Yamaha’s New Touring Bike Is So Good, It’ll Leave Americans Daydreaming

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: Yamaha sells some solid bikes across the pond that leave Americans green with envy. The Tracer 7 GT has been a prime example of this for years, courtesy of its epic blend of the punchy CP2 engine, impressive riding dynamics, and an easy-on-the-pocket price point. For 2025, your envy is going to soar even further, as the mid-capacity touring bike receives a major overhaul. There are updates left, right, and center, so let’s jump in.

The 2025 Yamaha Tracer 7 GT Boasts New Features And More Comfort

From afar, the Tracer 7 GT will look identical to its outgoing model and the Tracer 9 sold here. But the closer you look, the more changes come to light. Up top, the fascia has new LED DRLs and a compact LED headlight, flanked by new bodywork. The latter comprises new segmented fairings, a new front fender, a new windscreen, and an upgraded fuel tank.

Not only is the tank’s shape different, but it also holds 4.75 gallons of fuel (up from 4.49). At the rear, not much appears changed at the rear design-wise. But you do get sleeker-looking saddlebags and up-sized seats with extra padding to boost comfort. The luggage rack has also been ditched, so the pillion has 1.5 inches of extra space. In a similar fashion, the handlebar grips are higher and wider than before.

Updated Features Elevate The Tracer 7 GT’s Riding Experience

While you enjoy the ergos, you’ll also appreciate the updated features. A new TFT instrument cluster sits at the center, armed with smartphone connectivity and turn-by-turn navigation via the free Garmin StreetCross app. This is topped by new switchgear, heated grips, and a Type-C socket. Then, there are new electronic aids. We’ve listed them below for easier understanding:

The Tracer 7 GT’s Underpinnings Go Under The Knife, Too

Since its inception, the Tracer 7 has had basic underpinnings with telescopic forks and a monoshock. But that’s finally changing in 2025. New 41 mm USD forks take over at the front, offering 18 levels of rebound damping adjustment. Whereas, the rear end has an updated monoshock with a remote preload adjuster and an aluminum link to the new swingarm (1.5 inches longer).

Similarly, the brakes now have radial front calipers to provide strong and consistent stopping power for shedding speed. Speaking of speed, there are no changes to the CP2 parallel-twin engine. It has the same 72 horsepower and 50 pound-feet, all sent to the wheel via a six-speed transmission.

The New Tracer 7 GT Might Not Go On Sale In America

As mentioned above, the Tracer 7 GT has been a forbidden fruit in the US since its inception. And we don’t think that will change anytime soon. So the only Yamaha touring bike here remains the Tracer 9, and even that doesn’t get the ‘GT’ version in the States. It feels like a missed opportunity since such touring bikes do enjoy some popularity here. All we can do then is hope for Team Blue to prove us wrong.

2025 Yamaha Tracer 7 GT Specifications