By NastyNils· ·
Motorcycle comparison · Naked Bike vs Sport Tourer
Yamaha Niken (MY2023-GT) vs Tracer 9 (MY2021-GT)
Yamaha Niken vs Tracer 9: where they split, and which one to buy.
Mid-corner on broken pavement, the Yamaha Niken's two front wheels don't let go of the surface. The Yamaha Tracer 9 flicks in and holds its line.
So which one do you buy?
The Niken has the edge if…
Daily commuting & city riding
Small edge: Niken
Day in, day out, the Niken nudges ahead in traffic. It isn't a big enough gap to plan around.
What makes each one tick
Niken
Three tires and a tilting nose keep the Niken settled, whatever the road throws at it. Corner entry feels like a motorcycle's, and the bike doesn't waver as it tips in. There's a torquey hum from the triple, fed through a ride-by-wire throttle that answers precisely. The twin-tire nose keeps leaning.
Tracer 9
Low in the revs, the Tracer 9's triple pulls like a twin, then rushes like a four near the top. There's a thick shove behind every crack of the throttle, and it peaks at 7,000 rpm. The triple's howl climbs with it.
Nils rode the Tracer 9 in 2021 (NastyNils Testride).
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The Tracer 9 has the lower seat: 31.9 in (810 mm) vs 32.9 in (835 mm).
- The Tracer 9 has the lower wet weight: 485 lb (220 kg) vs 595 lb (270 kg).
- Smartphone Connectivity: standard on the Niken, not offered on the Tracer 9.
Which one for the way you ride
Comfortable long-distance riding
No verdict: Niken
No long-distance verdict for the Niken. It's made for something else entirely.
A confidence-building first motorcycle
Not their thing
If this is your first motorcycle, keep looking. Neither one makes learning easy.
Call it even on twisty roads and running costs. Choose on fit, price and the one that makes you grin.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
Niken
What owners say
Strengths
- Incredible cornering stability and grip
- Smooth and refined inline-triple engine
Tracer 9
What owners say
Strengths
- Engine character — torquey, flexible CP3
- Excellent value — comprehensive standard kit
- Chassis precision and agility
- Functional semi-active KYB suspension
- Comprehensive electronics package
Trade-offs
- Wind buffeting and helmet noise
- Stock seat — slope and hardness
- Handlebar vibration zone 3.8–5.0k rpm
- Hard 1st-gear engagement and occasional false neutrals
- Two-screen TFT layout (GT only) — cluttered, daylight contrast
Known problems to check before you buy
Niken
No confirmed faults on file yet. That's not the same as fault-free.
Tracer 9
- Cruise control orange light flashes; cruise cannot be set or resumed The cruise control indicator flashes and the system refuses to set or resume. Cause traced in some cases to a sticky front-brake light switch or clutch-position switch (cruise interlocks) — sometimes resolved by an ignition cycle, sometimes requiring switch replacement; some owners report recurrence after dealer-replaced switches.
- Vibration through handlebar and footpegs in the 3,800–5,000 rpm range Owners report a buzz/numbness through the handlebar concentrated at approximately 3,800–5,000 rpm — a range that overlaps with 6th-gear highway cruising for many speeds. Smooths above approximately 5,000 rpm. Inherent to the long-stroke CP3 in this chassis.
- Front turn-signal mounting brackets work loose The front indicator stalks loosen at the bracket mounting point; light contact (e.g., a brush in the garage) can detach them. Refastening securely is difficult.
What they share
- Displacement
- 890 cc
- Engine
- Inline-three
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Peak power at
- 10,000 rpm
- Peak torque at
- 7,000 rpm
- Fuel capacity
- 4.8 US gal (18 L)
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Front brake
- 298 mm
Where the spec sheets split
| Niken | Tracer 9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 32.9 in (835 mm) | 31.9 in (810 mm) |
| Wet weight | 595 lb (270 kg) | 485 lb (220 kg) |
| Niken | Tracer 9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Power | 115 hp (85 kW) | 119 hp (88 kW) |
| Torque | 67 lb-ft (91 Nm) | 69 lb-ft (93 Nm) |
| Niken | Tracer 9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Front tire | 120/70-15 | 120/70-17 |
| Rear tire | 190/55-17 | 180/55-17 |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| Niken | Tracer 9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Smartphone Connectivity | Standard | Not offered |
| Navigation | Standard | Not offered |
| USB Charging Port | Standard | Option |
| Heated Grips | Option | Standard |
| Luggage System | Not offered | Standard |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
