The versatile U.S. model known as the Yamaha FJ-09 will be replaced with the 2019 Tracer 900 and Tracer 900 GT in the second half of 2018 at prices undetermined at this time.
Adopting the European naming, Yamaha has also made several changes to these new models, which are detailed in the following press release. For example, redesigned seating and wind protection, together with a longer swingarm, are featured on the standard Tracer 900, while the GT model gets standard hard bags and a different instrument panel, together with fully-adjustable suspension, a quick shifter, cruise control and heated grips.
Here is the full press release from Yamaha:
Cypress, CA – November 6, 2017 – The versatile Tracer 900 Sport Touring motorcycle was introduced today by Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, and it is set to replace the company’s existing FJ-09 model for 2019. Featuring a number of updates and refinements, the new Tracer 900 will continue to offer performance, versatility and value.
Adding to the lineup, Yamaha also unveiled a premium-packaged Tracer 900 GT, which includes color-matched hard side cases, a quick shift system (QSS), cruise control and more.
While European-spec Yamaha motorcycles have used the “Tracer” model name since the introduction of the Tracer 900 in 2015, the replacement of the “FJ” name with “Tracer” for US-spec models is part of Yamaha’s ongoing initiative to unite the global community of Tracer riders who share the “Roads of Life.”
Making tomorrow’s memories on the roads of life.
Whether riding solo for the commute to work, or spending weeks crossing the continent with a passenger and luggage, Yamaha’s Sport Touring motorcycles provide a world of opportunity to make memories that will last a lifetime. Combining outstanding sport performance, all round versatility and serious long distance ability, Yamaha’s Sport Touring lineup is designed to appeal to a wide range of riders who are looking to enjoy the many new experiences, places and people that they’ll discover when travelling the Roads of Life.
2019 Tracer 900 and Tracer 900 GT
Launched three years ago, the FJ-09 quickly became established as the definitive Sport Tourer in the fast growing sub-1000cc class. With its thrilling sports performance, agile handling and the ability to handle long distances with ease, the new Tracer 900 will continue to be a pillar of Yamaha’s Sport Touring lineup.
The Tracer 900 motorcycle is one of those rare models that has the ability to excel in almost any role, from long distance touring to sport riding and day-to-day commuting. Powered by Yamaha’s much loved 847cc crossplane concept 3-cylinder engine with strong linear torque, the Tracer 900 is extremely enjoyable to ride, and its versatility represents the true spirit of motorcycling.
2019 Tracer 900
For 2019, Yamaha’s team of designers have concentrated on reinforcing the much loved strengths and values of the successful FJ-09 while developing it into the new Tracer 900. They focused on introducing a range of updates and changes that are aimed at enhancing the bike’s touring potential, while also delivering an even more refined, high quality product.
Improved wind protection and refined body style
There’s a larger windscreen that offers better upper body weather protection for a more relaxing and enjoyable ride on longer journeys – and with its manual height adjustment facility, it can be quickly set to the desired position. For enhanced passenger comfort the 2019 model also features a revised passenger footrest assembly together with the newly designed grab bars.
Yamaha’s designers have also made subtle but efficient revisions to all of the body panels and covers in order to improve the overall look, feel and quality of the 2019 model. A new air intake area on the front cowl gives a more refined appearance, and the design of the fuel tank’s side panels and side wings are also revised to enhance the overall style.
Revised rear geometry for improved touring characteristics
The Tracer 900 is equipped with a newly designed aluminum swingarm as well as revised rear shock settings to further enhance the bike’s touring performance.
Increased rider and passenger comfort
Both the rider’s and passenger’s seats are a new design. In addition to providing high levels of comfort, they also enhance the premium look and feel of the Tracer 900. The rider’s seat can be adapted for height in 2 positions, high and low, to accommodate your personal riding style. Plus, there’s a soft pad on the tank for added rider comfort on longer journeys.
The Tracer 900 also benefits from narrower handlebars together with slimmer and lighter hand guards. The new layout gives a more natural riding position for added comfort, and the new handlebars help to keep the rider’s arms out of the airflow at higher speeds.
