Comparison Test: Class 900+ Enduro
Content
With their stories of beautiful views, authentic nature and, above all, winding roads, they were a fairy tale for a thousand and one nights for us. So we didn't think twice about where we needed to go when we rode the seven big touring enduro bikes. We drove them right through the jam. This tour got this name because of the large glacier Marmolada, where our road led us. And everything really flowed, as if smeared with the full scent of sweet curves.
The reason for the wonderful ride, however, is not only the great roads, but also the choice of motorcycles (well, the great weather helped a little something else). We have collected almost everything that you can buy from us in this class: BMW R 1200 GS, Ducati 1000 DS Multistrada, Honda XL 1000 V Varadero, Kawasaki KLV 1000, KTM LC8 950 Adventure, Suzuki V-strom 1000 and Yamaha TDM 900. Absent. there is only Aprilia Caponord and Triumph Tiger.
All three have been fitted with ABS (BMW, Honda, Yamaha) and all we can say is that we highly recommend it to everyone, if only the wallet allows it. Others have good brakes, but when it comes to safety in unpredictable situations, ABS has no competition. BMW comes first in terms of equipment and comfort. It has almost everything that a touring motorcycle has to offer today. In addition to the aforementioned switchable ABS, there are also heated levers, safety guards, metal crankcase, adjustable windshield protection, height-adjustable seat and sockets for connecting original BMW accessories (heated clothes, GPS, shaver, telephone, etc.) ..).
It is followed by Honda with the best wind protection of any competitor, hand protection, ABS and plastic engine protection. Suzuki and Kawasaki are exactly the same motorcycles. Identical twins, if you will. They are united by a very good wind protection, which can be adjusted in height. The hand protection is just an additional commendable accessory on long trips. The crankcase guard protects against scratches and small impacts, but it is too modest for any off-road and wagon adventures. We must praise the very good brakes, which do not frighten even on very long descents and always brake well.
Due to the light weight (we were aiming for 245 kg with a full fuel tank), the load on the brakes is slightly lower. We can say that they are closely related in the leading group with BMW and Ducati, if, of course, you do not take into account the superiority of ABS GS. The KTM also has good wind protection, which unfortunately is not adjustable, but therefore has better handlebars (durable, aluminum without handlebars like in hard enduro models) and plastic hand guards. The engine guard is a plastic replica of carbon fiber from rally cars.
The front brakes showed good leverage, while the rear wheel liked to lock up a little when riding very hard. It can also be an advantage for anyone who enjoys supermoto-style solo sport riding. Ducati and Yamaha are the rarest in terms of equipment, although the TDM has a well-functioning ABS. In both cases, we lacked more wind protection, or at least some windshield flex.
Speaking of hardware, we can also say how much we liked the sensors. We put BMW in the first place, as it brings the driver even more (useful) highly visible data than in a good car. These are daily odometer, hour, consumption, distance traveled by the engine with reserve, display of the current gear, fuel level, temperature. This is followed in close order with slightly less data from Honda, KTM, Kawasaki / Suzuki, Yamaha (few) and Ducati, which suffers from poor visibility in sunny weather (inaccurate fuel gauge).
For all these touring bikes, of course, you can get a set of suitcases (original or non-original accessories), which, fortunately, do not spoil the look, but only complement it.
During the trip, our travelers proved to be comfortable, so they justify their name. But there are differences between them, and very significant!
We won't hide the fact that BMW made the greatest impression on us, and let us know to the entire test team that it is still the undisputed king of winding mountain roads. Powerful 98 hp engine and 115 Nm of torque impresses with agility and agility when the driver demands it. However, with a full tank of fuel, it does not exceed 242 kilograms. It can be sporty and fast, but it is also good when the desire for a comfortable cruise without gear shifting prevails. The gearbox is otherwise accurate and fast enough, the long forgotten old tough and loud GS gearbox.
Even in terms of maneuverability, despite its considerable dimensions, the BMW is simply impressive. Going from turn to turn can be a job that both the largest test pilot (190 cm, 120 kg) and the smallest (167 cm, 58 kg) were able to praise and praise, and all of us somewhere in between definitely agreed with this. with them. I was also impressed by the calmness and comfort on the track (suitable seat, excellent seat ergonomics, good wind protection).
KTM convinced us with ease. For this class, it is very light, weighing no more than 234 kilograms at full capacity, but even otherwise they did a good job in terms of a low center of gravity and balance. Suspension Enhanced (WP), adjustable and able to provide a comfortable ride on the road and at the same time withstand a real tough ride in enduro style. Its limits to which it will climb are only set by its dimensions (width, height) and shoes (this KTM has no obstruction in off-road tyres, even in mud). Engine with 98 hp and 95 Nm of torque is all we need, and the gearbox is a great example of everything else.
