2019 Tracer 900 GT, A Viable NT Replacement?

Phil Tarman

Site Supporter
Moderator
Joined
Dec 12, 2010
Messages
9,367
Age
81
Location
Greeley, CO
Bike
2010 Silver NT700VA (ABS)
21 liter panniers aren't very big. I saw a couple of the FJ-09s at the MSTA National Rally in Colorado Springs in June and they were wearing larger hardbags (Jesse bags, maybe?). They were impressive looking bike...only too tall for squatty guys like me.
 
Joined
Jun 26, 2014
Messages
77
Location
Ashford, Kent. United Kingdom
Bike
2006 Black NT700V ABS
I test rode a 2017 model Tracer earlier this year when I bought my VFR800X. I did not like the plank of wood they use instead of a seat plus a noticeably lower build quality compared to the Honda. I found it very easy to cross it off my list.
 

Mellow

Admin
Joined
Dec 12, 2010
Messages
1,881
Location
Carrollton, TX
2024 Mileage
000540
Bike
21 R1250RT
Tracer = FJ-09, apparently what it's called in the rest of the world and in the US it's FJ-09.. It's been renamed along with some styling ques. Cruise Control was added which apparently many wanted and a few other changes.
 

Skansen

Guest
Yamaha France's boss explained yesterday that the brand new Tracer 900 GT will be equipped with the FJR 1300 panniers.
 

mikesim

Site Supporter
Joined
Jun 7, 2011
Messages
3,331
Age
74
Location
Union, MO
Bike
NT700, Red, #989,
I know it ain't a sport touring bike, and no, it doesn't have a driveshaft or a fairing, but I just love the looks of the new Royal Enfield Interceptor. They hit the retro look right on the mark. If something happened to Traveller, I would look hard at the Tracer and also the BMW 800GT. Honda just doesn't seem to be too interested in competing in the mid-size sport touring arena any more.... sad....

Mike
 

Mellow

Admin
Joined
Dec 12, 2010
Messages
1,881
Location
Carrollton, TX
2024 Mileage
000540
Bike
21 R1250RT
It was very easy for me to cross off my list when I test rode one also...although that was the previous model, not the new improved model.

There was something I did not like about the bike just sitting on it. I did find it tall; I didn't feel comfortable on it. And the seat was poor. But besides that, there was one fatal flaw for me. It was the throttle response and clutch engagement. The throttle was either on or off. And the clutch engagement zone was very narrow. It would be a nightmare in stop-n-go traffic. I was offered the chance to ride it for as long as I wanted...and I made it around the block deciding this bike was nice on paper, but lousy for me.

I sat on the other bike in the showroom that was on my short list, the BMW F800GT...and it fit like a glove. Just something about it just fit. I took it out for a test ride...and brought it back hours later just before the dealership closed. It was a totally different feeling.

Chris
Great info.. I've yet to ride either one so time will tell.
 

karl

Site Supporter
Joined
Dec 13, 2010
Messages
1,475
Location
Hampden, MA
Bike
2010 Silver NT700VAA
Looks like a sweet bike to me. I don't think there is a replacement out there for the NT.
 

mikesim

Site Supporter
Joined
Jun 7, 2011
Messages
3,331
Age
74
Location
Union, MO
Bike
NT700, Red, #989,
I hate to say it, but I bought my BMW F800GT as a viable replacement for my NT.

Oh well...you can throw stones at me now...

Chris
Close Chris, but no shaft drive.

Mike
 

Warren

2
Joined
Dec 13, 2010
Messages
2,332
Location
O'Fallon, MO
Bike
2019 Yamaha XMAX
In my mind the F800GT is the closest thing out there but by the time my NT and I are ready to part ways I will be looking for something much smaller, perhaps a mid size scooter. Everyday all weather commuting for work will be replaced by retirement and an occasional run to the store or a weekend ride in the country.
 

karl

Site Supporter
Joined
Dec 13, 2010
Messages
1,475
Location
Hampden, MA
Bike
2010 Silver NT700VAA
Let me preface this with the comment, there are lots of bikes out there I would like to both ride and own. The NT pushed all the right buttons for me at the time I was looking for something else. She is still in my garage, worth less than the pleasure I get. Enjoy your ride.
 

