Middle-class adventure bikes at the 2015 Alpen Masters

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Middle-class adventure bikes at the 2015 Alpen Masters

Crossrunner, V-Strom, Tiger and Tracer 900 put to the test

Honda Crossrunner, Suzuki V-Strom 650 XT, Triumph Tiger 800 XCx and Yamaha MT-09 Tracer are very flexible and can go further even when the torrent rushes over the road.

“Big motorcycles with big engines, big tanks, lots of space and lots of equipment ”- that’s how colleague Johannes Muller described the four machines in the“ Adventure Big ”category in the first part of the Alpine Masters (MOTORRAD 15/2015). What can you say about the candidates of the group "Adventure Mid"? "Medium motorcycles with medium engines …?" No, that would by no means do them justice. This quartet of Honda Crossrunner, Suzuki V-Strom XT, Triumph can be considered mediocre Tiger 800 XCx and Yamaha MT-09 Tracer really do not designate it. 

Alpine Masters 2015

The prelude to the largest motorcycle comparison test

Honda Crossrunner with automatic gearshift

Honda Crossrunner and Suzuki V-Strom both present themselves with a comparatively low seat and a traditional upright seating position, which is quite passive on the Crossrunner due to the handlebars that are bent far back. Despite the considerable weight of 245 kilograms with a full tank, the brisk tour of the Dolomites with the Honda Crossrunner looks promising. Its good equipment even includes an automatic switch, which gives it an extra dose of momentum on the well-developed driveway to the Fedaia Pass. Handiness, feedback, steering precision: everything is OK. In addition, there are outstanding brakes, because when measuring downhill with two people, the Crossrunner does not allow himself a stoppie, no matter how tiny, but decelerates the heavily loaded load in just 22.3 meters – a record in her group and the second- best value in the entire 2015 Alpine Masters. 

The suspension is not so good, because fully loaded the Honda Crossrunner hits the rear on bumpy tracks. But the crossrunner’s engine makes the thickest line through the bill. With 108 measured horsepower, the four-cylinder is more than generously equipped for passionate uphill and downhill rides, but unfortunately often little power arrives at the rear wheel. The VTec engine, which has two valves per cylinder up to around 7000 rpm, still has four, two faces after that. It is annoying that the VTec system in the Alps simply kicks in too late. If tight bends and bends follow one another as rapidly as at the Falzàrego pass or the driveway to the Pordoi, the Honda Crossrunner often does not get up to speed quickly enough to switch to four-valve operation. The hoped-for increase in performance does not materialize because you have to slow down beforehand.

This is proven by measurements of the weak draft at an altitude of 2000 meters: Despite its high horsepower, the Honda Crossrunner needs almost endless 9.6 seconds to accelerate from 50 to 100 km / h in the last gear – even the Suzuki V-Strom can do that with its only 69 hp better. With 5.9 liters per 100 km, the Honda turns out to be the biggest swallowing woodpecker in its group. All in all, the Crossrunner remains fourth in this strong group, V-Strom has to admit defeat by just two points.

All tests and articles about the Honda Crossrunner

Suzuki V-Strom 650 XT still very good

She is a good old friend: In 2005 and 2006 the 650er won the Alpine Masters; And really not much has changed for her since then, because Suzuki kept the revision within economical limits, apart from the ABS and the new spoked wheels. And yet, compared to its much newer and more modern competitors, the V-Strom is still doing astonishingly well in the mountains, which earns it a lot of sympathy and a whole range of points. She willingly follows steering commands, is stable in the bends and gives good feedback. However, it keys down first when fully loaded. She is the only one in the field that lacks traction control, which is bearable in view of her manageable performance. 

Which brings us to their biggest shortcoming: 69 HP are not exactly the screaming soundtrack in the “Adventure Mid” class these days, almost 30 horsepower separate the Suzuki V-Strom 650 XT from the next strongest competitor in this group, the Triumph Tiger 800 XCx. So little flavor naturally has a negative effect on acceleration and torque and thus on the awarding of points. Whereby the two-cylinder with its 645 cm³ hangs creamy on the gas; At least in solo operation you can live with the performance data because the twin works very harmoniously. For two, however, it gets a little boring now and then. If you don’t want to sprint breathlessly from summit to summit in the Alps, but prefer relaxed cornering enjoyment, the honest character and uncomplicated handling of the Suzuki V-Strom are still well served.

