BMW R nineT Urban G/S versus Kawasaki Z 900 RS
BMW R nineT Urban G/S
Kawasaki Z 900 RS
Year of construction / RRP / Test report
Competitors
- Engine
- Handling
- Brake
- Chassis
- Impression of quality
- Optics
- Successful design
- Precise handling
- Fragrant sound
- missing indicators for fuel level, engine speed and gear
- Travel possibilities and wind protection not at GS level
- Handles for the pillion passenger are missing
Dimensions & Weight
Length : 2.175 mm Height : 1.105 mm
Seat : 850 mm
Weight : 221 (max: 430 ) kg
Length : 2.100 mm Height : 1.150 mm
Seat : 835 mm
Weight : 215 kg
Engine
Displacement: 1.170 ccm
Hub: 73 mm
Hole: 101 mm
Cooling: Öl-Luft
Drive: Kardan
Aisles: 6
Displacement: 948 ccm
Hub: 56 mm
Hole: 73 mm
Cooling: flüssigkeitsgekühlt
Drive: Kette
Aisles: 6
Performance
Performance: 110 HP at 7.750 U/Min
Torque: 116 NM bei 6.000 U/Min Tank contents: 17 Litre
Consumption: 5 l
Reach: 321 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
Lattice tube (steel) Front suspension:
Telescopic fork 43 mm (travel 125 mm) Rear suspension:
Mono strut (travel 140 mm)
Rear suspension:
Paralever Tyres at the front: ZR
Rear tyres: ZR
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 (∅ 320 mm) Rear brake
Disc (∅ 265 mm)
Double disc brake (∅ 300 mm) Rear brake
Single brake disc (∅ 250 mm)
Conclusion - what sticks
Without question, Urban G/S is beguiling. Our tester Markus let himself be carried away to the remark that in his eyes it is currently the most beautiful motorcycle on the market. It is also a typical boxer child and high-quality workmanship from front to back. For those who do not constantly commute between Germany and Mongolia, the Urban G/S may even be better suited than a normal GS, because the Urban G/S is handier and weighs significantly less.The test bike was provided to us by Bergmann & Söhne in Pinneberg for this test. There is exactly this bike as a demonstrator and is looking forward to a lot of test riders. So, let's go to Pinneberg near Hamburg!
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.
