Yamaha Tracer 9 (890cc, 2021+) Maintenance Schedule and Service Intervals

This is the maintenance schedule and associated service intervals for the 2021+ Yamaha Tracer 9, one of Yamaha’s premium sport-touring motorcycles.

The Yamaha Tracer 9 is an update to the well-liked Tracer 900 (and Tracer 900 GT), which had the old (but still awesome) 847cc CP3 engine. Like the Tracer 900, it also comes in an up-spec GT variant which has many added extras like hand guards, a centre stand, and cruise control.

The new 2021 Tracer 9 and Tracer 9 GT has a host of improvements over the outgoing model with the 847cc CP3 engine. But the star of the show is the engine, an 890cc liquid-cooled 12-valve inline triple that makes a claimed 87.5 kW (117.4 hp) at 10000 rpm. It shares this engine with the new-for-2021 Yamaha MT-09.

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What you need to service the Yamaha Tracer 9 / GT — Consumables and Special Tools

If you’re servicing the Yamaha Tracer 9, you at least need motorcycle maintenance tools — things like an oil catch pan, a paddock stand, and so on. (Well, you don’t need the paddock stand if you have the GT as you would already have a centre stand.)

For the Yamaha Tracer 9 / GT, the manual recommends the following specific consumables.

Part	Yamaha Tracer 9 (890cc, 2021+) part spec
Engine oil	Yamaha recommends Yamalube 10W-40. The manual recommends “Yamalube” and it’s affordable, so why not! The manual has a whole section on “Why Yamalube” saying their oils come from “teams of specialists of mechanical engineering, chemistry, electronics, and track testing” and that Yamalube oils “have their own distinct characters and value”. Other high-quality synthetic oils include Motul 7100 10W-40 or Mobil 1 Synthetic 10W-40.
Oil filter	Needs to be changed every time you change the oil. The Hiflofiltro HF204RC is a good option. The standard Yamaha 5GH-13440-61-00 also works of course.
Engine coolant	Yamaha recommends an ethylene glycol antifreeze with corrosion inhibitors like Yamalube coolant. But a good alternative is — bear with me — Honda Coolant.
Spark Plugs	NGK LMAR9A-9 should be used per the manual. Make sure it’s gapped correctly to 0.8-0.9 mm (with a gapping tool) and torqued with a torque wrench to 13 Nm/10 lb-ft.
Air filter	The DNA performance air filter is a common recommendation: P-Y9N21-01. OEM air cleaner element number is B7N-14451-01-00.
Brake pads	OEM front brake pads are part 5SL-25805-00-00. This is the same as on many sport bikes from Yamaha, including the previous gen Tracer 900. EBC part number is FA252HH. OEM rear brake pads are part 5VX-25806-00-00. This rear brake pad is shared by many Yamaha motorcycles from as far back as 15 years ago. The EBC equivalent is FA174HH.
Brake fluid	Yamaha specifies to use only DOT 4 fluid (e.g. Castrol DOT 4 synthetic) brake fluid from a sealed container.
General grease	Always good to have on hand lithium soap-based grease for lubing external pivot points (like the swingarm) and bearings, and silicone grease for a few points.
Chain maintenance	Motul chain paste — one of the most highly-regarded chain lubes. Easy to apply, doesn’t fling off. If you need more stuff, get the Motul chain care kit as an affordable package.

The Tracer 9 is quite fresh, so more aftermarket parts are still being released.

Yamaha Tracer 9 / GT Maintenance Schedule

Below is the maintenance schedule for the 2021+ Yamaha Tracer 9 with the 890cc CP3 engine.

The maintenance schedule below shares the same content as the manual, but has been re-ordered in a more convenient format.

Note that the US and European manuals for the Tracer 9 GT show different maintenance schedules.

• In the US manual for the Yamaha Tracer 9 / GT, there are 4000 mile / 6000 km or 6 month service intervals.
• In the European manual for the Tracer 9 / GT, there are 10000 km / 6000 mile or 12 month service intervals.

There are some other, smaller differences, too. See more details on the Europe / US differences for Yamaha motorcycles here.

