MRA Vario Screen for the Tracer 9 and 9 GT

Good things come to those that wait, and in my case, it is an MRA Vario Touring Screen for the Yamaha Tracer 9 GT, that I’ve been waiting for.

I’m enjoying the current MRA Vario Touring screen I have fitted to the Tracer 9GT, even though it is for the older 900GT Tracer. The handguards catch on the screen at full lock, but it is a mild inconvenience considering the huge improvement the MRA screen is compared to Yamaha’s standard screen.

Given the improvement the older MRA Touring Screen delivers, I’m somewhat puzzled how MRA could have improved it again – other than fixing the handguard issue – when producing the Tracer 9 /9GT specific screen.

Only one thing for it, I’ll just have to road test the new screen. It is a hard life road testing, especially on a sunny afternoon.

Recap: Tracer 900 MRA Vario Screen

All of this started when having ridden 900 miles around Scotland, I got back to find an MRA Vario screen for the 900GT on my desk with a note saying “Please Test”.  You can read that in full here.

Screens for the Yamaha 900GT will fit the Tracer 9, but there are a few wrinkles, such as the handguards hitting the screen before the handlebar lock stops.

Subtle differences between the Yamaha models aside, the older MRA Touring Vario screen cut out the buffeting I was getting from the stock screen and, for me, has a much better look than the screen that comes from the factory.

So, I’m a happy camper. The MRA Touring Vario screen looks good, is well made and smoothes out the air. Perfect.

Then HPS sent the newly design MRA Touring Vario screen for the Tracer 9 to the office, and once again, I’m reading a note which says “Please Test”.

Visually Different

Placing the new Vario screen over the 900GT variant shows that the 9GT screen is much narrower at the waist. A natural change considering the obstruction of the handguards. The amount MRA has removed though is surprising. The two screens are the same height, width at the top and follow the same curve. It is only the waistline that has been on a diet.

And to my deepest joy, HPS has sent the smoked tint version of the MRA Vario Touring screen. The screen colour matches wonderfully with the Icon pain scheme and looks like the screen that the Tracer 9 should have come with from the factory.

Silky Smooth

Proving that I know nothing about aerodynamics, I thought the slimmer waist on the Tracer 9GT screen would mean more buffeting or wind noise. Thankfully, I’m wrong, and the aerodynamicists at MRA are right.

The MRA Vario 9GT Touring screen is an improvement over the 900GT version, which in turn is a major step forward over the Yamaha stock screen. There is still some wind noise, but with my head stuck out in a 70 MPH breeze, this is to be expected. What wind there is, is smooth and constant.

Value for Money?

How can it not be? The Yamaha stock screen is OK but buffets your helmet. The Yamaha Tracer Touring screen is £143, and Yamaha’s version of the MRA Vario flip adds a further £101 to your bill.

Alternatively, you can call HPS, who will provide you with the better looking (IMHO), tinted MRA Vario Touring Screen specifically for the Tracer 9 or 9GT for £116, and you get to keep the other £125.

I’m finding it difficult to find a downside to that equation.

Clarity

Having bought the Tracer 900 screen with our own cash money, the MRA screen for the Tracer 9GT was sent to us by Harwood Performance Source, better known as HPS, so we could complete a back-to-back test.

Either screen is a major step forward, but the Tracer 9GT screen has extra space for the handguards.

The prices quoted were correct at the time of publication (August 2021)