Being committed to the motorcycle market, as the people at Principal Insurance are, the team in the office are always delighted to ride a different range of bikes. For the last number of years they’ve enjoyed the company of the rather wonderful Ducati Diavel. This month it was time for a change and they’ve gone for the all new Yamaha Tracer 900 GT.
The Tracer was first launched in 2015. Back then it made for a huge change from the traditional tourer. It was out with the heavy, slow big bikes and in with a lightweight and dynamic machine that did exactly the same job, just faster. This time, however, it was a lot more fun! Then in 2018 the bike had a major overhaul and the new machine is, of course, even lighter than the original.
Powered by that wonderful triple crossplane engine and also housed in a deltabox derived frame, both of which also feature in the MT 09 and the XSR 900, this is a bike that is designed to be responsive and fun to ride. It also makes for a very usable machine, regardless of where its being used. A cross city commute solo or with a pillion is taken in the bikes stride as easily as a Sunday morning adventure or a trip across Europe fully loaded with luggage and the aforementioned pillion.
Speaking of luggage the side boxes hide their weight thanks to using a ‘Floating Stay’ system. Quite simply the boxes have some movement built in. this makes for a bike that enjoys stability at higher speeds. The bike can also take a top case. Additionally Yamaha’s 6-axis Inertial Measurement Unit also makes an appearance here. This makes for a significant step up in motorcycling safety. It links the slide control, the ABS as well as the traction control system to deliver a seamless safety package.
The Tracer has no fewer than four different riding modes. These are Sport, Road, Standard and Rain. Cruise control also comes as standard on both models offered, the standard one and the full spec GT. Principal are using the GT version and it’ll be ridden by their very own Keith O’Donohue.
Keith loves the new bike, “The new Tracer GT is so easy to ride. I’ve always liked my Yamahas, but this is the best one so far! I’ve also got some new kit with an Alpinestars Gore-Tex suit and a new helmet from HJC. We got the bike from Megabikes and the team there couldn’t have been more friendly”. You can catch up with him and the bike at any of the many events that the team will be attending during the year.
Principal are on 0818 945 950 and the bike, along with the rest of the Yamaha range, is available from dealers across the country. This one came from Megabikes in Ballymount. Call them on 014784200 to talk about yours.