Yamaha XT 1200 ZE Super Ténéré versus Ducati Multistrada 1260

Unspectacular and simply good

The 1200 offers a high level of long-distance comfort, which results from a moderate knee angle, the sofa-like seat cushion for riders like Sozius and perfectly placed footrests like handlebars. This comfort is supported by the low-vibration running of the twins.

So the spectacular thing about the Ténéré is that it is so unspectacular. But it is not quite cheap: at just under 16,000 euros, it is almost as expensive as a – admittedly naked – BMW GS.

The test bike was provided to us by Tecius and Reimers in Hamburg.

The Multi is at a crossroads

One has to pay the highest praise to the Ducati engineers that one hardly notices these extra pounds. And yet the multi is at a crossroads. The whole electrics are not only for safety because of the bearish engine, it must be to make the heavy vehicle manageable. The most striking example of this is the electronic parking brake. At the push of a button, the rear brake can be activated to pin the Duc to a hill for a start, thus facilitating uphill start-ups. The Multistrada 1260 S has nice but completely unnecessary things like the backlit switches on board. Impossible for serious use off-road would be the delicate blinkers in the hand protectors, which lead their meaning ad absurdum.

Ducati actually has the most sporty adventure bike in the range with the Multistrada 1260 S, because the competition from BMW or Triumph can't keep up (and probably won't). With her rousing style she won many friends in the Test team and gave us a lot of fun.

On the other hand, it is comfortable enough for the long tour, great to use and well crafted. That she can't get into the terrain – as a gift, she would only lie down next to all the other adventure bikes that were sunk by her riders there in a nod to reality.

The test bike was provided to us by Ducati-Hamburg.