BMW R 1150 GS Adventure versus Kawasaki Ninja 400

Make
Model
Make
Model
Make
Model
BMW

BMW R 1150 GS Adventure

Adventure
Kawasaki

Kawasaki Ninja 400

Supersport

Year of construction / RRP / Test report

Built von 2005 bis 2005
Built von 2018 bis 2024~
RRP
RRP 6.745 €
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Pros:
  • Comfort
  • Processing
  • Off-road capability
Pros:
  • Precise chassis
  • Motor
  • light
Cons:
  • High weight
Cons:
  • Comfort

Dimensions & Weight

Wheelbase: 1.501 mm
Length :
2.180 mm
Seat :
900 mm
Weight :
287 (max: 460 ) kg
Wheelbase: 1.370 mm
Length :
1.990 mm Height : 1.120 mm
Seat :
785 mm
Weight :
168 kg

Engine

Motor design: Boxer 4-stroke 2 Cylinder
Displacement: 1.130 ccm
Hub: 71 mm
Hole: 101 mm
Cooling: Öl-Luft
Drive: Kardan
Aisles: 6
Motor design: Number 2 Cylinder
Displacement: 399 ccm
Hub: 52 mm
Hole: 70 mm
Cooling: flüssigkeitsgekühlt
Drive: Kette
Aisles: 6

Performance

Maximum speed: 192 km/h
Performance: 85 HP at 6.750 U/Min
Torque: 98 NM bei 5.250 U/Min
Tank contents: 22 Litre
Consumption:
5 l
Maximum speed: 195 km/h
Performance: 45 HP at 10.000 U/Min
Torque: 38 NM bei 8.000 U/Min
Tank contents: 14 Litre
Consumption:
4 l
Reach:
358 km

Chassis

Frame type:
Tubular space frame (steel)
Front suspension:
Telelever (travel 210 mm)
Rear suspension:
Central strut (travel 220 mm)
Rear suspension:
Paralever single-arm swingarm
Tyres at the front: 110/80 B 19 TL
Rear tyres: 150/70 H 17 TL
Frame type:
Tubular space frame (steel)
Front suspension:
41 mm telescopic fork (travel 120 mm)
Rear suspension:
Gas pressure shock absorbers (travel 130 mm)
Rear suspension:
Bottom-Link Uni-Trak
Tyres at the front: 110/70R17 M/C 54H
Rear tyres: 150/60R17 M/C 66H

Brakes

Front brake
Double disc brakes ( 305 mm) Rear brake
Single disc ( 276 mm)
Front brake
Single Petal Brake Disc ( 310 mm) Rear brake
Single Petal Brake Disc ( 220 mm)

Cheap never, well mostly

MW driving has never been a particularly cheap pleasure. Although many specimens are around 20 years old and have collected correspondingly many kilometers, these GS are still not a bargain. It must be at least 5,000 euros, top-maintained specimens like our test bike like to scratch at the five-digit. You can understand this: The BMW R 1150 GS, if you don't catch a rocked-out model, is an almost ideal companion for the very big tour.

If you can do without cornering and agility, the GS is the ideal travel moped, where the road can be three steps below perfect.
As I said, a buddy for the good and the bad days.

Price / Availability / Colours / Years of Construction

  • Price: used from 5.000€
  • Years built: 1999-2003
  • Availability: good
  • Colors: Adventure in white-blue

It works - but not for everyone

So does that work, 45 hp and super sportsmen? Yes, it works. As far as you can not only define the pure driving performance in sport, but can enjoy the manoeuvrability. If everything else is somehow too high, too big and heavy, then the Kawasaki Ninja 400 fits.

And only then does it make sense, because one thing is clear: at around 6,400 euros, it is not a bargain. It is not cheap and does not want to be it. But a motorcycle that can surprise. And that works.

The test bike was provided to us by Heller and Soltau in St. Michaelisdonn.

Price / Availability / Colours / Years of Construction

  • Price: 6.429€
  • Used (2 years old): 5.100€
  • Years of construction: since 2018
  • Availability: good
  • Colours: green, black