Security – Yamaha Tracer 900 MT09 FJ09 Build n Ride

What I aim to achieve:

3)Sports 1)Comfort 2)Tourer & Commuter

Keeping it relatively stock aesthetics, farkles should be functional and not over the top. Played down and under the radar, all all focuses on the details.

It should be a neat, clean, functional, comfortable, value for money performance direction. Product vs Value vs Function, therefore in my DIYs, you will see some mods are for cheap, some bits are full on expenses and works will look like they came from factory equipped as much as possible.

My day to day commuting requires me to use side case. The Tracer I bought did not come with the Yamaha soft bags nor pannier mounting (FYI, both from SW-Motech), these bags came as a promotion for the later orders, and now, they even throw in an Akrapovic Titanium coated exhaust #LOVE. It does comes with a Hepco & Becker 55L Top Case, which I highly recommend.

Back to the side case, so I compared the side carrier options offered by various luggage manufacturers. I will avoid any alu cases because they are hopeless compared to ABS, and imho, doesn’t match this bike’s aesthetics (particularly red, though I truly wanted black). I am using alu sidecases on my KLE500, they are not waterproof, attracts condensation, doesn’t take impact well and dents easily even though they look fantastic!

ABS cases on the other hand are highly impact resistance, waterproof, offers better mechanism, have more profile and curves and does not lose space due to manufacturer’s limitations.

My criteria for the side case system: As good as OEM’s, or exceed OEM’s. Must have a quick release mount to offer a clean look.

Givi – V35 & Rack http://fj-09.org/thread/837/quick-release-pannier-racks-plxr2122

Pros: They offer a quick release rack, box tucks in tightly to narrow down the width of the Tracer (though the FJR Touring Cases wins by 25mm narrower).
Cons: The mount left on the bike are ghastly, they have negative space, else they could had been tucked in closer to the bike, I felt the decision not to tight the width of the rack was simply to keep the bags lower

Shad – SH36 3P System

Pros: No dead space like the V35
Cons: The 3P system again looks ghastly left on the bike

SW-Motech QUICK-LOCK EVO Side Carrier
Pros: Their quick release side carriers are hyper versatile to fit other make cases, and neat
Cons: They do not make ABS cases

kft_06_525_20000__b_QUICK-LOCK_EVO_Koffertr_ger__Schwarz__Yamaha_MT-09_Tracer__14-__-2

To those who have a Stay System for Soft ABS Side Cases 2PP-FSSST-00-00 equipped from Hong Leong, you can consider adding a quick release cross brace to mount a small Givi E22 side case

Hepco & Becker MT – 09 Tracer / ABS Pannier Frames ( lock-it System ) http://www.hepco-and-becker-luggage.co.uk/library/pdfs/65045470005.pdf

Nope, just nope.

But! Their Gobi cases have been Dakar Rally proven, therefore topping the durability chart

Yamaha OEM side cases

I really love how the stock bike looks with this saddlebag, but they are just too small for its money.

This candy red bag makes all the sense since the unpainted bags were discontinued by Yamaha I read, but the lids are still available as replacement. I did manage to find it on www.motorcyclespareparts.eu asking € 819.49 includes lock and shipping.

No joke, Hong Leong charges $2,300 a pair for these touring case alone excluding tax. The city side case are $1,700 a pair.

Webike Japan Nor Yamaha Europe does not offer this as well. These cases are freaking controlled items. So I will be ordering the bits and shits from all over:

Images & sources from respective manufacturers, Yamaha Motors, http://www.fj09.org, http://www.fz09.org and credits to respective community members for their efforts to share their experience.