Epic Sport-Adventure Spec Sheet Shootout

Tom Roderick
by Tom Roderick

It’s a good time to be a motorcyclist. OEMs keep ratcheting up the amount of standard or optional technologies available on modern motorcycles. In just the last handful of years we’ve come to expect ABS, traction control, ride modes and slipper clutches as standard equipment. Cruise control is almost ubiquitous, and electronically adjustable suspension is gaining ground quickly. Five of the nine bikes in our Epic Sport-Adventure Shootout are equipped with semi-active suspension, one has electronically adjustable suspension, while only three are bereft of the technology.

Ultimate Sport-Touring Adventure Shootout Prologue

Spec sheets are useful for comparing and contrasting the attributes of various motorcycles but obviously fail to tell the whole story. For example, many of the bikes here are outfitted with cruise control, the Aprilia Caponord Rally being one of them, but after having ridden hundreds of miles on each bike we know that not all cruise controls are created equally. The Aprilia’s CC is, in fact, an abject failure in terms of user-friendliness but you’d never know just how bad it is until you have other bikes with much better systems to compare it to.

2015 Ultimate Sports-Adventure-Touring Shootout

So while we’re busy sorting through all the data, rider notes, images and video clips to bring you the most comprehensive sport-adventure shootout we can muster, we invite you to chew on the fat of these nine bikes by way of their specifications and available technologies. You’ll note that even the least expensive bike here, Kawasaki’s Versys 1000LT, comes equipped with ABS, TC and ride modes while the most expensive bike, Ducati’s Multistrada S, features those plus backlit switchgear, a full-color TFT display, smartphone app and Cornering-ABS. And then there’s the BMW S1000XR, the only bike in the test with a quickshifter that goes through the gears both ways, featuring auto-blipping downshifts. Yes, it is an undoubtedly good time to be a motorcyclist.