This is the best gearbox of the test bikes! The driving position is good, completely relaxed and natural, and due to the maximum seat height from the ground (870 mm), it is closer to higher. Somewhere in the same place was a Honda, but with different advantages. When we think of Honda, the word that summarizes Varadero is very simple: comfort, convenience, comfort again. Sitting most comfortably on a seat that is not too high (845 mm), and the position of the body is relentlessly relaxed.
The good seat-pedal-to-handlebar ratio, combined with excellent wind protection, allows for good highway travel as well as cornering. Well, on very tight bends and on a very busy (very lively!) Ride, Hondas have known each other for many years. Its 283 full pounds just do it yourself. Competitors have become lighter, and here Honda will have to keep up with them. We were satisfied with the engine itself, it is suitable for travel (94 hp, 98 Nm of torque, good gearbox).
Kawasaki and Suzuki were a surprise, no doubt about it. The sports engines are already picking up speed, as evidenced by the sound of the exhaust pipes in the upper rev range. Their 98 hp. and 101 Nm of torque give them a slight advantage even over BMW when it comes to agility and acceleration from 80 to 130 km / h (others follow as follows: Multistrada, Adventure, Varadero, TDM). The weight of 244 kilograms at maximum filling also speaks in favor of sportiness.
Cornering maneuverability is enviable, both are controlled very easily and, at the request of the driver, also quickly. Highway? Up to 140 km / h there are no comments, the wind is also not a problem. Everything is good and right here. However, KLV and V-strom have two flaws that they will need to address if they are to win. The first is the anxiety that occurs on the track at speeds above 150 km / h. The swaying of the steering wheel (from left to right) and then the dance of the whole motorcycle made our nerves very strong. The only short-term solution was to alternate the extraction and addition of gas, which slightly violated the repulsive oscillations.
Okay, because we are not allowed to drive faster than 130 km/h, but who said that you will only drive in Slovenia and always only in accordance with the rules? The other is the nasty engine shutdown in the slowest corners and when cornering on the road. To avoid this, caution should always be taken during such maneuvers at a sufficiently high speed. The problem could be hidden in the engine settings (idle), but it happens on both bikes. It appears to be a family disease.
Otherwise: If you are the type of person who does not want to reach speeds above 150 km / h (although the engines can easily reach 200 km / h), then we present you the winner of this test: the Suzuki Ducati. We somehow didn’t come a long way and didn’t come with this unusual motorcycle. At first we were worried about the rather poor wind protection of the bow with an interesting design, and then the seats. This one is almost like a sports superbike 999! It was too difficult to lean forward and lean forward, so we kept sliding towards the fuel tank at lower speeds.
Multistrada does its best in mid-speed corners, where driving is smoother. In the long ones, it occasionally swayed, but in the short ones it seemed a little cumbersome. We were more impressed by the unit, which is a classic Ducati L-twin engine. Compared to competitors, 92 hp. and 92 Nm of torque is enough not to comment. Ducati solves the lightest weight with a full tank of fuel, which does not exceed 216 kilograms, best.
Yamaha is betting on the same cards as the Bologna legend. The TDM 900 is second in lightness and weighs only 223 kg. In terms of handling, it is best suited for beginners, it is so undemanding. But with more busy cornering, the TDM becomes a little hectic and it becomes more difficult for him to chase and hold a given direction. This was best shown when, for example, a front-wheel drive BMW (cited for comparison because it is the best in the field) led the convoy at a fast but safe pace, and Yamaha slowly lagged behind if the driver wanted the same amount of safety risks that need to follow. Part of this concern is also due to the engine (86 hp. Otherwise, Yamaha is most satisfied with small and lighter drivers.
If you look at finances, the situation is as follows: the cheapest is Kawasaki, which costs 2.123.646 2.190.000 2.128.080 seats. That's a lot of motorcycles for the money. Suzuki is a little more expensive (2.669.000 seats). These are our winners, judging by the emphasis on price. If you look at these bikes first and foremost through the money, Yamaha is also at the very top with a price of XNUMX seats. For those who will mainly drive around the city and its environs, this is the best choice (lightness, maneuverability). It is followed by Honda, which for XNUMX seats offers a lot of a real maxi-enduro bike in the true original sense of the word.