Maintenance notes

• At the end of the schedule, continue the maintenance schedule in the order below
• Adjust, clean, and lubricate the chain every 600 mi (1000 km) and after washing the motorcycle or riding in the rain or riding in wet areas.
• The Tracer 9 uses a disposable oil-coated paper filter. Don’t clean it with compressed air as you may damage it, risking engine damage.

Yamaha Tracer 9 / GT — US Maintenance Schedule

Below is the maintenance schedule for the Yamaha Tracer 9 / Tracer 9 GT from the US manual. Oil change service intervals are 4000 miles / 6000 km or 6 months, and the major valve service is every 26600 miles / 42000 km.

mi x 1000	0.6	4	8	12	16	20
km x 1000	1	7	13	19	25	31
months	1	6	12	18	24	30	Every
Perform standard inspection checklist (see below)	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	6 months
Change engine oil (warm engine before draining). Use Yamalube 10W-40 or Motul 7100 10W-40.	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Replace oil filter (HF204RC)	✓		✓		✓
Check spark plug condition. Adjust gap and clean.		✓		✓		✓
Replace spark plugs (NGK LMAR9A-9, gap 0.8-0.9mm)				✓			12000 mi (19000 km) or 18 months
Check and adjust valve clearances							26600 mi (42000 km)
Replace air filter (P-Y9N21-01)							24000 mi (37000 km), or more often if riding in dust / wet
Change coolant (Pro Honda coolant).							3 years
Replace brake hoses							4 years
Change brake fluid (Castrol DOT 4), along with rubber parts of brake master cylinder and brake calipers.							2 years
Check wheels for runout and for damage. Replace if necessary.		✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Check wheel bearings for smooth operation. Replace if necessary.		✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Check swingarm pivot operation and for excessive play.		✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Check operation of rear suspension link pivots. Correct if necessary.		✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Moderately repack swingarm pivot bearing with lithium soap-based grease.							32000 mi (50000 km)
Check chain slack, alignment and condition. Adjust and lubricate chain (Motul chain paste)							600 mi (1000 km), or after chain gets dirty / wet
Check steering bearing assemblies for looseness.	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Moderately repack steering bearings with lithium soap-based grease.							12000 mi (19000 km)
Check evaporative emissions control system (if fitted) for damage. Replace if necessary			✓		✓

Yamaha Tracer 9 / GT — Europe / APAC Maintenance Schedule

Below is the maintenance schedule for the Yamaha Tracer 9 / Tracer 9 GT from the European manual. Oil change service intervals are 10000 km / 6000 mi or 12 months, and the major valve service is every 40000 km or 24000 mi.

km x 1000	1	10	20	30	40
mi x 1000	0.6	6	12	18	24	Every
Perform standard inspection checklist (see below)	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	Year
Change engine oil (warm engine before draining). Use Yamalube 10W-40 or Motul 7100 10W-40.	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	Year
Replace oil filter (HF204RC)	✓		✓		✓
Check spark plug condition. Adjust gap and clean.		✓		✓
Replace spark plugs (NGK LMAR9A-9, gap 0.8-0.9mm)			✓		✓
Check and adjust valve clearances						40000 km (24000 mi)
Replace air filter (P-Y9N21-01)						40,000 km (24,000 mi), or more often if riding in dust / wet
Change coolant (Pro Honda Coolant).						3 years
Replace brake hoses						4 years
Change brake fluid (Castrol DOT 4), along with rubber parts of brake master cylinder and brake calipers.						2 years
Check wheels for runout and for damage. Replace if necessary.		✓	✓	✓	✓
Check wheel bearings for smooth operation. Replace if necessary.		✓	✓	✓	✓
Check swingarm pivot operation and for excessive play.		✓	✓	✓	✓
Check operation of rear suspension link pivots. Correct if necessary.		✓	✓	✓	✓
Lubricate swingarm pivot with lithium soap-based grease.						50000 km (30000 mi)
Check chain slack, alignment and condition. Adjust and lubricate chain (Motul chain paste)						1000 km (600mi) Or when chain gets wet
Check steering bearing assemblies for looseness.	✓	✓		✓
Moderately repack steering bearings with lithium soap-based grease.			✓		✓
Check evaporative emissions control system (if fitted) for damage. Replace if necessary			✓		✓

Yamaha Tracer 9 Standard Service Checklist

Below is the checklist of items to do at every service per the schedules above.

