Honda NC750X DCT vs Yamaha Tracer 7 GT

I first posted this on reddit and thought I should post it here as well because it took me some time to write.

As I was looking for this information myself, I thought I would post it now that I experienced it.

I was looking for a new motorcycle. Specifically for an automatic one because I was fed up with shifting gears when I was commuting or driving through a city, which is the majority of my driving. I try to do one longer tour of about one week each year and every now and then, one on a weekend.

Because of my driving licence, I’m currently not allowed to drive a bike with more than 35 kW, so keep this in mind for this comparison as it might affect the performance of the bikes.

Due to availability, I had to mix the Yamaha bikes a bit. I test drove the MT-07 with Y-AMT to get a feel for the automatic gearbox and the Tracer 7 2025 without Y-AMT to get a feel for the bike. The Honda dealer didn’t want to let me try the 2025 version and only gave me 15 minutes on the 2024 version. So I didn’t have much time to play around with modes and such.

In general, I find both automatic systems fantastic. I tested them both in rush hour, and it was great to be able to focus fully on the traffic.

• The Y-AMT is the more prominent of two systems. You can feel it shifting, especially in the lower gears, but to me that wasn’t really a problem as it isn’t like you release the clutch too fast. Just like lower gears feel on a manual bike, and it gets smoother in the upper gears. The main thing I noticed was when I was driving from an 80km/h into a 50km/h zone. I’m used to shifting down before the sign and engine break into the zone. The computer doesn’t know this and can’t read signs so it took me a bit by surprise as I tried to engine brake into 6th gear. I'm sure this would be the same on the Honda but I wasn't able to test it in such a short time.
• The one from Honda, you don’t notice at all if you don’t pay attention. It happened more than once that I looked at the display and saw that it already shifted another gear. Other than that there is not much more to tell. It just works™.

As for the bikes. They are very different, but neither is a bad bike.

• The Honda was very predictable, smooth and gets out of your way. It feels as if it really likes to stay upright and balancing it in slow traffic is a piece of cake. I’m really surprised that it still doesn’t come with cruise control, as that would be a match made in heaven. The riding position felt a bit awkward and forward leaning. Not like a racer but still weird. The engine is, as you can read everywhere, really low reving. In general, I didn’t find the engine that noticeable, it was there and did its job. If you really want it to, it can go fast, but in standard mode it is very relaxed. About the same as my current 500cc/32kW adventure bike.
• The Tracer 7 on the other hand felt very agile and like it wants to be let loose in the twisties. The engine delivers its power very quickly and punchy. Even when restricted to 35 kW, it feels like a major upgrade in power compared to my current bike. The riding position felt better to me than the Honda. One small thing that I noticed but really like is that there is plenty of space next to the right foot peg.

I first tested the Tracer a few weeks back and then tested the Honda yesterday and Tracer again right after the Honda. After sitting the second time on the Tracer and having the direct comparison with the Honda, I immediately knew which bike would be the right one for me and signed the contract for the Tracer. The Honda is a good bike, but it goes so much out of your way that you forget it is there. I’m sure there is a market for this, but it isn’t for me. The Yamaha puts a smile on my face every time I pull the throttle, and I see myself having a great time with it on longer tours.