BMW F 900 R versus Kawasaki Versys 1000 S
BMW F 900 R
Kawasaki Versys 1000 S
Year of construction / RRP / Test report
Competitors
- Engine
- Basic price
- Comfort
- Windbreak
- Pillion comfort
Dimensions & Weight
Length : 2.140 mm Height : 1.130 mm
Seat : 815 mm
Weight : 211 (max: 430 ) kg
Length : 2.270 mm Height : 1.490 mm
Seat : 840 mm
Weight : 257 (max: 459 ) kg
Engine
Displacement: 895 ccm
Hub: 77 mm
Hole: 86 mm
Cooling: flüssig
Drive: O-Ring Kette
Aisles: 6
Displacement: 1.043 ccm
Hub: 56 mm
Hole: 77 mm
Cooling: flüssig
Drive: O-Ring Kette
Aisles: 6
Performance
Performance: 105 HP at 8.500 U/Min
Torque: 92 NM bei 6.500 U/Min Tank contents: 13 Litre
Consumption: 4 l
Reach: 310 km
Performance: 120 HP at 9.000 U/Min
Torque: 102 NM bei 7.500 U/Min Tank contents: 21 Litre
Consumption: 5 l
Reach: 404 km
Chassis
Bridge frame in shell construction (steel) Front suspension:
Upside-down fork, Ø 43 mm (travel 135 mm) Rear suspension:
Directly hinged central strut, spring base hydraulically adjustable, rebound damping adjustable (travel 142 mm)
Rear suspension:
Aluminum two-arm swingarm Tyres at the front: 120/70 ZR 17
Rear tyres: 180/55 ZR 17
Double profile frame (aluminium) Front suspension:
43 mm upside-down fork (travel 150 mm) Rear suspension:
Horizontally arranged back-link gas pressure central strut (travel 152 mm)
Rear suspension:
Two-arm swingarm Tyres at the front: 120/70ZR17M/C (58W)
Rear tyres: 180/55ZR17M/C (73W)
Brakes
Double disc brake, floating brake discs, 4-piston radial caliper (∅ 320 mm) Rear brake
Single disc brake, 1-piston floating caliper (∅ 265 mm)
Double petal brake discs. Brake caliper: Double radially mounted, monobloc, opposite 4 pistons (∅ 310 mm) Rear brake
Single petal brake disc. Brake caliper: Single piston (∅ 250 mm)
Ideal for a sporty short trip
If things go the way they did with their predecessor, BMW has a potential bestseller in its range with the F 900 R. Why not: The machine is quite cheap for BMW ratios and at the same time quite good.
You just have to know what you want. This bike is ideal for a sporty excursion without great travel ambitions. Whose wish this was always: Test drive please!
The test bike was provided to us by Bergmann and Söhne in Pinneberg near Hamburg.
Conclusion - what sticks
Driving pleasure, tour suitability, reasonable price-performance ratio and anything else? To be honest, there are hardly any points of criticism for us. The bike rides really extremely pleasant and smooth. The upright Adventure sitting posture in combination with the supple row quad is a great combination, which brings a lot of advantages on longer tours.
The optics can be discussed as always, but that's also a matter of taste here. By the way, the machine is available in the two color combinations Pearl Storm Gray / Metallic Diablo Black / Metallic Flat Spark Black & Emerald Blazed Green / Metallic Diablo Black / Metallic Flat Spark or in short Gray / Black & Green / Black. We find both successful and appealing.
Only a 19" front wheel instead of the 17 incher would be Dietmar and me perhaps still a concern. But even there, the spirits are divided, because the 17 inches in front of course ensure a good steering behavior. Either way, the Kawasaki Versys 1000 S is an excellently successful travel machine and Kawa does not promise too much! "Every street - At any time" we can sign with a clear conscience.
The test machine was provided to us by Heller & Soltau.