Aprilia Caponord 1200 RallyBMW R1200GSBMW S1000XRDucati Multistrada 1200 SKawasaki Versys 1000 LT
MSRP$15,695$20,769 (as tested)$19,887 (as tested)$21,094$12,799
Engine Type1197cc Liquid-cooled, DOHC, four-stroke, V-Twin, 4 valves per cylinder1170cc Air/Liquid-cooled, DOHC, four-stroke, flat Twin, 4 valves per cylinder999cc Liquid-cooled, DOHC, inline-Four, four-stroke, 4 valves per clinder1198cc Liquid-cooled, DOHC, four-stroke, DVT V-Twin, 4 valves per cylinder1043cc Liquid-cooled, DOHC, four-stroke, inline-Four, 4 valves per cylinder
Bore x Stroke106.0mm x 67.8mm101.0mm x 73.0mm80.0mm x 49.7mm106.0mm x 67.9mm77.0mm x 56.0mm
Compression Ratio12.0:112.5:112.0:112.5:110.3:1
Rear Wheel Horsepower109.7 @ 8,500 rpm109.4 @ 7,900 rpm156.6 hp @ 11,200 rpm137.1 hp @ 9,700 rpm109.8 hp @ 8,700 rpm
Torque (claimed at crankshaft)73.7 lb.-ft. @ 6,900 rpm80.5 lb.-ft. @ 6,600 rpm80.4 lb.-ft. @ 9,200 rpm84.3 lb.-ft. @ 7,900 rpm70.1 @ 7,200 rpm
lb/hp5.55.43.54.15.2
lb/torque8.27.46.86.78.1
Transmission6-speed; multi-plate wet clutch6-speed; multi-plate wet clutch6-speed; multi-plate wet clutch w/slipper function6-speed; multi-plate wet clutch w/slipper function6-speed; multi-plate wet clutch w/slipper function
Final DriveChainShaftChainChainChain
Front SuspensionInverted 43mm fully adjustable Sachs fork. (Aprilia Dynamic Damping)Telelever, 37 mm, central spring strutInverted 46mm fully adjustable fork48mm fully adjustable usd fork. Electronic compression & rebound damping adjustment with Ducati Skyhook Suspension (DSS)KYB 43mm inverted front fork with adjustable rebound and preload
Rear SuspensionAluminum swingarm, Sachs monoshock. (Aprilia Dynamic Damping)Cast aluminum single-sided swingarm with BMW EVO ParaleverMonoshock with preload adjustabilityFully adjustable with electronic compression and rebound damping adjustment, electronic spring pre-load adjustment with Ducati Skyhook Suspension (DSS)Horizontal back-link shock with adjustable rebound damping and adjustable spring preload, remote preload adjuster
Front BrakeDual 320mm stainless steel floating discs, 4-piston Brembo M432 monoblock radial calipersDual 305mm rotors. Twin 4-piston calipers. Switchable ABSDual 320mm rotors. Twin radial-mount calipers.Dual 330mm semi-floating discs, radially mounted Brembo monobloc Evo M50 4-piston calipers, 2-pad, radial pump with cornering ABS as standard equipmentDual 310mm petal rotors with four-piston calipers and ABS
Rear BrakeSingle 240mm stainless steel disc, Brembo caliper220mm rotor. Single-piston caliper265mm rotor. Twin-piston caliper265 mm disc, 2-piston floating calliper, with cornering ABS as standard equipmentSingle 250mm petal rotor with single-piston caliper and ABS
Front Tire120/70-19120/70-19120/70-17120/70-17120/70-17
Rear Tire170/60-17170/60-17190/55-17190/55-17180/55-17
Rake/Trail27.4 deg/4.6 in.25.5 deg / 3.9 in.25.5 deg / 4.6in.24.0 deg / 4.3 in.25.5 deg / 4.0 in.
Wheelbase62.0 in.59.3 in.61.0 in.60.2 in.61.2 in.
Seat Height33.1 in.33.1 in.33.1 in.32.5/33.3 in.33.4 in.
Curb Weight604 lbs. (with bags)596 lbs. (with bags)550 lbs. (with bags)567 lbs. (with bags)544 lbs. (with bags)
Fuel Capacity6.3 gal.5.3 gal.5.2 gal.5.3 gal.5.3 gal.
Saddlebag Capacity66 liters/ 17.4 gallons68 liters/18.0 gallons62 liters/16.4 gallons58 liters/ 15.3 gallons56 liters/14.8 gallons
Tested Fuel Economy (Average)33.9 mpg39.6 mpg36.9 mpg40.1 mpg37.9 mpg
Full color instrument clusterX
Gear Position IndicatorXXXX
Heated GripsXXX
Heated seat
Heated passenger seat
Hillstart control
Power accessory socketXXXX
Cornering lightsX
Wheelie ControlX
Backlit handlebar switchesX
ABSXXXXX
Cornering ABSX
Wire-spoke wheelsX
Cast-aluminum wheelsXXXX
Electronic suspension adjustabilityXXXX
Semi-active suspensionXXXX
Smartphone appXX
Tire pressure monitorX
QuickshifterX
Clutchless downshift abilityX
Ride modesXXXXX
Cruise controlXXXX
Traction controlXXXXX
KTM 1190 AdventureKTM 1290 Super AdventureSuzuki V-Strom 1000 ABSTriumph Explorer XC ABS
MSRP$17,899 (as tested)$20,499$14509 (as tested)$18,494