2019 Tracer 900 New Features
- More refined, high quality body panel design
- Narrower handlebars with lighter and slimmer hand guards
- Newly designed seating for increased rider/passenger comfort
- New 1-hand adjustable windscreen for easier adjustment and better weather protection
- Longer aluminum swingarm for great cornering and traction characteristics
- New passenger footrest assembly gives greater comfort
- New passenger grab bars
- New rear fender
Tracer 900 Technical Highlights
- 847cc, 3-cylinder, liquid-cooled, 4-valve engine
- Assist and Slipper (A&S) clutch
- 3-mode Traction Control System (TCS)
- Tracer-specific D-MODE selectable running modes
- Slim and lightweight Controlled Fill die-cast aluminum frame
- Large capacity long-range 4.8 gallon fuel tank
- Main stand and ABS fitted as standard equipment
Color
- Armor Gray
Availability and Price
The first 2019 Tracer 900 motorcycles destined for the US market are due to arrive in the 2nd half of 2018, and the MSRP will be announced in the coming months.
2019 Tracer 900 GT
Joining Yamaha’s Sport Touring range for 2019 is the Tracer 900 GT, a new model that comes with a premium specification as standard. Developed from the Tracer 900 and sharing the same specification upgrades, the Tracer 900 GT is designed to offer sport touring riders the ultimate package at a competitive price.
Color-matched hard side cases fitted as standard equipment
The Tracer 900 GT comes fitted with quickly-detachable 22-litre color matched Genuine Yamaha hard side cases as standard equipment, allowing for added convenience right from the showroom floor.
Full color TFT instrument panel
Tracer 900 GT riders get a unique view from the cockpit, with the latest TFT (Thin Film Transistor) instrument panel. Featuring a full color display, this high specification instrument panel comes with a comprehensive range of information, including gear position indication, ambient temperature, coolant temperature, current riding mode, fuel level status and fuel consumption averages.
Premium suspension
The Tracer 900 GT is equipped with a premium suspension package that features fully adjustable front forks offering the rider the ability to set their bike up to suit different loads and conditions. These fully adjustable forks come with a beautiful gold finish.
For easy and convenient suspension set up when carrying a passenger or luggage, the Tracer 900 GT features a remote preload adjuster for the rear shock. It’s the quick and effective way to set the bike up.
Quick Shift System (QSS)
The Tracer 900 GT’s Quick Shift System transforms acceleration performance of the bike by allowing the rider to make seamless clutchless upshifts. Based on the system used on the latest MT-09, the QSS gives this premium Sport Tourer an even more exciting character that’s sure to be appreciated by performance minded riders.
Cruise Control
The Tracer 900 GT also benefits from the fitment of a cruise control system as standard equipment. It’s the same system that’s used on the MT-10, and can be set to control the riding speed in 4th, 5th and 6th gear when riding above 31 mph. This system is operated by a switch on the left handlebar cluster, and can be used to increase or decrease cruising speed in 1.5 mph increments.
Advantages include reduced right arm and hand fatigue on long journeys, and also being able to maintain a constant speed when riding on hilly or uneven roads.
The system is automatically cancelled by the application of brakes, clutch or throttle, and features a resume button that allows the rider to reset to the previous setting. Cruise Control makes longer journeys more enjoyable, and it can help to avoid exceeding speed limits.
Heated grips
The Tracer 900 GT is an all-weather, all-season motorcycle that’s built to get across continents, and the provision of heated grips is a real bonus for the serious Sport Touring rider.
2019 Tracer 900 GT Exclusive Features
- Color matched hard side cases fitted as standard
- Full color TFT instrument panel (Thin Film Transistor)
- Fully adjustable gold colored upside down front forks
- Rear shock with remote preload adjuster
- Quick Shift System (QSS) for seamless upshifting
- Cruise Control
- Heated grips
Tracer 900 GT Technical Highlights
- 847cc, 3-cylinder, liquid-cooled, 4-valve engine
- Assist and Slipper (A&S) clutch
- 3-mode Traction Control System (TCS)
- Tracer-specific D-MODE selectable running modes
- Slim and lightweight CF die-cast aluminum frame
- Large capacity long-range 4.8 gallon fuel tank
- Main stand and ABS fitted as standard equipment
Color
- Raven
Availability and Price
The first 2019 Tracer 900 GT motorcycles destined for the US market are due to arrive in the 2nd half of 2018, and the MSRP will be announced in the coming months.
