BMW R 1150 GS Adventure versus Kawasaki Z 400

Make
Model
Make
Model
Make
Model
BMW

BMW R 1150 GS Adventure

Adventure
Kawasaki

Kawasaki Z 400

Naked

Year of construction / RRP / Test report

Built von 2005 bis 2005
Built von 2019 bis 2024
RRP
RRP 6.445 €
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Pros:
  • Comfort
  • Processing
  • Off-road capability
Pros:
  • manoeuvrable, agile and accessible bike
  • high-revving engine
  • Precise handling despite simple chassis
  • brakes well because it is light
  • conveys a lot of driving pleasure
Cons:
  • High weight
Cons:
  • outdated cockpit
  • limited pillion seating comfort

Dimensions & Weight

Wheelbase: 1.501 mm
Length :
2.180 mm
Seat :
900 mm
Weight :
287 (max: 460 ) kg
Wheelbase: 1.370 mm
Length :
1.990 mm Height : 1.055 mm
Seat :
785 mm
Weight :
167 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: Four-stroke in-line two-cylinder 2 Cylinder
Displacement: 399 ccm
Hub: 52 mm
Hole: 70 mm
Cooling: flüssig
Drive: O-Ring 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: 190 km/h
Performance: 45 HP at 10.000 U/Min
Torque: 38 NM bei 8.000 U/Min
Tank contents: 14 Litre
Consumption:
4 l
Reach:
358 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:
Tubular space frame (steel)
Front suspension:
41 mm telescopic fork (travel 120 mm)
Rear suspension:
Uni-Trak gas pressure shock absorber with adjustable spring base (travel 130 mm)
Rear suspension:
Two-arm swingarm
Tyres at the front: 110/70R17
Rear tyres: 150/60R17

Brakes

Front brake
Double disc brakes ( 305 mm) Rear brake
Single disc ( 276 mm)
Front brake
Single disc, two-piston floating caliper ( 310 mm) Rear brake
Single disc petal, single-piston floating caliper ( 220 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

Conclusion: Fun in bags

The Kawasaki Z400 is a simple but very good A2 machine. Due to its agile engine and precise chassis, it conveys a lot of driving pleasure. In any case, it doesn't need to shy away from the comparison to the other A2 naked bikes. It makes a mature and solid impression. The operation is simple and due to the low weight and easy handling, the Z400 is particularly suitable for beginners. But even old hands should have a lot of fun with the Z400, at least that was the case with us.
 
The test machine was provided to us by Heller & Soltau in Sankt Michaelisdonn . There she stands as a demonstrator and is happy about a lot of test drives. Just around the corner there are great country roads where you can really let it rip! Of course, Heller & Soltau (here in Google Maps) also has all the other Kawasakis in the shop and also sells motorcycles from Husqvarna. A visit is always worthwhile and the coffee is served fresh several times a day.

Price/Availability/Colours/Years of Construction

  • Price: 6.445 €
  • Used (3 years old): 5.000€
  • Year of manufacture: since 1973
  • new model: since 2023
  • Colors: Green, White