Yamaha Tracer 700 First Impressions

New £6299 sports-tourer is effortless fun in the Italian Alps

Just stopped for lunch at the stunning Belvedere view point on the incredible Col dei Rossi, and Yamaha’s new Tracer 700 has been the perfect partner so far. 

It’s really light and effortless to chuck around these crazy corners – and at 196kg fully fuelled, it’s the lightest bike in its class too.

Combining the 689cc parallel twin from the MT-07 with a more upright riding position and 50mm stretched swingarm, the Tracer’s got plenty of bottom end shove to power you up the incredibly steep mountain switchbacks, and it flicks into corners effortlessly and with enough accuracy to allow you to negotiate a tight line through all the Chris Froome wanabees that are up here too. 

The reworked suspension is riding over some of the rougher sections of road really well, and the Tracer’s new longer rear shock is keeping the back end composed on some of the faster roads we’ve been on so far. Grip is never an issue thanks to the brilliant Michelin Pilot Road 4 tyres, even in the huge downpour we’ve just been caught in.

Full report to come this evening.