the Tracer 700, Site notes that the performance of the famous "CP2" (twin-cylinder CrossPlane) remains very satisfactory: perfectly docile, the engine is always as voluntary from low revs and shows appreciable flexibility on the three first reports.

In built-up areas, you can even walk around in fourth gear quietly on fourth gear. The well-tuned injection and ride-by-wire, as well as the twin-cylinder engine brake (larger than on a 4-legged), allow you to adapt your speed smoothly and without having to use the brakes. A plus in duo !

On the sixth and last report, the small road agrees to trot at 60 km / h. When the village is passed, we can re-accelerate slowly, on a trickle of gas. The digital tachometer then displays – very small, on the same table as the MT – a speed of 2500 rpm, low limit on the last three speeds.

The gearbox supports the engine wonderfully well: the selector stroke is short, the selection is smooth and the gears are well staged. In "cool" use, it is even possible to completely dispense with the clutch control to up or down gears..

We note in passing that the left lever, devoid of adjustment, is quite far from the handlebars. Its right-hand counterpart – the front brake, well done! – offers five levels of spacing: from high to medium, but never low. The small minoches will therefore be used in traffic jams…

In the successions of small pins, however, Site has never felt his left forearm overheat: the flexibility of the engine is such that we can negotiate the 180 ° in second gear without playing with the clutch or fear of stalling..

To come out vigorously from bends or to quickly overtake a pair of cars – old but impeccable Alfa Romeo, Morgan or Porsche, out like us in the Dolomites! -, it is necessary to whip the engine.

Taking into account the engine size of the motorcycle, the acceleration is consistent from 3500 rpm, but it is past 6000 rpm that they become exciting: the Tracer 700 then pulls on the arms of the pilot and enchants his ears !

Indeed, the sound of the engine – of its pot as of its airbox – increases noticeably at mid-speed and gives the impression of getting down to business. Without reaching the dazzling acceleration of an MT-10, the "MT-07 Tracer" has something to seduce bikers, even experienced (35 kW kit for beginners).

Le Journal moto du Net observes on this occasion that the silencer of the Tracer 700 (identical to that of the MT-07) is as cute as the gas plenum chamber placed upstream (and snipped at the XSR700) under the engine is ugly, especially seen from the left side…

We therefore regret that this pot is not hidden by a belly pan, which would also have added an additional sporty touch to this motorcycle classified in the "Road" section of the Yamaha Motor France catalog, but well and truly qualified as "Sport Tourer" by the Japanese.

With their Tracer 700, the Blues of Iwata intend to revitalize the segment of small sports cars. In this, the small CP2 (53 kg according to its designers) fulfills its mission perfectly, despite a significant weight gain of the cycle part: 14 kg more than the original MT (with ABS).

To match the Tracer’s "Touring" program, the MT frame and rear buckle have been slightly reinforced. "In brackets, these two steel elements as well as the exhaust pipe and the fairings are manufactured in our MBK factory.", underlines Vincent Thommeret, director of YMF.

"The engines which arrive directly from Japan and the other peripherals are assembled on the chains of St-Quentin in the Aisne"… Unlike Toyota’s Yaris, no mention" Made in France "appears on the Tracer 700. This information is however not trivial for everyone.

Like the XSR700, the Tracer 700 is a product created by and for Europe: imagined at Yamaha Motor Europe (the Netherlands) and designed by the design office GK Europe (also the Netherlands), the motorcycle was developed by the Yamaha R&D department … in Monza (Italy)! End of the industrial parenthesis.

The swingarm is the only element specific to the small roadster: 50 mm longer than that of the pressed aluminum MT-07 – also mounted on the XSR700 -, the double cast aluminum arm is attached to the engine via a shock absorber and a set of links reworked compared to the roadster (12 mm of additional travel).

Main cause of the increase in weight when fully loaded between the “city MT-07” and the “road” one (the Tracer 700 is announced at 196 kg by Yamaha): the semi-fairing. The latter is logically inspired by that of the popular Tracer 900: 15000 "road MT-09" are already circulating in Europe !

The line has, however, been softened, which is not to displease MNC: the hand guards of the Tracer 700, in particular, do not ridiculously widen the motorcycle and will not handicap the rider during his – careful! – line ups. They overlook, without fully integrating, the turn signals.

The integration of the fairings could have been refined: on the colors Red "Tech" and Blue "Yamaha" (not to be confused with the "Race Blue" with blue rims which is not yet offered on the tracer 700 … ), the black screws do a little task. Likewise, we would have appreciated a brushstroke on the front fender..

Unsurprisingly, the new Yamaha adopts a double lens. And again, the contours are softer compared to those of the Tracer 900. They even remind a little of those of the late. The air intakes, on the other hand, evoke those of the big sister.

If these air intakes are not there to force-feed the engine, they are not for all that fictitious: "they are used to cool electronic components such as the rectifier / voltage regulator on the left, the central ECU unit and the ABS hydraulic unit on the right", specify the Japanese engineers.

Finally, to improve the autonomy of the motorcycle, the capacity of the tank increases by 3 liters (17 in all), also participating in the increase – and the vertical rise! – the weight of the Tracer in relation to the MT. Engine off, the motorcycle remains very easy to maneuver.

With a good turning radius, the Tracer 700 is all the easier to handle as it offers two excellent grips: the passenger handles! MNC did not test the "co-piloting" position until it was stopped, but can already say that the reception is good..

In addition to its well-designed handles, the passenger enjoys very beautiful footrest plates, much longer than on the MT. The one-piece seat is a little better padded than the roadster’s jump seat, and the footrests are covered in rubber. Business class !

In front, the pilot benefits from the same type of services: handlebars mounted on silent-blocks, soft saddle, padded footrests … This time the site was able to test them on nearly 200 km of swirling Italian roads. The test continues on the next page: "avanti" !

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