The items required at break-in service are marked with a checkmark in the right-most column.

Yamaha Tracer 9 / GT Standard Inspection Checklist	At break in?
[D] Perform dynamic inspection using Yamaha diagnostic tool. Check the error codes.	✓
Check coolant level and vehicle for coolant leakage.	✓
Check throttle grip operation and free play, and adjust if necessary.	✓
Lubricate throttle cable and grip housing (Protect All Cable Life) and other control cables
Check clutch operation. Adjust or replace cable.	✓
Lubricate moving parts and cables thoroughly (lithium soap-based grease, Protect All Cable Life).	✓
Check lights, signals, and switches operation.	✓
Check sidestand switch operation and replace if necessary.	✓
Check brake switch operation, front and rear.	✓
Check / adjust headlight beam (if necessary)	✓
Check and adjust fuel injection synchronization.	✓
Check fuel hoses for cracks or damage. Replace if necessary.
Check brake hoses for cracks or damage, and for correct routing and clamping.
Check cooling system hoses for cracks or damage. Replace if necessary.
Check engine idle speed (Not required in US)
Check front brake operation, fluid level, and for fluid leakage. Replace brake pads if necessary (EBC FA252HH x 2).	✓
Check rear brake operation, fluid level, and for fluid leakage. Replace brake pads if necessary (EBC FA174HH).	✓
Check tyre tread depth and for damage. Replace if necessary (see spec below).
Check and adjust tyre pressure as necessary.
Check front fork operation and for oil leakage. Rebuild/ replace if necessary.
Check shock absorber operation and for oil leakage. Replace if necessary.
Check wheel bearings for smooth operation, looseness, or damage. Replace if necessary.
Check all chassis fitting and fasteners, and tighten/replace as necessary
Lubricate brake lever pivot shaft with silicone grease lightly.
Lubricate brake pedal, clutch lever, and shift pedal pivot shafts with lithium soap-based grease lightly
Check sidestand pivot operation. Lubricate with molybdenum di-sulfide grease.
Check crankcase breather hose for cracks or damage. Replace if necessary
Check exhaust system for leakage. Tighten and/or replace gaskets as necessary.

Maintaining Your Chain on the Yamaha Tracer 9

It’s important to maintain your chain on the Tracer 9, as on any chain-driven motorcycle. Use a good-quality chain lubricant like Motul chain paste, or a Motul chain care kit which comes with a couple of handy tools to maintain the chain.

Yamaha recommends you follow the following chain maintenance schedule every 500 mi / 800 km (or 600 mi / 1000 km in Europe) and after washing the motorcycle, riding in the rain, or riding in wet areas.

Chain maintenance item
Check drive chain lubrication condition, lubricating if necessary (Motul chain paste)
Check drive chain slack, alignment, and condition, adjusting / replacing if necessary Target slack of 45-50 mm or 1.77-1.97 inches — See below notes

If you have the Tracer 9 GT, you have a center stand — time to put it to use!

Checking chain slack

To check chain slack on the Tracer 9, put the motorcycle on the centre stand and put the motorcycle into neutral.

Measure at the middle of the bottom part of the chain — about 53 mm (2.09 in) forward from the end of the drive chain guard.

Push down on the chain and measure the distance from the drive chain guard to the middle of the chain link.

Target chain slack for the Yamaha Tracer 9: 45-50 mm (1.77-1.97 in)

If the slack is out of spec, you should adjust it — especially if slack is beyond 55 mm.

Adjusting chain slack

To adjust chain slack on the Tracer 9 / GT, leave it up on its centre stand.

