Yamaha has expanded its sport-touring range with the all-new MT-07 derived Tracer 700.
The new Tracer model is the smaller sibling of the existing three-cylinder MT-09 Tracer, and fills a gap in the company’s current middleweight line-up.
The naked MT-07 has proven to be a very popular bike in both its LAMS and unrestricted forms, and the Tracer 700 will build on that popularity but bring a new level of practicality to the range.
It has a more upright riding position, top fairing and slightly revised mechanical parts that make it a better choice of machine for riding over greater distances.
The 56kW 690cc twin-cylinder engine, the wheels and brakes have all been left unchanged.
Yamaha has tweaked the frame though.
The seat height has been raised by 40mm, the swingarm lengthened by 50mm, and the suspension changed to match the altered frame geometry.
Yamaha says the overall result is a bike with greater stability when touring with a pillion or luggage.
The bike is also heavier, but still a reasonable weight at 196kg.
The new Tracer 700 has a manually adjustable windscreen, hand guards and dual seat.
Yamaha has given the bike a 17-litre fuel tank, 3 litres more than the MT-07, to increase the range of the bike.
The electronics have been kept very simple, with only the mandatory ABS fitted as standard equipment.
The bike is being released in the UK and the US in July, but Yamaha Australia is yet to announce whether it will be released here.
Given that we have the Tracer 900, it would be a reasonable guess that it will be.