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• BMW R 1200 RT, Honda VFR 800 F, Kawasaki Z 1000 SX, Yamaha FJR 1300 AE
• Kawasaki Z 1000 SX gives the riot noodle
• Honda VFR 800 F with formidable chassis
• Yamaha FJR 1300 AE more stable in the curve
• BMW R 1200 RT accelerates as smooth as butter
• Placement and conclusion
• 1st place: BMW R 1200 RT
• 2nd place: Yamaha FJR 1300 AE
• 3rd place: Honda VFR 800 F
• 4th place: Kawasaki Z 1000 SX
• Data and measured values
• Alpen Masters rating

fact / Joachim Schahl

16 photos

fact / Joachim Schahl

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The winner among the tourers: the BMW R 1200 RT is surprisingly handy, has a low consumption and shines with real luxury equipment.

Blacksmith

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fact / Joachim Schahl

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3rd place: The Honda VFR 800 F has a high steering precision, but a bumpy power delivery.

fact / Joachim Schahl

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Artist

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1st place: Touring BMW R 1200 RT.

fact / Joachim Schahl

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power.

fact / Joachim Schahl

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4th place: Kawasaki Z 1000 SX. Although it has a lively engine, it is not always stable in corners.

fact / Joachim Schahl

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3rd place: Honda VFR 800 F. It shines with a great chassis, but the VTEC system is a nuisance in the mountains.

fact / Joachim Schahl

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2nd place: Yamaha FJR 1300 AE. It is very stable in corners, but has less pressure in the lower gears.

fact / Joachim Schahl

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1st place: BMW R 1200 RT. It has the perfect engine for the Alps, but is expensive when fully equipped.

fact / Joachim Schahl

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As attractive as the Dolomites are, one disadvantage cannot be ignored: for many motorcyclists, they are not on the doorstep.

Artist

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… Sebastian shines the motorcycles squeaky clean for the photo ride.

fact / Joachim Schahl

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Don’t just keep testing. Eating and cleaning is also part of the Alpine Masters: Rainer strengthens himself for upcoming tasks with the acrobatic pasta test, …

fact / Joachim Schahl

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For a brisk journey into the mountains, there is nothing better than comfortable tourers.

Blacksmith

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Sports touring bikes put to the test at the 2014 Alpine Masters

BMW R 1200 RT, Honda VFR 800 F, Kawasaki Z 1000 SX, Yamaha FJR 1300 AE

BMW R 1200 RT, Honda VFR 800 F, Kawasaki Z 1000 SX, Yamaha FJR 1300 AE – there is nothing better than comfortable tourers for a brisk journey into the mountains. But are they still dream bikes even with real alpine glow? The big MOTORRAD comparison test Alpen-Masters 2014 will show it.

S.o The Dolomites are also attractive, but one disadvantage cannot be ignored: for many motorcyclists, they are not on the doorstep. Anyone who owns a tourer is happy, because they unwind the journey in no time, lightly through motorways and federal highways and make it easily and easily into the heart of the mountains. Once there, however, many a driver’s heart slips in the face of the thread-thin strips of asphalt, the road surfaces eaten away by winter salt and the steep bends: are large and heavy touring motorcycles really suitable for this type of terrain?

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Alpine Masters 2014
This is how MOTORRAD tests

VFR 800 F and BMW R 1200 RT, plus the engine and chassis revised Kawasaki Z 1000 SX and Yamaha’s long-running FJR 1300, whose new additional abbreviation AE stands for the electrohydraulic adjustment of the suspension elements. In addition, there is an interesting concept comparison in the group, because the Yamaha and the BMW fall into the category of fully equipped luxury tourers, while Honda and Kawasaki are among the leaner sports tourers.

Kawasaki Z 1000 SX gives the riot noodle

These two are priced on a similar level. The Honda VFR 800 F costs around 12,300 euros, the Kawasaki Z 1000 SX, for which there is a luggage set as an accessory, comes in at just under 13,000 euros. Both come up with four-cylinder engines, but interpret the term sports tourer differently, which is noticeable at the first seat contact. The Kawasaki Z 1000 SX places its driver far in front and blows a happy attack on curves and bends, while Honda has made the seat of the VFR 800 F more traditional and therefore less aggressive. The engines also reveal different characters. With measured 137.2 HP from its 1043 cm³ in-line four-cylinder, the Kawa is the riot and pushes forward with largely linear torque, which ensures excited joy on the hot ride through the tumult of the switchbacks. The Honda relies on restraint, its V4 engine with its 782 cc makes 106.2 hp.

