Yamaha Tracer MT09 experience

[Fender1515]

Hi All,

I have been offered a Yamaha Tracer MT09 2016 model with 17,000 miles, at very little money. It has been owned by a pal for the last three years.

The bike and Pal live in the South of England, I don't, having moved to God's country in 2017.

I know the owner very well, he looks after his bikes, and is a reasonably sensible  rider, although his pillion wife, may argue this  assertion!

 

So my question is, before I get the inoculations, travel permits  and load up my wallet, do any forum members own and  have experience of  this bike.

One of my concerns, is that the grand creator designed me with short'ish legs and long'ish body, worked well for rugby, not great on tall bikes.

My BMW k1200s seat height is 820mm the Tracer is 840mm, with err on the back, I need to have two feet firmly planted, she has a tendency to start aerobic exercises when we are at stop. 

So in old money that's around 1.2 inches of air gap, I am not really into wearing heels on the bike!!

Any thoughts, experiences of touring etc greatly  appreciated. 

[RideWithStyles]

What’s your in seem, back length, total height.

840 at what setting of seat and shock?(its lowest or highest?) and that your seat height, then the passenger will be even higher…smaller and not as comfortable…
if your just passable with the k at its highest setting and your happy with it Id say don’t bother getting the gt.

the front forks are very soft from the factory while the shock is initially firmer but don’t last very long before the oil wear out giving a stark contrast of effect cold to hot.

 

the paint is very thin and easy for them to furr up and corrosion at the swing arm and sub frame let alone the odd bolt, sump is made of cheese and suffers so can look scruffy, now where near as bad as a Chinese bike but still something to look at.

they are known to wheelie easily so id check the head stock and wheels for its bearings.

being a yam check all the pistons of the calipers are clean and working, ask how often they are clean.

[bud]

Seat height isn't everything. You also have to consider the snap of the seat, and how narrow the bike is.

Yamaha has sold a ton of these. So it shouldn't be hard to find one in a dealers to sit on.

The suspension is a bit budget on the earlier models. So might need a refresh by now.

[Fish]

There are some lowering kits available for the MT09's, and these will also fit the tracer. So it really is just a case of getting the bike home. 

[Fender1515]

I went to a localish dealer yesterday who had a 2015 MT09 in, I do like the style of the bike, I have previously owned a YZF1000R Thunderace for 6 years and loved it, clocked up many touring miles, apart from coil packs and fork seal never had any issues, well apart from the battle to bleed blue pot callipers, getting air out of the balance pipe,  nightmare!

 

The MT09 was showing worrying signs of wear on fasteners, rear shock, swing arm, down pipe, the engine sounded solid enough. dealer was a biker, we talked about my current bike, why I bought it and like it and my touring plans, two up with luggage etc,

 

On standard seat I could get one foot grounded and one foot was on toes, he mentioned lowering kits, however, agreed this changes the geometry of the bike, may not be an issue but!!  Only one foot planted, would not end well. 

He didn't try and sell me the bike. enough said.

So Staying with K1200s until....

[Fish]

No offence but that's a 10 year old bike, I would expect it to have some wear and tear on it.

[Fender1515]

On 14/05/2025 at 17:44, Fish said:

No offence but that's a 10 year old bike, I would expect it to have some wear and tear on it.

I don't disagree with your comments and no offence taken. I am comparing the condition of MT09 with my previous Thunderace and my current BMW K1200s. 

I owned the Thunderace for 7 years, did around 22k miles on her and the bike at 20 years old when I sold her, was, in my mind, in better or as good as condition as the MT09 I viewed, I get that condition of a bike is down to owner care and maintenance, 

Likewise, my K1200s at 20 years, is in as good if not better condition than the MT09, albeit,  with a few self inflicted dings. 

I am probably being unrealistic in my expectations of condition of a 10 year old bike, the purpose of the viewing was really to se if it fits and it it was bike I had to have, I didn't get that, 

As a result I probably played up my concerns of the condition.

Appreciate your common sense comments. 

 

[RideWithStyles]

Its all to do with what you are happy to buy for the correct amount of money for its condition.

some wouldn’t batter much of an eye lid over a scratch or ding while others would cry and be filled with rage at the atrocity.
now a days theyre less metal and some are not a true tank in a sense, just a cover. They could add a few more to it in the mean time and just think well at least I didnt do the first one(s) or just replace it later on if they so wished.