Yamaha Tracer 700 (RM14B) 2020: Specs & Facts

The Machine's Character

The Tracer 700 takes the easygoing, fun-first personality of Yamaha's MT-07 and turns it into a practical long-distance bike. At its center is the 689 cc CP2 parallel twin with 75 hp and 50 lb-ft. It won't win a power contest, but it makes flexible, likeable thrust through the midrange. The steel diamond frame carries adjustable suspension at both ends, and the adjustable windscreen and twin LED headlights come standard. At 432 lb (196 kg) wet, it sits at the light, approachable end of sport-touring. It's a middleweight with real touring gear, not a heavyweight scaled down.

This bike rewards riders who value ease over muscle. It turns in without effort, gets through traffic like a naked bike, and keeps running costs low. Around 50 mpg from a 4.5 gal (17 L) tank keeps fuel stops sensible. My honest caveat: 75 hp is below what I expect from a sport-tourer that has to haul a passenger and full luggage with authority. The rider-aid suite is ABS and nothing else, so there's no traction control, no ride modes and no cruise control. Buy it as a light, sensible, genuinely enjoyable solo tourer and it makes a lot of sense.

Hard Numbers

Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.

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Key specifications
Power	75 hp (55 kW) @ 9,000 rpm
Torque	50 lb-ft (68 Nm) @ 6,500 rpm
Displacement	689 cc
Engine	Parallel twin
Cooling	Liquid-cooled
Gearbox	6-speed
Final drive	Chain
Fork	Telescopic
Front brake	282 mm
Front tire	120/70-17
Rear tire	180/55-17
Wheelbase	57.7 in (1465 mm)
Seat height	32.9 in (835 mm)
Wet weight	432 lb (196 kg)
Fuel capacity	4.5 gal (17 L)
Fuel economy	50 mpg (US)

Equipment check

Chassis

Front Suspension Adjustable Standard
Rear Suspension Adjustable Standard

Comfort

Heated Grips Optional
Adjustable Windscreen Standard
Luggage System Optional

Lighting

LED Headlight Standard

Safety

ABS Standard

The Truth on the Street

What follows comes from years of listening: paddock talk, club-night conversations, and the emails and messages owners send me once they've put real miles on their bikes. On the Tracer 700 the pattern is clear. Riders praise the engine, the light feel and the value, while the complaints center on wind and looks.

What owners keep coming back to

The engine comes up first and most often. Owners describe a twin with plenty of pull from low revs and a top end that still rewards a twist of the wrist, easygoing one moment and lively the next. Riders also keep mentioning how light the bike feels for a tourer and how willingly it changes direction. Many credit the revised seat and wider bars for keeping long days comfortable, and most feel they got real sport-touring ability for the money.

Loud air and a quiet look

The screen draws the most consistent criticism. Even at its highest setting, owners report heavy wind noise and buffeting, and taller riders feel it most. The other recurring note is visual. Some owners find the paint schemes and overall look too understated and call the bike unexciting, despite the styling updates.

Known issues

Inaccurate fuel gauge

electrics occasional

Some owners report the fuel gauge showing empty prematurely, with some fuel still remaining in the tank.

The Expert Benchmark

Where this Yamaha Tracer 700 pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.

What kind of bike this is — character vs. the class

High-Speed Calm

Two-Up Mile-Eating Comfort

Load-Resistant Chassis Balance

Smooth Overtaking Power

Premium Touring Equipment Depth

Daily-to-Touring Versatility

Neutral Corner Flow

This bike Class average

The shape of the Yamaha Tracer 700 — numbers and character vs. the average Sport Tourer

Head-to-head: Yamaha Tracer 700 vs. its rivals

Power

75 hp This bike 69 hp Kawasaki Versys 650 90 hp BMW F 800 GT 59 hp Honda NC750X 105 hp KTM 890 SMT

Torque

50 lb-ft This bike 47 lb-ft Kawasaki Versys 650 63 lb-ft BMW F 800 GT 51 lb-ft Honda NC750X 74 lb-ft KTM 890 SMT

Displacement

689 cc This bike 649 cc Kawasaki Versys 650 798 cc BMW F 800 GT 745 cc Honda NC750X 889 cc KTM 890 SMT

Wet weight

432 lb This bike 472 lb Kawasaki Versys 650 470 lb BMW F 800 GT 472 lb Honda NC750X

Seat height

32.9 in This bike 33.1 in Kawasaki Versys 650 31.5 in BMW F 800 GT 31.5 in Honda NC750X 33.9 in KTM 890 SMT

The Long-Haul Verdict

Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the Tracer 700 is actually built for.

Aerial view of a winding asphalt road cutting through volcanic terrain on La Gomera, Canary Islands. The road curves through sparse green vegetation with rocky volcanic peaks visible in the background and a settled valley to the left. Clear lane markings, dry climate, partly cloudy sky.

Best motorcycle for Highway 1?

For 200–400 mile days on the Blue Ridge or Highway 1, this is a light, relaxed and genuinely fun partner. Ride solo, pack sensibly, and it covers the miles without wearing you out.

Made for Black Hills · Blue Ridge Parkway · Cherohala Skyway

Best motorcycle for Tail of the Dragon?

Light, easy steering and a flexible twin let you focus on your lines instead of fighting the bike. For the ride out from Knoxville or Charlotte, the touring comfort is a real bonus.

Made for Back of the Dragon · Blue Ridge Parkway · Cherohala Skyway

Best touring motorcycle for long distance?

Solo and packed light, it will get you to Beartooth and back cheaply. For two-up, fully loaded continental trips, the 75 hp and ABS-only electronics will feel stretched.

Made for Beartooth Highway · Blue Ridge Parkway · Going-to-the-Sun Road