BMW F 850 GS versus Kawasaki Z 900 RS
BMW F 850 GS
Kawasaki Z 900 RS
Year of construction / RRP / Test report
Competitors
- raised seating position
- good handling on and off-road
- Wide range of extras and accessories
- successful appearance
- Successful design
- Precise handling
- Fragrant sound
- Windscreen could be slightly larger
- Price skyrockets with extras
- not quite as manoeuvrable
- Handles for the pillion passenger are missing
Dimensions & Weight
Length : 2.305 mm Height : 1.356 mm
Seat : 860 mm until : 880 mm
Weight : 229 (max: 445 ) kg
Length : 2.100 mm Height : 1.150 mm
Seat : 835 mm
Weight : 215 kg
Engine
Displacement: 853 ccm
Hub: 77 mm
Hole: 84 mm
Cooling: wassergekühlt
Drive: Kette
Aisles: 6
Displacement: 948 ccm
Hub: 56 mm
Hole: 73 mm
Cooling: flüssigkeitsgekühlt
Drive: Kette
Aisles: 6
Performance
Performance: 95 HP at 8.250 U/Min
Torque: 92 NM bei 6.250 U/Min Tank contents: 15 Litre
Consumption: 4 l
Reach: 341 km
Performance: 111 HP at 8.500 U/Min
Torque: 99 NM bei 6.500 U/Min Tank contents: 17 Litre
Consumption: 5 l
Reach: 320 km
Chassis
Steel bridge frame in shell construction (steel) Front suspension:
Upside-down fork, Ø 43 mm (travel 204 mm) Rear suspension:
Mono strut (travel 219 mm)
Rear suspension:
Two-arm swingarm Tyres at the front: 90/90 21
Rear tyres: 150/70 R17
Tubular space frame (high-strength steel) Front suspension:
41 mm upside-down fork (travel 120 mm) Rear suspension:
Horizontal back-link strut (travel 140 mm) Tyres at the front: 120/70ZR17 M/C (58W)
Rear tyres: 180/55ZR17 M/C (73W)
Brakes
Double disc (∅ 305 mm) Rear brake
Disc (∅ 265 mm)
Double disc brake (∅ 300 mm) Rear brake
Single brake disc (∅ 250 mm)
Conclusion - what gets stuck
A really successful bike which is really fun but above all looks really good. Now, of course, you can still find something to complain about. For example, among the more extreme retro fans, there may be those who miss the two-sided struts compared to the legendary Z1. Or find the LCD between the round instruments superfluous. The Most strikingly missing is the Z9000 RS compared to the Z1 but certainly the exhaust system with 4 silencers. But who ever wants this can fulfill this wish for about 3000€ at the company Hattech https://www.hattech.de/380-kawasaki/z900-rs-z900-rs-cafe. Otherwise, the motorcycle test crew agreed that the Z900 RS in Candytone Brown makes an even better figure than our test model in Sparkle Black which would be worth us the 300€ surcharge in any case. But that's a matter of taste, of course.
The test machine was kindly provided by Heller & Soltau.