Like Yamaha, Honda also boasts a good service network and fast parts delivery (Suzuki and Kawasaki are whispering here). Then there are two exclusive characters, each in a different direction. On a Ducati (2.940.000 2.967.000 3.421.943 seats) you won't even look funny in a racing suit, especially when you're bent around the knee. But is that the point of enduro travel? It also works well in urban centers where it is mobile and acts like a real lipstick. KTM, which also excels in this area, will set you back around XNUMX seats. If you are among those who can afford it and will be riding off-road, this is the first and best choice. This motorcycle is the easiest way to imagine riding in the desert or around the world. The most expensive is BMW. The one we had on the test is worth the XNUMXXNUMXXNUMX seat. A little! But BMW is lucky enough that it might lose a little when you sell it.
The end result is this: The winner of our comparison test is the BMW R 1200 GS, with the highest possible score in most of the evaluation sections. It is distinguished by workmanship, design, equipment, engine assembly, driving performance, ergonomics and performance. He lost only in economy. The fact that it is 1 million more expensive than the cheapest takes its toll. In fact, because of this, it falls into a separate category. Who can afford it, great, who can not, this is not the end of the world, there are other great motorcycles. Well, the first option is already in second place: the Honda XL 3 V Varadero. She did not gain the maximum number of points anywhere, but she did not miss a lot either.
A surprise is KTM, which in two years has already approached a wider range of potential customers (then we tested it for the first time). He does not hide his sportiness and adventurousness, but wins in comfort. The fourth place went to Yamaha. The combination of what it offers (lightness, low price, ABS) convinced us, although it has always remained in the shadow of stronger and larger competitors. Suzuki finished in fifth place. With ABS and quiet running at high speeds, it could rock very, very high for the same price (likely competitor to BMW).
The same is true of the Kawasaki, which received a few points less due to the fact that it was a copy of the Suzuki. Suzuki was just the first, which didn't reflect the identity of the first (mostly) second very well. We awarded Ducati seventh place. Don't get me wrong, the Multistrada is a good bike, but up to the touring enduro it lacks mostly comfort, wind protection and some chassis fixes. For the city and the ducat, this is also a good alternative to trips for two. However, it offers more comfort than the 999 or the Monster.
1st place: BMW R 1200 GS
Test car price: 3.421.943 IS (base model: 3.002.373 IS)
engine: 4-stroke, two-cylinder, 72 kW (98 HP), 115 Nm / at 5.500 rpm, air / oil cooling. 1170 cm3, el. fuel injection
Energy transfer: 6-speed transmission, propeller shaft
Suspension: BMW Telelever, BMW paralever single rear hydraulic shock absorber
Tires: front 110/80 R 19, rear 150/70 R 17
brakes: front 2-fold disc diameter 305 mm, rear disc diameter 265 mm, ABS
Wheelbase: 1.509 mm
Seat height from ground: 845-865 mm
Fuel tank / consumption per 100 km: 20 l / 5, 3 l
Weight (with full fuel tank): 242 kg
Represents and sells: Auto Aktiv, LLC, Cesta to Local Log 88a (01/280 31 00)
THANKS AND CONGRATULATIONS
+ usability
+ flexibility
+ equipment
+ engine (power, torque)
+ fuel consumption
– price
Score: 5, points: 450
2 mesto: Honda XL 1000 V Varadero
Test car price: 2.669.000 IS (base model: 2.469.000 IS)
engine: 4-stroke, twin-cylinder, 69 kW (94 hp), 98 Nm @ 6000 rpm, liquid-cooled. 996 cm3, el. fuel injection
Energy transfer: 6-speed gearbox, chain
Suspension: classic fork, single adjustable hydraulic shock absorber at the rear
Tires: front 110/80 R 19, rear 150/70 R 17
brakes: front 2-fold disc diameter 296 mm, rear disc diameter 265 mm, ABS
Wheelbase: 1.560 mm
Seat height from ground: 845 mm
Fuel tank / consumption per 100 km: 25 l / 6 l
Weight (with full fuel tank): 283 kg
Representative: As Domzale, Moto center, doo, Blatnica 3a, Trzin (01/562 22 42)
THANKS AND CONGRATULATIONS
