Comparison test BMW F 700 GS Vs Kawasaki ER-6f Vs Yamaha Tracer 700: on the road !
To complete our first test of the Tracer 700, Yamaha’s new mid-capacity roadster, Site measured it with the BMW F700GS road trail and the Kawasaki ER-6f streamlined roadster… Comparative test.
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By successively installing himself on the handlebars of the three machines, Site notes that the driving position of the Tracer 700 is situated between those of the F700GS and the ER-6f. Like its sound, the new Yamaha roadster is halfway between a trail and a road.
On the BMW, the feet are level with the buttocks, the legs are absolutely not bent, the arms are high and wide apart. The back is perfectly straight, except when trying to steer as much as possible: the wide handlebars then ask the pilot to tilt the bust.
When you get on the Kawasaki, you first have the impression of riding a sports car because of the higher and rear footrests. No need, however, to stoop to catch the rather short and curved handlebars. Finally, the saddle is more reminiscent of tourism: as well padded as that of the GS, it is wider. This is the best of the three…
Posted above (we saw it on the previous page), the Yamaha saddle lacks softness compared to its two rivals. Tilted forward, it gradually moves the pilot away from the wider, flatter rear part, which is more comfortable. Pity.
Copiously bent on the Kawa road, the knees relax on the Yam, but not as much as on the BMW. The width of the tank of the Tracer is comparable to that of the Er-6f: the thighs are therefore wider apart than on the F700GS, whose trim around the airbox has a small clearance. The Germans could have refined the size of their machine of a small centimeter.
On the other hand, engineers from across the Rhine have fulfilled their contract in terms of ease of handling: the weight of the road trail disappears from the first few meters, during which keeping the balance at very low speed is childish. The long wheelbase and thin tires provide an excellent balance between stability and agility.
An easy-to-use motorcycle ?
Despite its hard left lever, starting is easy. The simply incredible flexibility of the German twin greatly facilitates the task: to illustrate it, note that the F700GS can trot at 2000 rpm in the last report (55 km / h approximately) and leave without hiccuping.
The ER-6f is also very flexible since it accepts to descend to 50 km / h in sixth gear, its engine then running at 2300 rpm: the Kawasaki pulls shorter and takes advantage of it. This is not the case of the Yamaha, which requires to pass the fourth to cross the small towns.
The gear changes, precisely, are more pleasant on the BMW. They are a little less smooth on the Kawasaki and a little slower on the Yamaha. In terms of injection and transmission, MNC did not find any noticeable differences between the three motorcycles..
On the other hand, when it comes to suspensions, the behavior is more clearly distinguished: faithful to the Yamaha philosophy (valid on FZs as well as MTs), the Tracer 700 eliminates all urban obstacles by making its fork and shock absorber work very early and quickly..
The F700GS may benefit from longer travel, it sinks less quickly than the Yam, without being uncomfortable, far from it. The Kawasaki, finally, is a good surprise since it spares the lower back and wrists quite well..
At the start of driving, in town, the dives of the Yamaha road fork are accentuated by the perfectible braking of our test model: softer than in our memories (read our), the right lever is not as adjustable. than that of the Kawasaki.
The front brake of the BMW is a little less obvious to apprehend because it comes into action only after a few millimeters of pulling the lever, but then proves to be biting and measurable. A few brakes were enough for MNC to take into account the slight downtime of the GS, while it took several more to fully control the front brake of the MT.
With its too long stroke and weak power, the rear brake of the BMW has moderately convinced us. To stop dead and flat at a red light, Yamaha – and especially Kawasaki – riders are better served.
However, for those who want to face the city on a daily basis, the F700GS is undoubtedly the motorcycle to (re) order! Seated comfortably, the pilot has the sensation of perfectly dominating the traffic. The only real complaint: the width of the handlebars which slows down or blocks during the ascending lines.
Small bonus that may crack some: the sound of the parallel twin is similar to that of the … in softer and more felt on the F700GS, and without the flat-twin which can bruise the shins of the uninitiated during the first stops !
A pleasant machine to drive ?
Soundtrack level, the Tracer 700 and the ER-6f are generally on the same wavelength in slow motion. While driving, the Kawasaki is a little more discreet than the Yamaha whose beats tire the ears in the long run..
On long distances, the Yamaha takes its revenge on the Kawasaki in terms of vibrations: the sensitive tingling at the level of the handlebars of the Tracer is nothing compared to the crackling that invades the ER-6f – especially its saddle – shortly after 4000 rpm. min…
Unfortunately, it is at this speed that the "Kawette" reaches 90 km / h in sixth (95 km / h on the Yam and almost 115 on the BMW). With the ER, it is perfectly useless to look down at the meter to find out if we have reached the regulatory speed on the national road: the buttocks transmit the message directly to the brain !
The vibrations accompany the pilot over a good thousand rpm, which means that at 110 km / h – on four-lanes and sections of motorways limited to this speed, more and more numerous … -, the "real" road of this comparative test continues to be less pleasant than its two rivals.
After 120 km / h, the ER-6f finally regains the calm that has never left the Tracer 700 or the F700GS! The Kawasaki is even catching up a bit on the highway, thanks to its saddle softer than that of the Yamaha and wider than that of the BMW..
Still on the Kawasaki, the bubble – in the middle position – fully protects the bust and shoulders but lets most of the head face the wind. In the high position, it deflects the air at the nose and therefore forces you to bend your spine to completely isolate yourself from the eddies.