To find out more about the 2019 Tracer motorcycle models, visit https://www.yamahamotorsports.com/sport-touring.
More information related to all Yamaha products can be found at https://www.yamahamotorsports.com.
See more of MD’s great photography:
Although not enamored with its looks I couldn’t resist the FJ-09 as a comfortable lightweight economical sports tourer and bought a 2015 model. I love it, it’s a great weekend getaway bike, and these enhancements would seem to make it even better. The looks have even grown on me, I get a surprising number of compliments on it. However, it’s not an “adventure bike,” if that means off-road capabilities. It’s 100% a street-only bike.
Longer swing arm & new suspensions hope can eliminate wobble issue. If not, Tracer wont be in my next list. Shorter handle bar is very much welcome.. shorter person 165cm like me needs it
A nice practical bike, that’s refreshing. Decent weather protection, power, hard bags (though they look tiny), that’s what we need more of.
Just buy a touring bike that will haul a dirt bike and be done with it! You ain’t goin’ too far off-road with this bike anyway.
The hell?
The lads at “Motorcyclist” did just what you suggested and had a grand time.
This isn’t a dual sport?
Who the hell is that video for…..apparently only bearded men who like to drink water from streams and like to look at other shirtless bearded men…..yamaha, you’re killing me
Well said. As “Men on Film” might say, “The real story was deep in the dark, dank, moist, forest campground with all the sweaty menz!”
The end of this film with the righteous handshake between the two bearded lads, was total bromance. Outside of a film that needs “no homo” at the end of it, the bike looks to be nice enough and can even be had with cruise control for those long drones between the aforementioned deep, dark, dank, moist, forest campgrounds with all those (apparently bearded) sweaty menz. LOL!
Kinda gives “cruise control” a weird meaning. Ugh. Still a cool bike meant to be ridden further than a great many others on sale out there. Good for Yamaha. Later gentlemen.
I like this bike way better than the new BMWs profiled elsewhere.
Looks better than the original version, which was a major stumbling block to me getting on board with it. Nice to see cruise control added, too bad it’s only available on the undoubtedly more expensive GT version. I might have to seriously consider picking up a GT when they become available.
Because these are throttle by wire bikes and the ECUs already have the programing for cruise control it may be easy to add the switches for making it work on the standard model and maybe even on the older models.They could have a kit for it.
It could be easy, but… I just went looking online for cruise controls for the FJ-09 and FZ-09/MT-09. Seem to be $500+, and involve a lot more than just adding the switches.
No, it looks to me like Yamaha has decided to force you up into the GT model (which may not even be coming to Canada, in which case Yamaha just lost a sale) to get the cruise control.
Those are aftermarket kits. Now that the switch parts will be available from Yamaha for the GT it may be easy to add that part and have the ECU hacked to work with it. Even the older bikes had the programing for cruise but no harness connections for the switches.
I would look good on that bike! If I ever need to replace my KTM 1190 Adventure I might go this route
The world outside of the US called the FJ-09 as MT-09. The Tracer is the Euro Tourer version.
Yamaha US is bending the story a bit here.
No, they got it right. The MT-09 is the FZ-09 in the US.
My issue with the 09 engine is that it whines. Fix that and the GT would be something that I would consider if I wasn’t content with my air cooled Multistrada.
Unless I misunderstood what I was reading, I believe Yamaha is renaming their motorcycle line the same everywhere for 2018. The “FZ” will be no more, replaced by “MT” the world over. We get the “Tracer,” too, instead of the FJ-09.
Wonder whether the fueling is fully sorted yet, as it is on the XSR900. Also, is the new taller windshield still ungodly noisy and prone to buffeting? Lastly, at only 22 liters are those new hardbags large enough to hold a full-face helmet?
One thing they clearly improved was the instrument cluster. The FJ-09’s was one seriously homely affair. This new TFT display looks much nicer.
