The supplied screen isn’t huge, though, and
for serious touring work we’d be looking
at the larger option available for added
protection from the elements, although in
the conditions we rode in a screen the size of
Belgium would have been more appropriate.
The monochrome LED clocks are super easy
to read and very well laid out, largely because
with the absence of electronic rider aids it
doesn’t really have much to tell you apart from
speed and revs. You do get a time-of-day clock,
a couple of trips and a fuel gauge as well as a
very useful gear indicator.
Finally, of course, there are the semi-
rigid panniers fi ed as standard. There’s no
ge ing away from the fact that these are
not of the same quality as you’d fi nd on, say,
an FJR, but they are a very useful addition
nonetheless. For commuting purposes and to
make the most of the bike’s otherwise skinny
dimensions, my preference was to take them
off , which is a pre y simple ma er once you
get the knack, although they aren’t keyed the
same as the ignition, which is a bit of a shame.Also, the zip closure isn’t lockable, although I
did fi nd a small pair of padlocks in an inside
pocket on our test bike, which I assume were
there for the purpose. That said, you can fi t
a reasonable amount of gear in each one and
they seemed pre y impervious to leaking as
long as you zip them up properly. You won’t fi t
a full-face lid in there, though.
As an addition to the MT family, the Tracer
700 seems like the right bike at the right time.
Given it isn’t just aimed at the LAMS market,
its main sales rival could very likely be its
bigger stablemate, the Tracer 900, but that’s a
win-win for Yamaha whichever way you cut it.
This bike reminded me very much of the sort
of thing I used to enjoy riding when I was fi rst
into bikes: good looking, masses of fun, capable
of just about anything I wanted to do on it and
didn’t break the bank. The Tracer 700 certainly
ticks all those boxes and then some. Yamaha
has long had the knack of building bikes that
are be er than the sum of their parts and this
model certainly continues that tradition in fi ne
style. Good work, tuning-fork people. ARRSPECIFICATIONS
2017 YAMAHA TRACER
7 00 LAMSENGINE
Type: Liquid-cooled, four-stroke, DOHC,
four-valve, 270-degree parallel-twin
Capacity: 655cc
Bore × stroke: 78.0mm × 68.6mm
Compression ratio: 11.0:1
Engine management: Electronic fuel
injectionPERFORMANCE
Claimed maximum power: 52hp (39kW)
@ 8000rpm
Claimed maximum torque: 57.5Nm
@ 4000rpmTRANSMISSION
Type: Six-speed
Final drive: Chain
Clutch: Wet, multiplateCHASSIS & RUNNING GEAR
Frame: Tubular steel, engine as stressed
member
Front suspension: 41mm fork, 130mm
travel, non-adjustable
Rear suspension: Single shock, 142mm
travel, adjustable for preload
Front brakes: Twin 282mm petal disc with
four-piston caliper, ABS equipped
Rear brake: Single 245mm petal disc with
single-piston caliper, ABS equipped
Wheels: 10-spoke, cast aluminium
Tyres: Michelin Pilot Road 4, front 120/70-
17, rear 180/55-17DIMENSIONS & CAPACITIES
Rake: 24.8 degrees
Trail: 90mm
Claimed wet weight: 196kg
Seat height: 835mm
Wheelbase: 1450mm
Fuel capacity: 17LETCETERA
Price: $12,299 incl GST and panniers
Colour: Yamaha Blue, Radical Red, Tech
Black
Test bike supplied by: Yamaha Australia,
http://www.yamaha-motor.com.au/
Warranty: 24 months, unlimited
kilometres, parts and labourr Clearance is pretty good and the bike is happy to be thrown about on the tarmac. Nigel likes that ...56 | AUSTRALIAN ROAD RIDERTEST REPORT: YAMAHA TRACER 700
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