Adventure touring bikes are great because they are smack in the middle of touring and sports bikes. They can handle different terrains pretty well and are agile up to some extent. Today we are going to compare Yamaha Tracer 900 vs. Suzuki V Strom 1000.
The Tracer GT (top speed: 140 miles an hour) and the V Strom 1000 (Top speed: 125 miles an hour) are the two that belong to the adventure category and offer you the best of both worlds. These bikes come with powerful tires and have excellent suspension and brakes.
The engines on these bikes are quite powerful and carry the load and produce pace as well. Let’s compare these two bikes and which one of them comes out on top. One is better in speed and agility, while the other is superior in handling and maneuverability.
Let’s see which one of them comes on top in this ultimate showdown!
Industry History
Yamaha
Yamaha has been around for many years and producing some of the best rides available on the market. One of the best features of these bikes from Yamaha is they are available in various trims and hues, and you can pick one according to your preferences. Yamaha has also improved its technology over the years and is among the reliable brands.
Suzuki
Suzuki is one of the Asian giants, and it is well known for its bikes featuring powerful engines. One of the best features of these bikes is that there are different models available for different niches. And this is one of the reasons why Suzuki has been so successful throughout the globe. If you are looking for a quality ride at an affordable price, Suzuki is the way to go for you.
Yamaha Tracer 900 vs. Suzuki V Strom 1000 – An Overview
The Tracer 900 GT 2019
The Tracer 900 GT is equipped with different long-distance features that have been enhanced for better performance; these include the likes of integrated side bags, cruise control, and heated grips. This bike is all about features and performance and has the amenities to keep your ride comfortable in the wilderness.
The V Strom 1000 2019
If you are looking for some more speed and agility, you need to go for the V Strom 1000. The bikes are equipped with various innovative systems for maintaining engine performance and exceptional fuel economy. And it does so while maintaining the global emission standards as well. And to add to that, this bike looks sleek and stylish.
Comparison Chart
Features | The Tracer 900 GT 2019 | The V Strom 1000 2019 |
Fuel and vehicle type | Petrol adventure bike | Petrol adventure bike |
Fuel tank capacity | 4.8 gallons | 5.3 gallons |
Engine type | Liquid-cooled, 12-valve, inline triple cylinder DOHC engine | Liquid-cooled, V-twin DOHC 12-valve engine |
Displacement | 847cc | 1037cc |
Maximum power | 113.5 HP @ 10,000 RPM | 99 HP @ 8,000 RPM |
Maximum torque | 64.5 lb-ft @ 8,500 RPM | 75 lb-ft @ 4,000 RPM |
Gear transmission | 6-speed slipper clutch w/ multi-plate assist | 6-speed wet clutch w/ multi-plate assist |
Weight | ~475 lbs | ~511 lbs |
Seating capacity and type | 2, dual stepped | 2, dual stepped |
Seat height | 33.5 to 34.1 inches | 33.5 inches |
Front and rear suspension | Adjustable inverted fork w/ 5.4-inch travel and mono-shock w/ 5.6-inch travel | Inverted telescopic fork and mono-shock both w/ 6.3-inch travel |
Front and rear brakes | Dual hydraulic disc brake and single hydraulic disc brake w/ ABS | Dual mechanical disc brake and single mechanical disc |
Front and rear tires | 120/70ZR17 and 180/55ZR17 | 110/80R19 and 150/70R17 |
Wheelbase | 59.1 inches | 61.2 inches |
Ground clearance | 5.3 inches | 6.5 inches |
Engine
Let’s begin our discussion on this comparison between the Yamaha Tracer 900 vs. Suzuki V Strom 1000 with the engines. Both the adventure bikes come with powerful engines. They both are equipped with DOHC engines, with the Tracer GT featuring an inline engine while the V-Strom featuring a V-Twin. Therefore, the Tracer is a bit easier to handle than the V-Strom when it comes to maintenance.
However, the Tracer GT comes with a lower displacement but can manage higher torque and power. Hence, this bike is a better option when it comes to speed and agility. With this engine, the bike can manage a top speed of up to 140 miles an hour.
Therefore, if you are looking for some speed in your adventure bike or if you are looking to hit the higher mountain roads in addition to the off-road tours, this is the right option for you. In other words, this bike is much more suitable for riding the highways.
Besides, the V-Strom is more geared towards riding the off-road contentions. As a result, it can handle off-road conditions way better than the Tracer GT. And the best part is that it can also carry plenty of load on it too. So, if you are looking to go off-road with your bike, then the V-Strom is a much better option than the Tracer.
So, we are going to say that there is no winner here. The Tracer GT is much more suitable for road tours, while the V-Strom is more designed for off-road tours. So, they both are great machines in their respective ways.
Weight
Let’s compare these machines’ weight to Yamaha Tracer 900 vs. Suzuki V Strom 1000. First, this is obvious as the Tracer is more of a speedster and designed for paved roads. Therefore, it is going to weigh less than the V-Strom.
On the other hand, the V-Strom is designed for off-road, and it is much better equipped to carry more loads. Hence, the Tracer is much faster than the V-Strom, while the V-Strom is much better in load capacity.
If you tend to carry a lot of weight with you on your tours then the V Strom is a much better option for you to consider. However, if you prefer to get to the destination with speed and don’t carry much luggage, you need to go with the Tracer GT.
Maneuvering and handling will be much easier with a lightweight bike which is the Tracer GT. However, you will feel that the bike is much more stable and well-balanced when riding the V-Strom.
