The Tracer 700 takes the best middleweight engine Yamaha make and wraps it in a bike you can actually cover distance on. The 689cc CP2 parallel twin produces 74bhp and 50lb-ft, and with the 270 degree crank it has the character and off-beat sound of a V-twin with torque available everywhere. It pulls hard from 3,000rpm in any gear, which is exactly what you want from a bike that has to commute, tour and still entertain on a Sunday.
What sets it apart from the MT-07 it is based on is the practicality. A three litre bigger fuel tank, an adjustable screen, a taller and more comfortable riding position, proper pillion accommodation and a rear rack ready for luggage.
It is still light. At 196kg wet it is far lighter than most sports tourers, so it steers like a naked rather than feeling like a big machine, and it is easy to manage at walking pace and in traffic. Braking is by twin 282mm discs with four-piston calipers and ABS as standard.
This one is a 2017 model which features a comfort seat, datatag, three keys including the red one, owners manual and service book with a full history comprising of seven stamps and stacks of paperwork.