That is more than enough for a tingling mountain-and-valley ride, especially since the 800 is good on the gas. Unfortunately, the in-house VTEC system gets in the way in the mountains. Only two valves per cylinder work up to around 6800 rpm, only then are the two others switched on. Honda wants to achieve lower consumption, more torque at low speeds and more power upwards. In alpine practice, however, this means that the Honda VFR 800 F asks for first gear even in sweeping bends if you want to accelerate a little faster. In addition, the activation of the valves feels like changing gear – not a serious shortcoming, but annoying. Just like the draft at a height of 2000 meters, in which the Honda falls far behind the lively Kawasaki Z 1000 SX, because it takes ten seconds for the sprint from 50 to 100 km / h.

Tourer

Kawasaki Z 1000 SX (2014) in the driving report

Mild and wild combined even better?

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Honda VFR 800 F with formidable chassis

After the rather bumpy power delivery, the formidable chassis reconciles. The Honda VFR 800 F compensates for even coarser bumps and edges in the asphalt, as they are the order of the day in the Dolomites, is extremely stable on an incline, drives precisely, allows steering corrections and convinces with well-gripping brakes. In short: between hairpin bends and curves, it conveys a comfortable feeling of security.

The Kawasaki Z 1000 SX almost succeeds in this, but not quite as well. The seating position far forward gives a lot of feeling for the front wheel, but the chassis gets out of step much earlier on bumpy roads and does not move quite as stable and precisely. In the brake test downhill, the Kawa made a stoppie, for which it deducted points for the ABS. In the final statement, the Honda VFR 800 F is in third place and thus slightly ahead. Nevertheless, you can look forward to thrilling experiences in the alpine turmoil with both machines – on the Kawa mainly thanks to the entertaining engine, in the saddle of the Honda thanks to the bombshell chassis.

Tourer

Honda VFR 800 F in the driving report

Equipped for the future

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All used offers: Honda VFR 800

Yamaha FJR 1300 AE more stable in the curve

That leaves the two Valkyries of the quartet. The BMW R 1200 RT and the Yamaha FJR 1300 AE await their alpine appearance wide and massive. Both belong to the luxury tourer category and are fully equipped, including suitcases, which increases the price and weight: that’s a good 21,000 euros and 282 kilos for the RT, around 19,000 euros and 306 kilograms for the FJR. Maneuvering these motorcycles while stationary is an adventure and encourages the sweat glands to increase production. But as soon as the loads start rolling, all effort is forgotten. They tackle the Alpine passes elegantly and smoothly, and are much easier than expected to maneuver through even the tightest of bends.

However, it takes a little bit of taste to balance around six hundred pounds of metal and plastic, which is much easier with the BMW R 1200 RT. With a lower weight, shorter wheelbase and smaller turning circle than the Yamaha FJR 1300 AE, it can be maneuvered almost playfully through serpentine fields, and on smoothly guided routes it really gets going. On the other hand, it looks more wobbly in hairpin bends, the Yamaha is generally a bit more stable in the curve. It also comes up with the more active seating position and better ergonomics, but touches down much earlier than the BMW. Both heavyweights complete the downhill brake test confidently and in much less time than many other motorcycles that have significantly fewer pounds on their ribs. Again there are advantages for the BMW R 1200 RT, because the Yamaha compound brake regulates more coarsely and therefore decelerates more poorly.

