A few years ago, Yamaha made a bold move by introducing a cross-plane crankshaft three-cylinder engine. The MT-09 was the first bike to adopt this powerplant in 2013, then the Tracer 900 followed suit two years later.

A sport tourer that leans a lot towards sport, the Tracer 900 was updated in 2019 to GT specification. Those two letters boil down to color-matched saddlebags, a one-hand adjustable windshield, and the color TFT display of the YZF-R1.

As we wait for Yamaha to come clean about what’s new for the 2021 model, the carparazzi have caught a police-prepped version of the Tracer 700 GT doing its thing in the Old Continent. Curiously, the rider is wearing a surgical mask and there’s some yellow wiring hanging off the left side of the motorbike.

As opposed to the 900 GT – which features the CP3 engine mentioned earlier – the 700 GT in the photo gallery relies on the CP2 with two cylinders. The exhaust manifold confirms this arrangement, and in the 2020 model year, the engine produces up to 54 kW (75 PS or 74 horsepower) and 68 Nm (50 pound-feet) of torque.

The spy photographer mentions “a more complex catalytic converter” and “quieter engine noise,” which is to be expected in a Europe where CO2 regulations are downright draconic for the motorcycle and automotive industries. Full-LED lighting and 20-liter panniers are also featured, and chances are the police specification has the optional heated grips and cruise control system.

Yamaha is no stranger to police makeovers for its bikes. The FJR1300 series comes to mind, used in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and Germany as well. Like the series-production model, the Tracer 700 GT Police is certain to enter production in the Land of the Rising Sun before year’s end.

Some GTs are partially assembled in Malaysia, but the most important components such as the motor, brakes, suspension, and frame are all Japanese. Pricing-wise, the outgoing model starts at less than €10,000.

Original Source [autoevolution]