+ comfort
+ price
+ usability
+ wind protection
+ equipment
- motorcycle weight
Score: 4, points: 428
3.mesto: KTM LC8 950 Adventure
Test car price: 2.967.000 seats
engine: 4-stroke, two-cylinder, liquid-cooled. 942cc, carburetor diameter 3mm
Energy transfer: 6-speed gearbox, chain
Suspension: adjustable USD forks, single adjustable hydraulic shock at the rear
Tires: front 90/90 R 21, rear 150/70 R 18
brakes: 2 drums with a diameter of 300 mm at the front and 240 mm at the rear
Wheelbase: 1.570 mm
Seat height from ground: 870 mm
Fuel tank / consumption per 100 km: 22 l / 6, 1 l
Weight (with full fuel tank): 234 kg
Sales: Moto Panigaz, Ltd., Ezerska gr. 48, Kranj (04/20 41), www.motoland-panigaz.com
THANKS AND CONGRATULATIONS
+ useful on the terrain and on the road
+ visibility, sportiness
+ field equipment
+ motor
– price
– wind protection is not flexible
Score: 4, points: 419
4.place: Yamaha TDM 900 ABS
Test car price: 2.128.080 seats
engine: 4-stroke, two-cylinder, liquid-cooled, 63 kW (4 HP), 86 Nm @ 2 rpm, 88 cm8, el. fuel injection
Energy transfer: 6-speed transmission, propeller shaft
Suspension: classic fork, single adjustable hydraulic shock absorber at the rear
Tires: front 120/70 R 18, rear 160/60 R 17
brakes: front 2-fold disc diameter 298 mm, rear disc diameter 245 mm, ABS
Wheelbase: 1.485 mm
Seat height from ground: 825 mm
Fuel tank / consumption per 100 km: 20 l / 5, 5 l
Weight (with full fuel tank): 223 kg
Representative: Delta Team, doo, 135a Cesta Krška szrebi, Krško (07/492 18 88)
THANKS AND CONGRATULATIONS
+ usability in the city
+ price
+ fuel consumption
+ low seat
- Handling in fast corners
- little wind protection
Score: 4, points: 401
5.Mesto: Suzuki DL 1000 V-Strom
Test car price: 2.190.000 seats
engine: 4-stroke, twin-cylinder, 72 kW (98 hp), 101 Nm @ 6400 rpm, liquid-cooled. 996 cm3, el. fuel injection
Energy transfer: 6-speed gearbox, chain
Suspension: classic fork at the front, single adjustable hydraulic shock absorber at the rear
Tires: front 110/80 R 19, rear 150/70 R 17
brakes: front 2x disc diameter 310 mm, rear disc diameter 260 mm
Wheelbase: 1.535 mm
Seat height from ground: 850 mm
Fuel tank / consumption per 100 km: 22 l / 6, 2 l
Weight (with full fuel tank): 245 kg
Representative: Suzuki Odar, doo, Stegne 33, Ljubljana (01/581 01 22)
THANKS AND CONGRATULATIONS
+ price
+ usability in the city and on open roads
+ engine (power, torque)
+ sporty engine sound
– anxiety above 150 km/h
Score: 4, points: 394
6.place: Kawasaki KLV 1000
Test car price: 2.190.000 seats
engine: 4-stroke, twin-cylinder, 72 kW (98 hp), 101 Nm @ 6400 rpm, liquid-cooled. 996 cm3, el. fuel injection
Energy transfer: 6-speed gearbox, chain
Suspension: classic fork at the front, single adjustable hydraulic shock absorber at the rear
Tires: front 110/80 R 19, rear 150/70 R 17
brakes: 2 drums with a diameter of 310 mm at the front and 260 mm at the rear
Wheelbase: 1.535 mm
Seat height from ground: 850 mm
Fuel tank / consumption per 100 km: 22 l / 6, 2 l
Weight (with full fuel tank): 245 kg
Representative: DKS doo, Jožice Flander 2, Maribor (02/460 56 10)
THANKS AND CONGRATULATIONS
+ price
+ usability in the city and on open roads
+ engine (power, torque)
– anxiety above 150 km/h
– Periodic engine shutdown when turning on the spot
Score: 4, points: 390
7 есто: Ducati DS 1000 Multistrada
Test car price: 2.940.000 seats
engine: 4-stroke, two-cylinder, 68 kW (92 HP), 92 Nm @ 5000 rpm, air / oil cooled. 992 cm3, el. fuel injection
Energy transfer: 6-speed gearbox, chain
Suspension: telescopic fork USD, rear single adjustable hydraulic shock absorber
Tires: front 120/70 R 17, rear 190/50 R 17
brakes: 2 drums with a diameter of 305 mm at the front and 265 mm at the rear
Wheelbase: 1462 mm
Seat height from ground: 850 mm
Fuel tank / consumption per 100 km: 20 l / 6, 1 l
Weight (with full fuel tank): 195 kg
Represents and sells: Class, dd Group, Zaloška 171, Ljubljana (01/54 84)
THANKS AND CONGRATULATIONS
+ engine (power, torque)
+ engine sound
+ agility in the city
+ innovative design
- hard seat
– wind protection
Score: 4, points: 351
Petr Kavcic, photo: Zeljko Pushchanik (Moto Puls, Matej Memedovich, Petr Kavcic)
