Tried BMW and Triumph Adventures, what about Yamaha?

[croyde]

I posted on someone else's thread about my BMW 1250GS and Triumph 1200 GT test rides.

Still pondering, it's a lot of money and despite the comfort, do I really need to be that high?

Most riding will be for inner London commute, currently done on my Vespa 300, but I can't justify two bikes.

There's a Yamaha 900cc Tracer GT in my carpark today.

Looks like a nice bike, screen, power but more sporty than adventure.

Also a big saving as I could pick up a 2019 for less than half the new Triumph and a lot less than a 2018 BMW.

Anyone on here have one? What do you think?

[Daniel T]

depends what you use it for, if just commuting to London those are very big bikes.

i use a triumph tiger 660 and its brilliant.

even good for day trips. would say the above bikes is if you want to do cross country or Europe trips otherwise they are too big.

sorry no feedback re the tracer.

[Kawasicki]

A Tracer isn't an adventure bike. 17" tyres front and rear, I think? My friend rode one for a week and said it was way more sporty than he was expecting.

[black-k1]

We had one of the Old Gits on a Tracer 900 in Northern Spain in June. He’s owned a number of bikes over the years of Old Gits trips and has ridden with us many times. He is a fast, compotent rider who knows how to make progress. A couple of times when the pace picked up, he said it became very obvious that the Tracer 900 was simply not in the same league as the KTM SD1290GTs, the K1300Ss and the H2 SX he was riding with.

We weren’t going silly fast (sill sub 100mph) and while we didn’t have any of the R1200GS/R1250GSs with us on those runs I absolutely would have expected them to be 100% on the pace.

Apparently, the whole set up, especially the suspension, on the Tracer 900 felt "budget" and was pushed to, and a little beyond, it’s limits long before the other bikes felt stressed.

[boyse7en]

Colleague has recently swapped his Aprilia Tuono for a Tracer 900 GT and is pleased with the swap. He goes on several bike holidays around the Alps and Pyrenees with his mates (Multistrada, Blackbird, R1 and a few others i can't remember) each year.
Says the Tracer is nearly as good on the twisty bits and 10 times better on the ride down

[croyde]

I don't mind the size. I like the GS and Triumph for that, I'm just thinking I don't need the long travel suspension.

Although that maybe why the ride on both is so plush on imperfect roads.

Just seeing the Tracer, it seems you get the size, the screen and the sit up position but nearer to the ground along with 17 ins wheels at both ends.

I used to dispatch ride in London in the 80s on a Kawasaki GPZ900R, so the length and weight ain't really a bother.

I like the engines in the Triumph and BMW too, you can be lazy with them, plenty of grunt.

Didn't realise Triumph did an Adventure version of my old Street Triple.

Guess I need to test the Yamaha.

[BlackG7R]

If your talking Yamaha / Adventure, I would have thought the obvious choice would be the Tenere 700.

I've had mine about 3 months now, and I'm well chuffed with it.

Handles on the twisty B roads, enough overtaking power on the faster A roads, and with a 16 tooth front sprocket also very useable on the Motorways. I.m also getting high 60's mpg. (So an easy 200-220 mile range)

I cannot vouch for it off road, but from the reviews I've seen it'll certainly match any of those bigger Adventure bikes.

Edited by BlackG7R on Wednesday 24th August 19:20

[Neal H]

Triumph Tiger 900? Cheaper than the 1200 and lots of used ones about.

[black-k1]

If you like the BMW engine but don't need the GS off road capabilities then the RS and RT have to be on the list.

[outnumbered]

GS isn't ideal for commuting due to the bar height and width, I would want something narrower if I was doing central London daily.

[chappj]

I’ve had several GS1200/1250 GSAs and recently went for a Tiger 900 Rally Pro. Significantly cheaper and lighter for commuting. As said earlier, the GS’ bars are an awkward width/height for filtering.

[andybracing]

unless youve got secure parking, i would be getting something thats a bit old and not worth much, and not a scooter, as they seem to be the scotes choice

[Hugo Stiglitz]

BlackG7R said:

If your talking Yamaha / Adventure, I would have thought the obvious choice would be the Tenere 700.

I've had mine about 3 months now, and I'm well chuffed with it.

Handles on the twisty B roads, enough overtaking power on the faster A roads, and with a 16 tooth front sprocket also very useable on the Motorways. I.m also getting high 60's mpg. (So an easy 200-220 mile range)

I cannot vouch for it off road, but from the reviews I've seen it'll certainly match any of those bigger Adventure bikes.

Edited by BlackG7R on Wednesday 24th August 19:20

More and more this is my next bike

[spareparts]

outnumbered said:

GS isn't ideal for commuting due to the bar height and width, I would want something narrower if I was doing central London daily.

As a regular rider through London on a GS, I have to slightly disagree with this. The height of the GS handlebars are taller than all normal car wing mirrors. Easy to filter past regular cars and not worry about clipping their mirrors. They are the same height, however, as a few vans which is a challenge.