The entire bike looks much nicer, and the additions of factory hardbags, cruise control, and heated grips are fantastic (the Ninja 1000 needs them as standard equipment), but the noisy windshield remains my primary concern. I’m thinking they should have gone much smaller with it, rather than larger.
Oh, and why on earth did they have to go and ruin the look of the front end with that single low-beam headlight, despite having daytime running lights over both lights? These manufacturers simply have to stop this nonsense. Two headlights? Great. Just make sure they both light up, low beam or high beam.
I agree on the headlights. I don’t care how well optimized the reflectors are for only low or high beam usage, the light output of two 55/60 W bulbs (or LED equivalents) can’t be matched by a single one. My V-Strom had dual high/low beams and was the best bike I’ve ever owned in terms of lighting up the road.
One of the gripes I have with my son’s FJ09 is that one headlight. When he is behind me it looks burnt out.
I don’t think the side cases hold a large ff helmet. My son sticks his in the trunk he added.
The larger cases from the FJ1300 will snap right in on your son’s FJ-09. Hopefully the same will be true with this new Tracer GT.
Better still would have been for Yamaha to offer the larger cases as standard equipment.
The fueling is the same as the XSR. The bags are the narrow ones and will not fit a helmet in them. The larger FJR13 bags are wider,fit the same mounts but not sure they will handle a full face either.
Yes, the FJ1300 bags will hold a FF helmet.
If the fueling on this one is the same as the XSR900, then it’s different from the last FJ-09, which still had too much on-off snatchiness.
I couldn’t think of anything positive to comment on the CBR1000R but this seems like a really nice bike. Yamaha once sold a 50cc machine (the Yamahopper) with a drive shaft so I know it’s not a matter of cost. There is a picture of one on the last page of the December 2017 issue of Rider magazine.
Eh? Bill, have you been sniffing the exhaust again?
Nice upgrades that just might seal the deal for me.
But what’s with the hot tub shots? Is Yamaha angling for a certain “demographic”?
The GT seems to check all my boxes. Hopefully the load capacity has been bumped up a bit over the FJ-09, since that was my one big concern with that bike. In full gear, my wife and I would have bumped right up against the limit, leaving very little for luggage. This had me leaning toward the Versys 1000, which had a higher load rating, but really didn’t care for the styling.
Tracer helps my abs.
Just when I thought I was set on a Z900RS, they go and do this… I was interested in the FJ-09 before, but there were little issues that kept me from buying one. It seems the Tracer GT has addressed these issues, but we’ll see! Not sure I want to wait until the second half of next year, though. Hmmm…
Will the suspension really finally be good enough? How about the off-on throttle transition fueling? Will there be a true half-fairing Fazer version?
This looks like a great bike. I wish they’d bring in the Tracer 700, too.
Yes, please. I’d even go for a 660 single version. For me, lighter is better.
My biggest concern is that they may have never actually corrected the issue with the all to common CCT failure in that engine.
You could just install the all to common MCCT.
The CCT is on gen 3, and I haven’t seen a single post on the FZ09 forums about any failures on 2016+ models. I think they have it handled…
Whelp, i know what i’m buying next.
Looks like a winner.
Yamaha Canada lists the Tracer 900 at 11 999 canadian $. The GT variant isn’t on the canadian site.
Canada won’t get it. What a shame!!!
Nice touches added to the GT. That should make the bike quite a value in the sport touring world.
Agreed. Wish it came in a shaft drive version.
That’s a fine looking motorcycle. I would disagree that “heated grips are a real bonus for the SERIOUS sport touring rider.” Heated grips are a real bonus for every rider. 🙂
I prefer heated gloves.
re: “While European-spec Yamaha motorcycles have used the “Tracer” model name since the introduction of the Tracer 900 in 2015, the replacement of the “FJ” name with “Tracer” for US-spec models is part of Yamaha’s ongoing initiative to unite the global community of Tracer riders who share the “Roads of Life.”
translation: use of semi-stodgy FJ moniker didn’t have quite the youthful brand response in the states as we had hoped.
“Tracer Bullet, Private Eye.”