By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Sport Tourer
Kawasaki Versys 1000 (LZT00A) vs Yamaha Tracer 9 (MY2021-GT)
Kawasaki Versys 1000 vs Yamaha Tracer 9: which one's easier to live with on a long trip.
Hit a broken patch of pavement on the Kawasaki Versys 1000 and its plush suspension doesn't let the jolt climb into your back. The Yamaha Tracer 9 hands that bump to semi-active KYB damping, and you've already picked how it reacts. Comfort and Sport modes make it ride like two bikes.
So which one do you buy?
The Tracer 9 has the edge if…
Daily commuting & city riding
Narrow edge: Tracer 9
Through rush hour, the Tracer 9 is a little easier to live with. Only a little.
Sporty riding on twisty roads
Inches ahead: Tracer 9
Back-road fun leans slightly toward the Tracer 9. Put it down to better suspension and a sportier chassis. It's a narrow call, so trust your test ride.
Comfortable long-distance riding
Nose ahead: Tracer 9
Hour after hour, the Tracer 9 feels a little kinder to you. Credit more stability at speed. It's a close-run thing, though.
What makes each one tick
Versys 1000
Low in the revs, the Versys 1000's inline-four shoves a passenger past a truck with little more than a roll of the grip. The four doesn't buzz. The brake lever hauls it down without fuss.
Nils rode the Versys 1000 in 2012 (NastyNils Testride).
Tracer 9
Sound and shove carry the Tracer 9, its triple pulling hard from low revs up to the 7,000 rpm torque peak. The exhaust note's half the fun. Its forged wheels carry less spinning mass at the rear, and once it's leaned over the bike holds its line. Corner entry takes a light nudge of the bar.
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 33.3 in (845 mm).
- The Tracer 9 has the lower wet weight: 485 lb (220 kg) vs 527 lb (239 kg).
- The Versys 1000 makes more peak torque: 75 lb-ft (102 Nm) vs 69 lb-ft (93 Nm).
Which one for the way you ride
A confidence-building first motorcycle
Not their thing
Learning on either of these is the hard way. A gentler bike will make you a better rider sooner.
Count running costs as a draw. The deal on the table and the condition of the bike matter more here.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
Versys 1000
What owners say
Strengths
- Exceptional reliability and low running costs
- Supremely comfortable for long‑distance touring
- Excellent value with standard electronic aids
- Surprisingly agile handling for its size
Trade-offs
- Polarizing styling not loved by all
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
Versys 1000
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
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Front tire
- 120/70-17
- Rear tire
- 180/55-17
Where the spec sheets split
| Versys 1000 | Tracer 9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 33.3 in (845 mm) | 31.9 in (810 mm) |
| Wet weight | 527 lb (239 kg) | 485 lb (220 kg) |
| Versys 1000 | Tracer 9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 1043 cc | 890 cc |
| Engine | Inline-four | Inline-three |
| Power | 118 hp (87 kW) | 119 hp (88 kW) |
| Peak power at | 9,000 rpm | 10,000 rpm |
| Torque | 75 lb-ft (102 Nm) | 69 lb-ft (93 Nm) |
| Peak torque at | 7,700 rpm | 7,000 rpm |
| Versys 1000 | Tracer 9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel economy | 41 mpg (US) / 5.7 L/100 km | 43 mpg (US) / 5.5 L/100 km |
| Fuel capacity | 5.5 US gal (21 L) | 4.8 US gal (18 L) |
| Versys 1000 | Tracer 9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Front brake | 300 mm | 298 mm |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| Versys 1000 | Tracer 9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Quickshifter | Not offered | Standard |
| Heated Grips | Option | Standard |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
