Duel Kawasaki Z1000SX 2017 Vs Yamaha Tracer 900: all-in-one
The Kawasaki Z1000SX is an excellent sport-GT motorcycle, made even more versatile in 2017 with interesting evolutions. But are its cutting-edge electronics and reworked comfort enough against the very complete Yamaha Tracer 900 and its salivating performance / price ratio? ? MNC duel to Euro4 standards.
Page 1 – Static: comfortably sporty
To the dynamic qualities of the roadster from which they derive, Sport-touring motorcycles like the and intend to add the pleasure of a road. This program, as tempting as it is ambitious, involves compromises, more or less (re) marked according to the chosen direction: Kawasaki, for example, has been following a sporty approach since 2011 with its, as evidenced by its sleek lines and its equipment worthy of a .
Generously dimensioned aluminum perimeter frame, fully adjustable inverted fork, swingarm as strong as it is elegant (given the pretty eccentrics of tension settings?), 4-cylinder in-line 142 hp and 111 Nm or even radial monobloc calipers with " Kawasaki "laser engraved: the Z1000SX has all the finer points of Superbike! This comparison with the adoption of an inertial unit (IMU), responsible for measuring the position of the motorcycle on several axes.
In this way, the action of its ABS and its latest anti-skating is finely adapted according to the angle and the trim: the best of the best in the matter. Some pure pistardes are not even equipped yet! To this debauchery of technology, MNC would however have preferred a central stand to maintain the chain, a 12V socket (option) as well as a saddle and a handlebar with variable heights: the limits of the famous compromise mentioned above are reflected here (see page 3).
All these equipment so practical, the embeds them as standard since its release. Better still: the semi-faired version of the MT-09 roadster takes advantage of its "high-legged" look to incorporate trail-style hand guards. Like the Z1000SX, the Yamaha also receives passenger handles, integrated luggage mounts, LED lighting, full instrumentation controlled from the handlebars (with gear indicator engaged, fuel gauge, clock, two trips, temperatures, etc. ) and a bubble whose height varies without tools.
However, its adjustment requires unscrewing – then screwing back – two serrated knobs, the operation is impractical while driving. Especially since these dials located on the dashboard are not hyper accessible. On the Z1000SX, the device is unlocked with one hand under the digital screen on the right, while the other modifies the inclination of the screen – also lengthened by 15 mm for 2017. All of this can be done while driving. at the cost of certain contortions … and a certain taking of liberty with the elementary rules of safety !
The absence of a storage compartment on these two rivals confirms the concessions made to contain the weight and the cost, despite the space available. This is even truer for the Z1000SX with more enveloping fairings than the Tracer 900, especially on this 2017 model (+ 28 mm on each side compared to the 2016 Z1000SX). The Z1000 in road clothes makes up for it with its offset dial to preload the shock absorber, welcome equipment as a duo that the Yamaha lacks.
The Kawa collects good points, the Yamaha collects them
For 2017, the Kawasaki improves its comfort: this goes through its saddle widened by 5 mm and its shock absorber – adjustable in preload and rebound – with increased travel of 6 mm (or 144 mm in all). Despite its (false) trail airs, the rear spring of the Yamaha sinks 14 mm less (130 mm). At the front, however, its fork swings over 137 mm against 120 mm on the Z1000SX: values in accordance with the visual impression released when the two motorcycles are side by side..
This inverted fork of the Tracer 900, precisely, is identical to the previous model: Yamaha does not have it – yet? – grafted the fully adjustable model of the, nor its shifter installed as standard. Only preload and rebound adjustments are therefore available on Iwata’s sport-touring, front and rear..
On the other hand, the Tracer 900 embeds the anti-dribble clutch released this year on its, in addition to small adjustments made to its 3-cylinder to meet Euro4 standards. Performance does not suffer, with still 115 hp and 87.5 Nm of torque available with a simple rotation of its ride-by-wire, also connected to three maps (A, B and standard). Anti-slip and ABS, less advanced than on the Z1000SX, remain standard.
No major changes therefore for 2017, which is understandable: why upset a winning recipe on a motorcycle at the start of a career? On the other hand, its price swells slightly by € 200, reaching € 10,499. This very well-placed price is one of the strong arguments behind its phenomenal success: this distant descendant of the TDM900 (ah, the TDM!) Is the fifth best seller of the, with 2383 registration cards against… 494 Z1000SX.
Will Kawasaki’s improvements for 2017 reduce this important gap? The game promises to be tight, especially since the Z1000SX costs € 3,100 more (€ 13,599): a straw! When stationary, the Green pales in front of the formidable Tracer 900, whose very correct level of finish supports the comparison as a bonus. Still, some components of Akashi’s motorcycle are more upscale, such as its fully adjustable fork, monoblock calipers or even its Bridgestone S20 tires, superior in all areas to the aging Dunlop Sportmax D222 of the Yamaha..
Let’s see in dynamics on the next page if its more advanced peripherals and electronics as well as its higher displacement (1043cc against 857cc) allow the Z1000SX "Euro4" to show this damn Tracer 900. !
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