On the Yamaha, the protection of the bubble raised to the maximum is slightly better, but its smoothness at the base creates small turbulence at the level of the abdominals, which can upset some. They may consider the purchase of a high bubble (160 €) which will eradicate this effect..
Finally, on the BMW, the presence of the windscreen is not negligible insofar as it correctly limits the pressure on the bust … Nevertheless, the use of the high screen will be mandatory for those who want to chain the terminals on fast and fatigue free.
In the end, the Tracer 700 turns out to be the most pleasant machine to drive on long journeys thanks to its relaxing driving position, the good protection of its screen – easily – adjustable from origin and the absence of annoying vibrations..
When leaving the motorway, the pilot of the Tracer 700 remains at the head of the procession, barely slowing down on any speed bumps or rough strips, effectively negotiating the essential roundabout and then happily opening the throttle to the sight of a departmental road. smooth and clean…
When accelerating, it’s very simple: the Yamaha leaves no chance to its two adversaries! Whatever gears are engaged (tests in 3rd and 6th), the MT leaps ahead of the GS and the ER. His "CP2" already pulls well at 3500 rpm, and tows even harder past 6000 rpm.
An exhilarating machine to whip ?
With its 15 kg more to move, the twin of the Kawasaki takes a delay that it can not fill despite a more vigorous extension. Because in the last third of the counter (red zone at 11,000 rpm, 10,000 on the Yam), the Akashi mill is working hard and keeps the gap.
Despite an advertised maximum maximum power, the BMW can not fight against the Yamaha either. On leaving the village, at 50 km / h in 3rd gear, the German engine is disabled because it turns slower than the Japanese (3500 rpm against 4500). It will therefore be necessary to drop a speed to follow the Yam !
Although the F700GS tachometer puts the twin’s red zone at 8,500 rpm, you get the feeling at the controls that there is no need to drive the needle beyond 7,000 rpm. Quite the opposite of the Kawasaki therefore, which asks only to be whipped…
On beautiful biking roads, however, the BMW trail can quite follow the rhythm of the two Japanese thanks to its excellent chassis: the chassis – and the engine! – resist very well to constraints, while the giant wheelbase gives the bike an imperial stability.
The thinner tires and wider handlebars of the F700GS make it easier to take and change angles at reasonable speed. We must work a little more at the controls of the Kawasaki … and anticipate more on the Yamaha !
Indeed, the compromise more "comfort" than "sport" chosen by the firm of Iwata is felt even without forcing: each time the brakes are applied, the Tracer 700 dives a little more than the ER-6f, and even than the F700GS which it seems impossible to overcome the 170 mm of front travel !
Once the right lever released, the Yamaha relaxes faster than its two rivals of the day: its entries in curves lose precision. We enter more frankly in the curves at the controls of the high – but less drooping – BMW or the "low" Kawasaki.
Perfectly tolerable in good conditions and at a good pace, the behavior of the MT-07 will leave the bloodiest bikers hungry for more: on small bumpy roads of the "rally special" type, the attitude of the Tracer varies too much to refine its trajectories and be in full confidence.
On the attack, the Bavarian and her 19-inch Ferris wheel become more physical to take in the winding, so that the little "Ninja" takes the advantage: her neutral front end still stuck to the tarmac and her rear tire of 160 mm (180 on the Yam ‘) work wonders.
Certainly, to take advantage of the full potential of the two front 2-piston calipers (as on the Yam), the Kawasaki brake lever requires more grip than its little comrades of the day. But its braking is also shown to be constant and just a little less powerful than the BMW system (4-pistons and braided hoses).
On the Yamaha, the power is also there, to such an extent that the rubber pads placed on the sides of the fairing are precious allies: by pressing the knees hard above, the pilot avoids sliding towards the front of the saddle.
Out of curves, the shock absorber of the Tracer 700 does not struggle more than its colleagues in channeling horses who wish to ride over bumps. It is rather on pretty roads, where the pilot dares to let go of all the cavalry, that the rear end of the Yam reaches its limits..
Lighter and sharper than its competitors, the Tracer 700 twists and bounces more. The new swingarm of the Tracer has erased the leaping character of the original MT, but does not solve everything: the Japanese engineers may revise their settings…
Paradoxically better set on its 160 mm rear wheel, the ER-6f readily accepts that its pilot makes his engine howl and comes out of the turn stronger. More gray than on the Yamaha, the rider also benefits from a position of conduct piloting and ground clearance more suited to "arsouille mode" (the Yam ‘lugs are a little too long).
Special mention to the F700GS, whose more “trail” oriented tires have never lacked grip. The traction control (ASC in option) did not have to intervene during our test … but could calm down or save the day of novice bikers surprised on fat-wet by the couple of the "big" 700.
At the end of this comparative test, Site notes that the "easy" BMW consumed the least with an average of 4.5 l / 100km, against 4.6 for the "pleasant" Yamaha and 4.8 for the "exhilarating" Kawasaki. The MT wins the last point of the match with better autonomy: 370 km according to the MNC’s clever calculations, against 356 for the GS and 333 for the ER.
Overall, however, it is the fully streamlined and really inexpensive roadster that is the most convincing. For 500 euros more than an ER-6n, Kawasaki offers an endearing little roadster that can be suitably equipped without exceeding the price of the attractive Yamaha Tracer 700 or the good – but – latest F700GS.
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