Along with the MT-07, the MT-09 Tracer was a big seller for Yamaha in 2015, proving popular with riders who can’t helped but be attracted to it by the amount of bike you get for your money.
MCN Senior Reporter Andy Downes has had one on long term test, covering close to 8,000 miles so far, including plenty of trouble free winter miles on his all-round workhorse.
Well, almost trouble free…..
Unfortunately on one pitch-black evening ride home Andy picked up a screw in his rear Michelin Pilot Road 4, just about managing to limp home but then unable to find his repair kit which may have allowed him to make the short trip the following morning to get the tyre changed.
After having the bike recovered in a van, the plan was to fit Metzeler’s new Roadtec 01, which looks like it could rival the Pilot Road 4‘s famed wet grip with it’s completely redesigned tread pattern. However, there were no matching rear sizes in the country, so plan B was to fit the 2nd generation Metzeler Roadtec Z8 Interact whilst waiting for the latest tyre model to arrive.
In their 10th February 2016 issue Andy says of his new tyres:
“The old model has been around for a few years now, but the Z8s are still good and suit the Tracer well. They have so far not seen a single dry mile so it’s just as well they are reassuring in the wet.
So the Tracer is back on the road, and it’s been lashing down ever since but I still enjoy riding the bike so much I have barely noticed the gruesome weather.”
You can view the full range of Roadtec Z8 Interact sizes here.
