Yamaha continues to fatten up its 2020 US lineup with the addition of carryover models in the adventure-touring and sport-touring categories, which includes, respectively, the Super Ténéré ES and the FJR1300ES and Tracer 900 GT. There's no sign of either Niken model this year.
Not surprisingly, Yamaha isn’t doing anything earth-shattering for its 2020 lineup, perhaps biding its time for 2021 redesigns on a grander scale. So for this year, the off-road-capable Super Ténéré ES is back unchanged, as are the more-long-haul-ready sport-touring Tracer 900 GT and FJR1300ES models. The three bikes join the Star Venture announced in June as part of the 2020 Touring lineup, but the FJR1300A and Tracer base model are nowhere to be seen in that grouping.
The Super Ténéré's versatility is what separates it from its adventure-touring peers, which basically means it favors long-haul comfort over supremacy in the dirt. The compact 1,199cc parallel twin-cylinder engine features a unique 270-degree crank for excellent torque and traction, with tunable electronic suspension and adjustable seat and adventure-ready ergonomics all chipping in to help your cause when you venture off road. The drive shaft means low maintenance, and electronic rider aids boost your—and the bike's—prowess in varying conditions. You get one color for the 2020 Super Ténéré ES—Ceramic Ice—and it will start arriving in Yamaha dealers December 2019. MSRP is $16,299.
Will we see any big changes for the stalwart FJR1300ES in 2020? Not really. All you get is a new color option, this one called Liquid Graphite. Otherwise it's business as usual with that reliably smooth-running 1,298cc inline four-cylinder engine and rider-friendly features like tunable electronic suspension, electronic rider aids, lean angle-sensitive LED cornering headlights, an electronically adjustable windscreen, adjustable handlebars, adjustable rider seat height, and integrated quick-release side cases. The heated handlebar grips will be a boon on serious expeditions, as will the 6.6-gallon fuel tank, all of which make the Yamaha FJR1300ES a superb sport-touring weapon. The 2020 FJR1300ES will begin arriving at dealers March 2020, with an MSRP of $17,999.
The bike we called the "best evolution of a sport-tourer" last year is back for 2020. Yamaha's Tracer 900 GT may look pretty mild, but underneath all that practical sport-touring exterior lurks the powerful CP3 847cc inline triple-cylinder engine. Still, don't get your hopes up; the Tracer 900 GT remains unchanged for 2020—probably because it showed up in Yamaha's lineup last year as a "new" model—though it still serves up a spirited and comfortable ride thanks to that aforementioned powerplant, which just happens to make it a pretty good fit for daily commutes, fun rides on winding roads, and perfectly suited to long-distance getaways.
The Tracer 900 GT retains the travel-friendly amenities that make all that possible, with electronic rider aids, adjustable suspension, QSS, a height-adjustable windshield, an adjustable rider seat height, integrated side cases, a generous 4.8-gallon fuel tank, and more. The 2020 Tracer 900 GT gets a Matte Raven/Reddish Copper color scheme for 2020 and will start showing up at dealers December 2019. MSRP will be $12,999.