BMW R 1150 GS Adventure versus Kawasaki Z 1000 SX

Make
Model
Make
Model
Make
Model
BMW

BMW R 1150 GS Adventure

Adventure
Kawasaki

Kawasaki Z 1000 SX

Sporttourer

Year of construction / RRP / Test report

Built von 2005 bis 2005
Built von 2011 bis 2019
RRP
RRP 12.995 €
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Pros:
  • Comfort
  • Processing
  • Off-road capability
Pros:
  • Performance
  • Comfort
  • Equipment
  • Value for money
Cons:
  • High weight
Cons:
  • Transmission very short gear ratio

Dimensions & Weight

Wheelbase: 1.501 mm
Length :
2.180 mm
Seat :
900 mm
Weight :
287 (max: 460 ) kg
Wheelbase: 1.440 mm
Length :
2.100 mm Height : 1.185 mm
Seat :
815 mm
Weight :
235 kg

Engine

Motor design: Boxer 4-stroke 2 Cylinder
Displacement: 1.130 ccm
Hub: 71 mm
Hole: 101 mm
Cooling: Öl-Luft
Drive: Kardan
Aisles: 6
Motor design: Number 4 Cylinder
Displacement: 1.043 ccm
Hub: 56 mm
Hole: 77 mm
Cooling: flüssig
Drive: Kette
Aisles: 6

Performance

Maximum speed: 192 km/h
Performance: 85 HP at 6.750 U/Min
Torque: 98 NM bei 5.250 U/Min
Tank contents: 22 Litre
Consumption:
5 l
Maximum speed: 247 km/h
Performance: 142 HP at 10.000 U/Min
Torque: 111 NM bei 7.300 U/Min
Tank contents: 19 Litre
Consumption:
6 l
Reach:
327 km

Chassis

Frame type:
Tubular space frame (steel)
Front suspension:
Telelever (travel 210 mm)
Rear suspension:
Central strut (travel 220 mm)
Rear suspension:
Paralever single-arm swingarm
Tyres at the front: 110/80 B 19 TL
Rear tyres: 150/70 H 17 TL
Frame type:
Double profile frame (aluminium)
Front suspension:
41 mm upside-down fork (travel 120 mm)
Rear suspension:
Mono strut (travel 144 mm)
Rear suspension:
Two-arm swingarm
Tyres at the front: 120/70ZR17M/C (58W)
Rear tyres: 190/50ZR17M/C (73W)

Brakes

Front brake
Double disc brakes ( 305 mm) Rear brake
Single disc ( 276 mm)
Front brake
Double disc ( 300 mm) Rear brake
Disc ( 250 mm)

Cheap never, well mostly

MW driving has never been a particularly cheap pleasure. Although many specimens are around 20 years old and have collected correspondingly many kilometers, these GS are still not a bargain. It must be at least 5,000 euros, top-maintained specimens like our test bike like to scratch at the five-digit. You can understand this: The BMW R 1150 GS, if you don't catch a rocked-out model, is an almost ideal companion for the very big tour.

If you can do without cornering and agility, the GS is the ideal travel moped, where the road can be three steps below perfect.
As I said, a buddy for the good and the bad days.

Price / Availability / Colours / Years of Construction

  • Price: used from 5.000€
  • Years built: 1999-2003
  • Availability: good
  • Colors: Adventure in white-blue

SX instead of Adventure

The Kawa is an interpretation of the theme of sports tourers with a clear focus on the sport. The live high, and so the SX competition grows from the own house in the form of the Versys 1000. This is more comfortable and equipped as an adventure bike with an upright sitting position. This is how most customers interpret the topic of touring bikes today.

The SX is aimed at a clientele that can't do anything with the high-legged adventures. They are looking for a super athlete who is suitable for travel. The Kawa is a top-notch offer: Very sporty and thanks to good, triple-adjustable windprotection and full cladding, it eats kilometres to the finish. If this is a winding pass – don't worry, she'll do it all.

The Ducati SuperSport, for example, does not have to hide behind the competition – and has around 30 hp more under the tank compared to this one.

The test bike was provided to us by Heller & Soltau in St. Michaelisdonn.

Price / Availability / Colours / Years of Construction

  • Price: 12.995€
  • Used (3 years old): 8,000€
  • Years of construction: since 2011
  • Availability: good
  • Colours: green, black, blue