Yamaha Tracer flicks through the tightest turns

Honda Crossrunner and Suzuki V-Strom 650 XT landed fourth and third, while a thrilling duel for first place developed. What makes the battle particularly exciting is that the two three-cylinder Yamaha MT-09 Tracer and Triumph Tiger 800 XCx rely on very different concepts – the Tiger is a travel enduro with real off-road ambitions, the Tracer a stormy sports tourer. In comparison, the Tiger looks tall and mighty, it weighs 20 kilograms more and a smooth 20 HP less on the rear wheel than the lively Tracer. 

So easy for the Yamaha MT-09 Tracer? Well, let’s see. Burning up the pass with her is actually a stunner. 116 hp distributed over 212 kilograms makes every summiteer soul rejoice. Especially because the tracer hisses away from every corner in a fiery sprint. It clicks with verve even through the tightest of turns, because you can hardly make a motorcycle more manageable than it. In addition, the wide, straight handlebars grab the driver in a kind of supermoto position; the contact with the front wheel appears so intense through this active, forward-leaning posture that you almost feel the asphalt surface in your fingertips. Unfortunately, this also applies to bumpy slopes, on the Ruttelabfahrt from Valparolapass towards Corvara, the tracers and their riders are shaken by bumps. An intense and tough affair.

All reviews and articles about the Yamaha MT-09 Tracer

Triumph Tiger 800 scores with payload and range

The Triumph Tiger 800 XCx is different. Its formula is 96 HP on 232 kilograms, and it is logically not as agile and breathless as the Yamaha MT-09 Tracer in the sprint from peak to peak. On the other hand, your three-cylinder scores with a pleasantly smooth response, especially in comparison to the tracer that accelerates hard.

The chassis is similar: with its long suspension travel, the Triumph Tiger 800 XCx simply go away many irregularities in the base. When it comes to the rarely sown, but definitely existing gravel or stream bed passages in the mountains, nobody can follow it in the long run anyway. Overall, its high-quality chassis is best and most comfortably tuned in this group, while the slightly bucking Yamaha MT-09 Tracer has to be content with last place in this discipline. Compared to the Tiger, it doesn’t stand out in terms of comfort and equipment anyway. The driver and front passenger sit on the Triumph kommoder, luggage storage works better, payload and range are higher. The Tiger cannot hide a certain unrest in the chassis, so that the tracer is more stable in the curve and reacts more precisely to steering commands. All in all, however, the Triumph combines significantly more all-round qualities, which is why it is an even better motorcycle for the Alps than the Tracer and makes it into the final with a twelve point lead.

All articles about the Triumph Tiger 800 XC

All tests and articles about the Triumph Tiger 800 XCx

Placement and conclusion

10 Pictures

Pictures: Middle-class adventure bikes at the 2015 Alpen Masters

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1. Triumph Tiger 800 XCx

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The Triumph Tiger 800 XCx took first place at the 2015 Alpen Masters in the Adventure Mid category with 357 points.

 more  

  • comfortable chassis
  • smooth engine
  • good vote
  • decent equipment
  • lowest consumption (5.0 liters)
  • great all-rounder qualities

 minus 

  • Feedback not optimal
  • Fork dips deeply when braking 
  • legs apart, high sitting position

2. Yamaha MT-09 Tracer

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The Yamaha MT-09 Tracer took 2nd place in the Adventure Mid category at the 2015 Alpen Masters with 345 points.

 more  

  • real fun mobile
  • lively engine
  • very direct landing gear
  • extremely handy 
  • cheap price

 minus 

  • low payload
  • Hard tuned chassis
  • Compromise in comfort
  • Righting moment and stopped-
  • Inclination when braking

3. Suzuki V-Strom XT

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The Suzuki V-Strom 650 XT took 3rd place at the Alpen Masters 2015 in the Adventure Mid category with 335 points.

 more  

  • easy to drive
  • low bench
  • a lot of comfort for the passenger
  • smooth clutch
  • well translated

 minus 

  • Side stand keys down
  • subdued acceleration 
  • A kink in the windshield disturbs the view

4. Honda Crossrunner

 more  

  • good ABS
  • excellent braking behavior
  • Automatic switch
  • pleasant engine run

 minus 

  • VTec technology in the mountains is rather suboptimal
  • slight loss of draft 
  • quite passive sitting position

Technical specifications

10 Pictures

Pictures: Middle-class adventure bikes at the 2015 Alpen Masters

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