Engine Type1195cc Liquid-cooled, DOHC, four-stroke, 75° V-Twin, 4 valves per cylinder1301cc Liquid-cooled, DOHC, four-stroke, 75° V-Twin, 4 valves per cylinder1037cc Liquid-cooled, DOHC, four-stroke, 90° V-Twin, 4 valves per cylinder1251cc Liquid-cooled, DOHC, four-stroke, Triple, 4 valves per cylinder
Bore x Stroke105.0mm x 69.0mm108.0mm x 71.0mm100.0mm x 66.0mm85.0mm x 71.4mm
Compression Ratio12.5:113.1:111.3:1NA
Rear Wheel Horsepower123.6 hp @ 9,500 rpm132.5 hp @ 8,400 rpm91.6 hp @ 8,000 rpm113.6 hp @ 8,700 rpm
Torque77.3 lb.-ft. @ 8,000 rpm86.8 lb.-ft. @ 6,800 rpm69.1 lb.-ft. @ 9,300 rpm74.1 lb.-ft. @ 6,400 rpm
lb/hp4.54.25.95.3
lb/torque7.26.57.98.1
Transmission6-speed; multi-plate wet clutch w/slipper function6-speed; multi-plate wet clutch w/slipper function6-speed; multi-plate wet clutch6-speed; multi-plate wet clutch
Final DriveChainChainChainShaft
Front Suspension48mm, WP inverted fork, electronically adjustableWP Semi-active suspension USD 48 mmInvetered telescopic, coil spring, oil dampedKayaba 46 mm upside down forks, adjustable preload
Rear SuspensionWP monoshock, electronically adjustableWP Semi-active Suspension PDS Monoshock“Link type, coil spring, oil damped “Kayaba monoshock with remote oil reservoir, hydraulically adjustable preload, rebound damping adjustment
Front Brake4-piston Brembo calipers, 320mm discs, ABS/C-ABS4-piston Brembo calipers, 320mm discs, ABS/C-ABSDual 310mm rotors, 4-piston Tokico calipers, ABSTwin 305 mm floating discs, Nissin four-piston calipers, Switchable ABS
Rear Brake2-piston Brembo caliper, 268mm disc, ABS/C-ABS2-piston Brembo caliper, 268mm disc, ABS/C-ABS260mm rotor, ABSSingle 282 mm disc, Nissin two-piston sliding caliper, Switchable ABS
Front Tire120/70-19120/70-19110/80-19110/80-19
Rear Tire170/60-17170/60-17150/70-17150/70-17
Rake/Trail26.0 deg / 4.7 in.26 deg / 4.7 in.25.5 deg / 4.3 in.23.9 deg / 4.2 in.
Wheelbase61.4 in.61.4 in.61.2 in.60.2 in.
Seat Height33.8/34.4 in.33.9/34.4 in.33.4 in.32.9/33.7 in.
Curb Weight554 lbs. (with bags)562 lbs. (with bags)544 lbs. (with bags)606 lbs.
Fuel Capacity6.1 gal.7.9 gal.5.3 gal.5.3 gal.
Saddlebag Capacity73 liters/19.3 gallons73 liters/19.3 gallons55 liters/14.4 gallons62 liters/16.4 gallons
Tested Fuel Economy (Average)36.4mpg36.8 mpg37.5 mpg35.2 mpg
Full color instrument cluster
Gear Position IndicatorXXX
Heated GripsX
Heated seatX
Heated passenger seatX
Hillstart controlX
Power accessory socketXXX
Cornering lightsX
Wheelie Control
Backlit handlebar switches
ABSXXXX
Cornering ABSXX
Wire-spoke wheelsXXX
Cast-aluminum wheelsX
Electronic suspension adjustabilityXX
Semi-active suspensionXX
Smartphone app
Tire pressure monitorX
Quickshifter
Clutchless downshift ability
Ride modesXXXX
Cruise controlXX
Traction controlXXXX
Tom Roderick
Tom Roderick

A former Motorcycle.com staffer who has gone on to greener pastures, Tom Roderick still can't get the motorcycle bug out of his system. And honestly, we still miss having him around. Tom is now a regular freelance writer and tester for Motorcycle.com when his schedule allows, and his experience, riding ability, writing talent, and quick wit are still a joy to have – even if we don't get to experience it as much as we used to.

More by Tom Roderick

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6 of 32 comments
  • 14kmtnman 14kmtnman on Sep 13, 2015

    What happened the the Yamaha Super Tenere? Did Yamaha suddenly stop production & the bike fell off the face of the earth? Why was it not included too? It matches the specs of the other bikes & will go anywhere the others will, on or off road. It also requires much less maintenance (26k mile valve check, shaft drive) than several of the others.

    • See 3 previous
    • Johnbutnotforgotten Johnbutnotforgotten on Sep 17, 2015

      probably should have waited for the Transalp as well (i'm a Moto Guzzi Guy, but it would seem going this big would require getting all the players involved)

  • Kurt Keilhofer Kurt Keilhofer on Sep 15, 2015

    And of course what is missing is what the load capacity of these bikes are. Why is the GVWR such a secret when the empty weights seem to be available?

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