1. Loosen the axle nut and the lock nuts (on both sides of the swingarm)
2. Turn the adjusting bolt on both sides counter clockwise to tighten the chain slack. (This extends the bolt, which extends the chain.) If for some reason your chain is too loose, let out slack by turning it clockwise, and push the wheel forward to catch the slack.
3. Target the tighter end of the slack range (45 mm / 1.77 in).
4. Make sure you adjust both sides to the same degree. The axle slider will align with the alignment marks — count the number of marks on both sides.
5. When you’re done, tighten the axle nut to 105 Nm / 77 lb-ft, then the lock nuts to 16 Nm / 12 lb-ft.
6. Check the slack again when you’re done to make sure it hasn’t significantly moved.

Tyre sizes/pressures for the Yamaha Tracer 9 / GT

The manual specifies the following tyre sizes and pressures for the Yamaha Tracer 9 / GT

Wheel	Tyre size	Tyre pressure
Front	120/70 ZR 17 M/C (58W)	250 kPa (2.5 bar, 36 psi)
Rear	180/55 ZR 17 M/C (73W)	290 kPa (2.9 bar, 42 psi)

The 2021 Yamaha Tracer 9 ships with Bridgestone Battlax Hypersport S22R tyres — high-end sport-touring tyres.

About the 2021+ Yamaha Tracer 9 and Tracer 9 GT

If you like middleweight sport bikes/nakeds but want to do distance, then the Yamaha Tracer 9 is made for you and there are few other things like it.

The other Japanese manufacturers don’t make bikes in the quite same category.

Kawasaki has the sportier but less comfortable Ninja 1000, and the more comfortable but less sporty Versys 1000. Both great bikes, just on different points on the spectrum.

Honda makes the VFR800X Crossrunner in some markets, but it’s heavier, less powerful, ageing, and not even available in most markets (e.g. not in the US).

Suzuki make the V-Strom bikes, but they’re more adventure and less sport. The twin has a different character.

The closest parallels in the middleweight adventure sport touring class would be from UK and European manufacturers, most notably the Triumph Tiger 900 (which also has a triple of similar capacity).

So the Tracer motorcycles have their own special place — a Japanese-built motorcycle that’s sporty but more upright and with equipment (especially in the GT form) to be all-day comfortable. And it really is both those things — sporty and also comfortable.

• It’s lightweight — The Tracer 9 GT is (with full oil and tank, but nothing in the panniers) 220kg or under 500 lbs. That’s impressive, and the same weight as many litre-class nakeds.
• It’s powerful — it makes nearly 90 kW (120 hp) at the crank. And it’s revvy too, willingly going up beyond 10,000 rpm.

In short, riding the Yamaha Tracer 9, you get an odd feeling of being on a bike that’s very composed and touring friendly but that still feels quick. Even the Tracer 900 felt quick. Easy to tip into corners, easy to fling up to 200 km/h.

But the Tracer 9 makes it even easier, with a slightly more willing engine and electronics that make it just seem so poised and ready.

The six-axis IMU mean that braking into corners is even more assuring than it used to be. With the previous gen, braking was already ABS-supported. But the new Tracer 9 GT now has lean angle-aware ABS or “cornering ABS” which means the bike will not stand up under hard braking when in a corner. Magic!

Another significant addition for the Tracer 9 GT (it’s only in the GT model) is the KYB active suspension. The KYB Actimatic Damper System optimizes suspension settings in near-real time. The suspension can be set in two modes, “sport” and “comfort”, according to the rider’s preferences and road conditions. The active suspension system then monitors wheel movement and controls rebound and compression damping in the front fork and rebound damping in the rear.

The Yamaha Tracer 9 and Tracer 9 GT also get a vastly updated dash. I always liked the display of the Tracer 900, but the Tracer 9’s TFT display is bigger, more colourful, and more feature-rich.

Screenshots from the Manual for the 890cc 2021+ Yamaha Tracer 9 and Tracer 9 GT

The above information was gleaned from the owner’s manual for the 2021 Yamaha Tracer 9 in the “Periodic Maintenance” section (9-5), both Europe and US schedules.

Parts were referenced from Yamaha Parts House.

You can download the manual from Yamaha’s website here.