Tourer

Touring test BMW R 1200 RT

From southern Spain to southern Germany

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Tourer

BMW R 1200 RT in the driving report

New water boxer in the touring galaxy

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All used offers: BMW R 1200 RT

Tourer

BMW R 1200 RT, Triumph Trophy 1200 SE and Yamaha FJR 1300 AE in the test

Perfect equipment on two wheels

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BMW R 1200 RT accelerates as smooth as butter

The biggest plus point of the BMW R 1200 RT, however, is its engine. It is quite possible that the test riders from Munich prepared the water boxer here in the Dolomites for a life in the mountains. He accelerates as smooth as butter and, with his measured 128 hp, has the right answer ready for every curve in the Alps. He accelerates quickly in the valley, daringly storms from hairpin to hairpin and gets top marks for his downright sporty performance. The beefy and smooth-running inline four-cylinder of the FJR cannot keep up. Although it brings 12 HP more and a thicker torque, its pulling power looks almost sedate next to the cheeky BMW drive. Uphill with a pillion passenger it takes more than two seconds longer to accelerate from 25 to 75 km / h. So it’s no wonder that it appears comparatively lame when accelerating out of the serpentines. Its true trump card, namely the turbine-like thrust at high speeds, can hardly be played by the 1300 engine on the Alpine passes.

Tourer

Touring test BMW R 1200 RT

From southern Spain to southern Germany

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Tourer

BMW R 1200 RT, Triumph Trophy 1200 SE and Yamaha FJR 1300 AE in the test

Perfect equipment on two wheels

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Tourer

BMW R 1200 RT in the driving report

New water boxer in the touring galaxy

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All used offers: BMW R 1200 RT

Tires for the BMW R 1200 RT

Placement and conclusion

fact / Joachim Schahl

As attractive as the Dolomites are, one disadvantage cannot be ignored: for many motorcyclists, they are not on the doorstep.

Victory on points for the BMW R 1200 RT in terms of chassis and engine. In other respects, too, it is almost always a tad superior, from the suspension to the payload to the seat for the pillion passenger. The adjustment options on both tours are enormous and a real help in the mountains. Switching the chassis from pillion operation with luggage to the brisk solo ride to the top of the pass is done by the electronics in next to no time, plus adjustable traction controls, electrically adjustable windshields, heated grips and numerous other extras, with the BMW operating menu proving to be unmatched intuitive. With five-stage seat heating, central locking, navigation and radio, it drives luxury on the mountain tour to previously unheard of heights, but this is reflected in the high price. The developers even provided a start-up aid on the hill that firmly pegs the motorcycle in a steep position even when the engine is running.

To come back to the initial question: Heavy tourers are astonishingly well suited for the Dolomites and even leave the more dynamic sport tourers behind. With their excellent chassis, they even iron out bumpy roads to a large extent and with their high-horsepower motors ensure thrilling mountain adventures. This has an effect on the points classification: The Yamaha, as the heaviest participant ever, lands in second place in the touring group and in third place in the entire Alpine Masters. The versatile and daring BMW R 1200 RT wins and moves into the finals of this year’s Alpine Masters with the highest number of points of all motorcycles.

Conclusion:

Who would have thought that: the two big ships from BMW and Yamaha do better in the Dolomites than the slimmer and lighter sports tourers from Honda and Kawasaki. Right at the front is the R 1200 RT from BMW, which with its high-torque water boxer, the shiny chassis and the unrivaled luxurious equipment ensures particularly exciting entertainment on the mountain and valley railways and thus qualifies for the finals.

1st place: BMW R 1200 RT

fact / Joachim Schahl

The BMW R 1200 RT has the perfect engine for the Alps.

plus

• perfect engine for the alps

• surprisingly handy

• low consumption

• enormous range

• real luxury equipment

minus

• slightly wobbly in switchbacks

• expensive with full equipment

2nd place: Yamaha FJR 1300 AE

fact / Joachim Schahl

Yamaha FJR 1300 AE.

plus

• very stable in corners

• comprehensive equipment

• big mirror, good view

• active sitting position

minus

• high weight

• little pressure in the lower corridors

3rd place: Honda VFR 800 F

fact / Joachim Schahl

Honda VFR 800 F..

plus

• depends well on the gas

• great chassis

• a lot of suspension comfort

• very stable in corners

• high steering precision

minus

• VTEC system annoying in the mountains

• bumpy performance

4th place: Kawasaki Z 1000 SX

fact / Joachim Schahl

Kawasaki Z 1000 SX.

plus

• active sitting position

• lively engine

• good control of the front wheel

• Acceleration and torque top

minus

• Stoppie on emergency braking

• tends to get out of step on bumpy roads

• not always stable in curves

Data and measured values

fact / Joachim Schahl

Performance measurement.