In comparison, I commuted for years on Vespas through London where their handlebars (albeit very narrow) were the same height and could clip car wing mirrors at the same height. What you gain in narrow width, you lose in terms of height. That being said, a slim (Vespa/Honda PCX/SH etc) scooter is still one of the most effective and efficient bikes through traffic. 300cc is even better with enough grunt to accelerate and own the gap ahead of other cars far better than a 125.

Bike aside, ease of filtering will mostly be down to the rider’s observation skills, make yourself be seen (road positioning, w@nker lights, and loud exhaust), and pace/timing to weave in/out of slower cars. Other riders who fail to filter easily normally struggle with road positioning, anticipation of others (certain vehicles demonstrate certain typical behaviours), and the confidence to pass other vehicles in close proximity. Unless you’re riding a Goldwing or similar!

[croyde]

Had a good look at a Tracer GT at a dealer yesterday.

Nice looking and sounding bike and it felt just right when sitting on it (test ride in a couple of weeks) but those clocks (screens) just awful and cheap looking...


Made me look more closely at the bike and I was just surprised at electrical tape already unraveling off wiring, stuff bolted on randomly, and the really cheap pressed steel rear brake pedal.

Looked like something off a 1980s DT100 trail bike.

And another quick shifter, really! why is it needed, more to go wrong especially with the convoluted linkage.

The overall package looks great, nice wheels, good shape, some nice colours but on getting close I'm not sure I'd be happy having spent nearly £13k.

Oh! and I'd much rather have a top box than panniers.

Let's see if I change my mind once I ride one.

[mikey_b]

Neal H said:

Triumph Tiger 900? Cheaper than the 1200 and lots of used ones about.

And on a similar note, a recent but second-hand Tiger Sport. A peach of a 1050cc engine. I have a 2013 one which I commute into London on, works very nicely for me, had it 9 years and 65k. They were made up to 2021 I think, so some recent low mileage used ones around now.

Not the one for you if you must have the absolute latest and greatest, with TFT dash and 27 levels of engine, TC and ABS maps. But as a solid and dependable road-focussed adventure bike with a great road engine, it's a vey good shout - if you want something aimed chiefly at tarmac, that is. Later ones have both cruise and traction control, so not completely devoid of modern day kit.

Autotrader has a few 2020 (70 plate) ones, 1k - 3k miles on the clock, for about £8800. If mine disappeared tomorrow, I'd be sorely tempted.

[croyde]

Cheers, I'll have a look at those.

[Speed addicted]

mikey_b said:

Neal H said:

Triumph Tiger 900? Cheaper than the 1200 and lots of used ones about.

And on a similar note, a recent but second-hand Tiger Sport. A peach of a 1050cc engine. I have a 2013 one which I commute into London on, works very nicely for me, had it 9 years and 65k. They were made up to 2021 I think, so some recent low mileage used ones around now.

Not the one for you if you must have the absolute latest and greatest, with TFT dash and 27 levels of engine, TC and ABS maps. But as a solid and dependable road-focussed adventure bike with a great road engine, it's a vey good shout - if you want something aimed chiefly at tarmac, that is. Later ones have both cruise and traction control, so not completely devoid of modern day kit.

Autotrader has a few 2020 (70 plate) ones, 1k - 3k miles on the clock, for about £8800. If mine disappeared tomorrow, I'd be sorely tempted.

I had a 2010 1050 Tiger (pre sport), it was a great all round bike. Comfortable and fast enough for most things. They’re very versatile and probably one of the more overlooked bikes.
The sport sorted the small issues I had with the earlier bike. Certainly worth a look for this sort of use.

My current Explorer is a bit cumbersome for filtering, my mate has an 850 tiger and that’s noticeably narrower and lighter while still being big enough for comfort.

I’d have a good look the 900 tiger if you’re buying new,

[oxnop]

Sounds like you need a Tenere 700. I’ve had a few bikes, bigger and smaller. Toured into Europe / British isles etc and done a couple of enduros.

After a few years off a bike I did loads of research, didn’t really have a budget (as sold my weekend car - Evo 6 - for strong money which meant wife said I could buy what I wanted).

I’ve not done many miles in the past year (done a solo tour/ wild camp plus a couple of full days hunting nice twisty roads in the dales / Pennines then a few off road trails) but what I have done leads me to think I will not sell it. The engine is a peach, it’s comfy, goes round corners very well plus let’s me do a few green lanes.

[Hugo Stiglitz]

oxnop said:

Sounds like you need a Tenere 700. I’ve had a few bikes, bigger and smaller. Toured into Europe / British isles etc and done a couple of enduros.

After a few years off a bike I did loads of research, didn’t really have a budget (as sold my weekend car - Evo 6 - for strong money which meant wife said I could buy what I wanted).

I’ve not done many miles in the past year (done a solo tour/ wild camp plus a couple of full days hunting nice twisty roads in the dales / Pennines then a few off road trails) but what I have done leads me to think I will not sell it. The engine is a peach, it’s comfy, goes round corners very well plus let’s me do a few green lanes.

And it looks bloody nice. A bike you turn to look at again.