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Kawasaki Versys 1000 Tourer vs. Yamaha MT-09 Tracer

Come with me to adventure land

Come with me to adventure land was the motto of the pop group Pur. Regardless of how you feel about this band, the question arises where this country is actually and how best to get there. It is best to take so-called adventure tourers.

F.For travel-ready, disguised motorcycles with an upright, active seating position and slightly longer suspension travel, but without any off-road ambitions, the term adventure tourer has meanwhile become established. Kawaski even uses it officially. At some point the question arises, what actually is an adventure? A head that is as resourceful as it is unfortunately anonymous has aptly defined an adventure as “a situation that you don’t necessarily want to be in while you’re going through it”. In relation to the motorcycle, however, that would mean that you definitely don’t want to wrinkled the pedestal you’re sitting on. This is unlikely to have been Kawasaki’s intention. You will sooner have had these dashing guys in your mind’s eye who run for a camel unshaven and with an open shirt, inhale freedom at night by the campfire, or do similar wild things that are usually denied to the civilized office worker.

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Kawasaki Versys 1000 Tourer vs. Yamaha MT-09 Tracer

Come with me to adventure land

Yamaha MT-09 Tracer as well as the Kawasaki Versys 1000 Tourer motorcycles, which could hardly be more reasonable in their performance class. With 115 (Tracer) and 120 (Versys) PS, both are superbly motorized, with the Yamaha triple being a thoroughly beguiling unit. It hangs well on the gas, is easy to turn and produces a rough, hissy sound that gets under your skin. On the other hand, the Kawa in-line quad, although stronger, more powerful and even more cultivated, if not free from subtle vibrations under load, looks almost colorless. Especially since it looks a bit constricted at the top and only rotates up to 9700 rpm, after which it is off. The Yamaha is livelier and lively up to at least fourth gear to 11,200 rpm. In fifth and sixth gear, the speed and thus the engine speed is cut at 210 km / h. The Kawa is allowed to do what it can and runs 225 km / h. But that doesn’t really matter in everyday life. It is interesting that both show the same restraint with 4.4 liters on the consumption round. Because of the larger tank, it doesn’t have to go to the petrol pump until around 70 kilometers later. But even with the Tracer there are over 400 kilometers in one go. Hats off to those who manage this distance without a break, because the seat cushion, which can be adjusted to two heights (850/860 mm), is quite hard and demands the very least. So an adventure in the sense of the first definition!

On the Kawa, on the other hand, you sit very relaxed at the front and back, in contrast to the Yamaha IM and not ON the bike, and thanks to the larger fairing, the inside of which unfortunately looks a bit dreary, a much better wind protection than on the Yamaha. Here as there, the rather narrow panes can be adjusted in height manually and fortunately without tools, whereby the adjustment primarily changes the noise development. The author found more calm in the lowest position, while the co-tester Georg, who was a good head shorter, preferred the upper position.

When someone goes on a journey, they have something to tell afterwards, but before that they have to pack. On the Kawa, here in the tourer version, two plastic cases, each with a capacity of 28 liters, and a solid luggage rack ensure that the traveler does not have to carry his bundle himself. The Yamaha can only counter this with two softbags, a bridge is missing.

The way to Adventure Land cannot be straight, that much is clear. The Tracer, fitted with tires with Dunlop D 222 in specification L, is the first to enter the Winkelwerk. It rushes through the curves quickly and with low steering impulses, only a clearly noticeable upright moment when braking in an inclined position spoils the good mood a little. For this, the brake with radially hinged calipers works powerfully and with little strength on the adjustable lever. The coordination of the fork and shock absorber is tight, but not uncomfortable. This is bearable. After switching to the Kawa, which has the Bridgestone T 30 specification F, one thing remains to be said: The Tracer drives well, the Versys drives better! Even more manageable and, above all, without the annoying set-up moment when braking, it rushes through radii of any size. The fork in particular is more comfortable, but the price is very little feedback from the front wheel. The conventionally applied front brake also looks rather blunt in a direct comparison, but the ABS regulates more sensitively than that of the Yamaha, if necessary. And her foursome pushes even more powerfully in the middle.

While the Greens maintain a bit of the bully image, especially with the Z models, the Versys are just the nerds. Examples? The Yamaha can be placed on the main stand without great effort. The Kawa is even easier. The Yamaha cockpit shows pretty much anything that could be important. The Kawa does that too. More than very useful display of the remaining range. The brake lever is adjustable on the Tracer. The Versys also has the one for the clutch. But at some point the end is over: the Yamaha not only costs a huge 3300 euros less, thanks to longer service intervals (10,000 instead of the less than modern 6000 kilometers) it is also cheaper to maintain in the long run.

Time for a resume: According to the definition mentioned at the beginning, according to the knowledge gained, neither Kawasaki nor Yamaha are adventure bikes, because, and this is not really surprising, you don’t want to end the situation when you are on one of the two motorcycles, but in the Enjoy the opposite as long as possible. It is pure pleasure, so to speak, at least as long as the four letters join in.

MOTORCYCLE test result

1. Kawaski Versys 1000 Tourer

With consistent precision work, Gruner collects point by point and decides 21 of the 45 categories for itself. In direct comparison, the differences are always only minor, but small cattle also make crap.

2. Yamaha MT-09 Tracer

Second place equals first loser? Rubbish, because Tracy is ahead 15 times, and the absolute point difference is just 3.5 percent. You also get more points per euro from her.

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