So again, if you are looking for speed and prefer to ride the paved surfaces, then the Tracer is a great choice; otherwise, the V Strom is a better option for off-road conditions and where you will take plenty of gear with you.
The V Strom also features a much bigger fuel tank, so you will have to deal with fewer refills with this bike compared to the Tracer GT. Hence, the winner of this round overall is the V-Strom 1000.
Suspension and Brakes
Now let’s talk about the brakes and suspension in this comparison of Yamaha Tracer 900 vs. Suzuki V Strom 1000. The brakes and suspension systems on each of these bikes serve a different purpose.
The V Strom’s suspension system features a telescopic fork system on the front and a mono-shock on the rear end. So at both ends, you will get plenty of travel as well. Both the ends can manage 6.3-inch travel, which is pretty good, and you are in it for a comfortable ride no matter how rough the conditions get when you are not riding any paved surfaces.
On the other hand, the Tracer GT has a suspension system that is more designed to handle speed than anything else. Therefore, you will find an adjustable inverted fork system on the front end and a mono-shock on the rear end. Both of them can manage 5.4-inch and 5.6-inch of travel, respectively.
These numbers suggest that this bike can handle the off-road conditions pretty well, but it’s not as good as the V Strom. But the Tracer is better suited for riding the roads, and you can ride unpaved surfaces on it as well. So, the Tracer is much more versatile than the V Strom. The same is the situation with the braking system as well.
The Tracer GT is equipped with a hydraulic disc braking system with ABD on both ends. On the other hand, the V Strom only features mechanical disc brakes that are more suitable for riding at slow speeds on unpaved surfaces. So, in terms of percent, Tracer is the winner of this round.
Ergonomics
Now let’s have a little chat about the ergonomics of both these bikes in this comparison of Yamaha Tracer 900 vs. Suzuki V Strom 1000. The Tracer is much more aerodynamic in shape because it is built for more speed. On the other hand, the V Strom is equipped with a bigger engine that can take up some loads. But you can’t use it for riding at high speed because it’s not built that way. Still, it can manage a top speed of 125 miles an hour.
The V Strom is more of a traditional adventure bike, and it has better ground clearance. So, it is going to handle the uneven surfaces pretty well. But the thing is that it doesn’t come with an adjustable seat height, and your options are somewhat limited.
The Tracer GT does come with an adjustable seat height, and it also has a lower ground clearance. So, you will feel closer to the ground while riding, giving you more control at higher speeds.
The handlebars and footpegs are nicely designed, and the ride comfort itself is pretty good on both these bikes. But due to the adjustable seat height, the Tracer GT takes the lead here.
Looks and aesthetics
As we always say, the matter of looks and aesthetics is always highly subjective. It’s not the case that if someone likes a particular bike model, then the same bike will be a preferable choice for others.
Plus, riding style and road preferences always differ among people. Some people prefer to ride off-road more, while others prefer to ride the highways more. Some people also like to carry a lot of gear with them, while others pack a minimum to ride with speed. So, different people have different choices, and there is no right or wrong here.
Looks also matter to some, while others prefer performance more than anything else. The V Strom has a more traditional adventure-style look, while the Tracer GT has a hint of sports bike due to its more aerodynamic style for better speeds.
So, it’s all up to you which type you prefer. For a more off-road friendly traditional adventure bike, the V Strom is a better choice, while for speed demons who prefer to ride the highways on their tours and pack minimal, the Tracer GT is a better option.
Pricing
They both come at almost the same price, which will make things simple for you to make a decision. In addition, both the companies provide you with plenty of options to accessories your rides.
Some are already included, while others you will have to go for in case you need them. When talking about gear storage, the Tracer GT comes with storage compartments, and they are included in its base price.
You will have to configure your bike for the V Strom and accessorize it for the storage compartments. So, this is the signature model difference between the two. Hence, Tracer GT is more road-ready than the V Strom.
Yamaha Tracer 900 vs. Suzuki V Strom 1000 – The Similarities
Fuel and vehicle type
Both these machines come with the same fuel source and run-on gasoline. Moreover, they both are adventure bikes. However, the V Strom has a more traditional adventure bike style design, while the Tracer GT is more of a sports bike.
Gearing system
Both these bikes have a 6-speed manual transmission system. The only difference is that the Tracer GT has a slipper clutch while the V Strom has a wet clutch. And they both are quite effective in their performance.
Seat type and capacity
Both these machines come with a seating capacity for two persons, and the seating style is dual stepped. However, the V Strom is a much better performer with 2 persons riding the bike because it can handle the loads better.
Yamaha Tracer 900 vs. Suzuki V Strom 1000 – Pros & Cons
Yamaha Tracer 900 2019
Pros
- Built for speed.
- More aerodynamic.
- Superior braking system.
Cons
- Smaller fuel tank.
Suzuki V Strom 1000 2019
Pros
- Built to take up gear and loads.
- Better for off-road conditions.
- Super suspension.
Cons
- A bit difficult to maneuver.
Conclusion
So, the winner of this comparison of Yamaha Tracer 900 vs. Suzuki V Strom 1000 is the Suzuki V Strom 1000. This might be a bit of a surprise after going through the review above. But for a traditional adventure bike, the V Strom is a pretty good option. It has all the features that you need to go off-road and have some fun in the wilderness.
The Tracer GT is more of a touring bike that is designed for paved roads. So, the V Strom is much more versatile than the Tracer GT, and it can take up more gear as well. Plus, there is a bigger fuel tank on it. So, it has all the features of a great bike for long tours going off-grid.