Frosty

Site Supporter
Joined
May 25, 2011
Messages
597
Location
Spokane, WA
Bike
2020 Triumph 900GT
I hate to say it, but I bought my BMW F800GT as a viable replacement for my NT.

Oh well...you can throw stones at me now...

Chris
No stone here. I enjoy them both. My NT is very comfortable while the GT is lighter, quicker and faster. I like the quiet belt drive but not a fan of the cost.
 
Joined
Mar 28, 2016
Messages
86
Location
Camp Springs, KY
The larger BMWs with the shaft drives seem to have more failures. And I'm not sure if BMW has changed the design of the final drive to eliminate those failures.
If you are talking about the rear drive bearings - they changed the design in 2011 I believe. For some reason the wheel side oil seal was on the inside of the wheel bearing, and some folks had early bearing failure (while lots of others had no issues and put on many, many carefree miles). Speculation came up about maybe those folks on the GS bikes did more water crossings.....or pressure washing that resulted in the bearing being contaminated with water or dirt.

Last fall I took the plunge and bought a nice used R1200RT for riding double up with my wife. We rented one for 2 days on a trip to Tucson, and I fell in love with the bike. If I had taken a 30 minute ride on one I likely would have said "nice bike" - but after spending 2 days on it I really fell in love with the smooth ride, great handling, power and comfort, and it was the most comfortable bike my wife had ever ridden on as passenger (I am sure the Gold Wings and other big bikes with the Barcolounger rear seats are comfy - but they are too big and heavy for my 30" inseam and 170 pound body). I read about the high cost of BMW ownership and repairs, and the reported failures - and I decided to take a risk as I do most routine maintenance myself....and there are just too many folks that have ridden BMW bikes for 100,000 plus miles that have never had to do anything more than routine maintenance - however the ones who have problems are far more vocal than the ones who never have any problems.

About 12 years ago I started to burn wood for heat. I needed a better chainsaw and started looking around for a heavy duty mid size saw. The Stihl MS260 was a mid-size commercial grade saw that seemed to be very popular with professionals, and when the tree trimming crews would show up they would most likely have the MS260 saw, and a smaller top handle saw. What confused me was I kept seeing them on forums with running issues, broken/used up ones for sale on Craigslist, etc. I wondered how a saw that wore out and broke could be so popular with the professionals? It turns out the MS260 was very reliable and durable and there are hundreds of thousands of them out cutting wood everyday - and a few of them break or get abused or worn out over time....and those are the ones you see on the forums or Craigslist with the owners complaining (the other folks are out cutting wood and not posting on forums).

I think a lot of this happens in the motorcycle world as well. A few folks have problems and start posting on the internet - and before long a bad reputation and rumors can make a problem seem bigger and more common than it really is. I think it is "Phil" on this forum who has had a couple of rear drive failures - and yet most of the NT's don't ever have that problem. On another forum there is a member that complains loudly about any motorcycle that uses an alternator with brushes - as 20 years ago he had one wear out and fail on his Yamaha. It is far too easy for us to accept some of this "fake news" as being "fact". I do accept that there are some real issues that plague motorcycles - like the NT saddlebag latches, the Suzuki Savage head plug and cam chain tensioner, rear wheel bearings on the Buehl Ulysses, FJR rider heat issues and other things that are well documented - but I believe there may be a lot of unfounded rumors as well. (We had a Subaru Outback that gave us a lot of problems and we will never buy another one - and yet most folks praise the reliability of their Subaru).

I sold my NT not because of anything that worried me about the reliability - but because it was just a bit too small for my wife and I, and it did not allow us to take enough luggage if we go on a trip.....and because we rented an R1200RT that proved to be so much more comfortable for us - I am 62 and this is likely to be the first and last "luxury" motorcycle I will ever buy. If I was riding single I most likely would have kept my NT.......or I really do like the BMW F800GT! As noted in this thread....no other builder makes a good mid size sport touring bike......it is a shame.
 
Last edited:
Top Bottom