  BMW R 1200 RT Honda VFR 800 F Kawasaki Z 1000 SX Yamaha FJR 1300 AE engine Two-cylinder four-cylinder four-cylinder four-cylinder Displacement 1170 cc 782 cc 1043 cc 1298 cc power 125 hp 106 hp 142 hp 146 hp Torque 125 Nm 120 Nm 111 Nm 138 Nm Weight (without case) 269 ​​kg 245 kg 235 kg 296 kg Payload 226 kg 187 kg 191 kg 208 kg ABS / traction control

● / ● ● / ● ● / ● Price without additional costs 16990 (21035 *) 11,990 euros 12,795 euros 18,795 euros Test consumption passes 4.5 l / 100 km 5.6 l / 100 km 5.7 l / 100 km 6.0 l / 100 km theoretical range passes   560 km 378 km 332 km 415 km Passage in 2000 m above sea level,
50-100 km / h 6.5 sec 10.0 sec 6.3 sec 8.2 sec Pulling uphill with pillion passenger,
2nd gear, 25–75 km / h 4.3 sec 6.2 sec 5.1 sec 6.4 sec Braking distance downhill with pillion passenger,
2nd gear, 75-25 km / h23.4 m23.9 m26.3 m24.8 m

● = series; * Incl. Comfort package (770 euros) consisting of: RDC, chrome-plated exhaust system, central locking, anti-theft alarm system, second socket; Touring package (1270 euros) consisting of: ESA, cruise control, preparation for navigation system, heated seats; Dynamic package (320 euros) consisting of: daytime running lights, Pro driving modes, Hill Start Control audio system (1010 euros) and navigation system (675 euros).

Alpen Masters rating

engine

  Maximum
Score BMW
R 1200 RT Honda
VFR 800 F Kawasaki    
Z 1000 SX Yamaha
FJR 1300 AE acceleration 0-140 km / h 20 17 17 18 17 Passage in 2000 m above sea level 20 18 11 19 15 Pulling through in 2nd gear uphill with a pillion passenger 20 18 13 16 13 Power delivery 20 19 11 16 16 Response / load change behavior 20 17 13 11 16 coupling 20 17 14 12 13 circuit 20 16 13 15 12 Gear ratio 10 9 7 7 7 total15013199114109

Driving behavior

  Maximum BMW score
R 1200 RT
Honda
VFR 800 F Kawasaki    
Z 1000 SX Yamaha
FJR 1300 AE vote / comfort 20 18 16 13 17 Suspension reserves when loading 20 18 16 14 18 Manageability on mountain passes 20 12 14 13 10 Stability in turns 20 14 16 12 15 Steering precision / feedback 20 13 16 14 13 Braking effect 20 15 14 16 14 Downhill braking / fading 20 16 14 12 14 SECTION 15 13 13 9 11 Traction control 5 4 2 4 3 Righting moment when braking 10 7 8 5 6 No inclination when loading 10 7 7 6 5 total180137136118126

everyday life

  Maximum score BMW R 1200 RT Honda VFR 800 F Kawasaki Z 1000 SX Yamaha FJR 1300 AE equipment 20 20 15 10 20 Luggage storage 10 9 4 3 9 Range passes 20 20 17 14 20 Payload 20 19 9 10 14 Loading handling 10 1 5 5 1 Front / rear view 10 5 7 7 8 Ground clearance with pillion passenger and luggage 10 10 5 5 6 total10084625478

Comfort

  Maximum score BMW R 1200 RT Honda VFR 800 F Kawasaki Z 1000 SX Yamaha FJR 1300 AE Seat comfort driver 20 18 13 14 18 Seating comfort passenger 20 19 13 11 18 Wind and weather protection 20 20 11 13 18 Smooth running engine 10 6 6 7 8 total7063434562

Maximum number of points BMW R 1200 RT 
Honda VFR 800 F Kawasaki Z 1000 SX Yamaha FJR 1300 AE overall ranking 500
415 
340 
331 
375 placement 1.3.4.2.

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