A comparison of some characteristics of adventure tour multi cylinder bikes. These are the characteristics I think are important - minimum speed, weight, ground clearance, seat height, cruise speed, fuel efficiency, range, suspension travel, serviceability, reliability, parts availability .. No particular order, indeed the order changes with circumstance.
The current bikes currently available new in OZ are on the left. Then the key, followed by bikes of interest, bikes previously sold in OZ,etc. If you want to add details, make a correction or even add your bike then
e-mail me with the details!
What makes an adventure tour bike for me? One that cruises comfortably, economically on good dirt
roads carrying the equipment for camping for a few days.
It must also have reliability, easy and quick access to parts for
unexpected repair.
It must also cope with the unexpected rough patch or three without
too much exertion on my part.
So, cruise speed say 120 km/h, min speed 6km?h (walking speed), load weight say 200 kgs,
suspension travel 250/230 mm (front more than back, front over 200 mm)
seat height 650 mm, ground clearance = front travel + 20 mm,
fuel range over 600 km at cruise speed.
Oh and easy to pick up, minimum spares required and minimum maintenance!
I've decided to separate out the singles - click here for the singles comparison.
APRILIA ETV 1000 CapoNord |
Hon Varadero |
Tri.Tiger |
BMW R1150GS |
key |
BMW R1100GS |
HPN/BMW R900RR |
KTM LC8 |
Hon Transalp LV650 |
BMW R80G/S |
BMW R100GS |
BMW k75 |
BMW k75 GS special |
key |
997.62 |
996 |
885 |
1130 |
capacity cc |
1085 |
900 |
942 |
647 |
797.5 |
980 |
740 |
740 |
capacity cc |
72 |
70 |
62.5 |
62.5 |
Max power kW |
59, 58 |
66 |
75 |
40.5 |
37 |
44 |
55 |
55 |
Max power kW |
8250 |
8000 |
8000 |
6750 |
@ rpm |
6750 / 6500 |
8200 |
8000 |
7500 |
6500 |
6500 |
8500 |
8500 |
@ rpm |
97 |
10.1 |
82 |
98 |
Max torque Nm |
97 |
97 |
56.2 |
56.7 |
76 |
68 |
68 |
Max torque Nm |
|
6250 |
6000 |
6000 |
5250 |
@ rpm |
5250 |
6000 |
5500 |
5000 |
3750 |
6750 |
6750 |
@ rpm |
|
1000 ? |
1000 |
1000 |
1075 |
dle speed rpm |
1075 |
1075 |
1000 |
1000 |
950 |
950 |
950 |
950 |
dle speed rpm |
8500? |
8500 |
8500 |
7500 |
Max contin speed rpm |
7500 |
9000 |
8200 |
8000 |
7000 |
7000 |
8250 |
8250 |
Max contin speed rpm |
8.5 ? |
8.5 |
8.5 |
7.0 |
RPM variation |
7.0 |
8.4 |
8.2 |
7.4 |
7.4 |
8.7 |
8.7 |
RPM variation |
|
10.4 :1 |
09:01 |
10.6 |
Compression ratio |
10,3 : 1 |
11.5 95 RON |
Compression ratio |
|||||||
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
Valves per cylinder |
4 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
Valves per cylinder |
|
DOHC |
DOHC |
DOHC |
ohv, using chain drive, cup tappets, push rod and rocker arm |
Valve control |
ohv, using chain drive, cup tappets, push rod and rocker arm |
ohv, using chain drive, cup tappets, push rod and rocker arm |
DOHC |
SOHC |
ohv, push rod and rocker arm |
ohv, push rod and rocker arm |
DOHC, using drive chain and cup 'n tappets |
DOHC, using drive chain and cup 'n tappets |
Valve control |
Fuel Injection 47mm |
42 slanted |
CV Flat slide |
electronic injection, Bosch Motronic MA2.2 |
Carburation system |
electronic injection, Bosch Motronic MA2.2 |
40mm * 2 Bing constant-depression |
38mm * 2 Bing constant-depression |
40mm * 2 Bing constant-depression |
electronic injection, Bosch |
electronic injection, Bosch |
Carburation system |
||
| liquid |
liquid |
liquid |
oil/air |
Cooling |
oil/air |
oil/air |
liquid |
air |
air |
water |
water |
Cooling |
|
Dry Sump - Oil cooler |
wet sump |
Engine lubrication |
wet sump |
wet sump |
pressure circulation lubrication |
> | wet sump |
wet sump |
wet sump |
wet sump |
Engine lubrication |
||
wet |
wet 8 plate |
wet |
dry -single plate |
Clutch |
dry -single plate |
dry -single plate |
wet |
wet |
dry single plate, with lever-action diaphragm spring |
dry single plate, with lever-action diaphragm spring |
dry single plate, with lever-action diaphragm spring |
dry single plate, with lever-action diaphragm spring |
Clutch |
6 |
5 |
6 |
6 |
Number of gears |
5 |
5 |
6 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
Number of gears |
| 2.5 /1.75 / 1.368 / 1.091 / 0.957/ 0.852 | Gear ratios |
4,16 / 2,91 / 2,13 / 1,74 / 1,45 :1 |
4,16 / 2,91 / 2,13 / 1,74 / 1,45 :1 |
4,4 / 2,86 / 2,07 / 1,67 / 1,50 :1 |
4,4 / 2,86 / 2,07 / 1,67 / 1,50 :1 |
4,50 / 2,96 / 2,30 / 1,88 / 1,67 :1 |
4,50 / 2,96 / 2,30 / 1,88 / 1,67 :1 |
Gear ratios |
|||||
2.93 |
2.6 ? |
Gear Box range |
2.52 |
2.52 |
2.6 |
2.93 |
2.93 |
2.69 |
2.69 |
Gear Box range |
|||
65 ? |
73 ? |
max speed 1st gear |
77 |
77 |
73 |
57 |
62 |
74 |
74 |
max speed 1st gear |
|||
front 60/31 (1.935) rear 45/17 |
22.10 ? |
overall ratio |
17.59 |
21.11 |
21.32 |
21.61 |
21.61 |
23.40 |
23.40 |
overall ratio |
|||
7.6 ? |
8.6 |
min speed km/h |
11.1 |
9.2 |
8.9 |
7.8 |
8.4 |
8.5 |
8.5 |
min speed km/h |
|||
45/17 Chain |
1 : 2.82 Bevel/crown wheel |
Rear wheel ratio |
1 : 3.00 11/33 Bevel/crown wheel |
Bevel/crown wheel |
17/48 |
1 : 3.36 11/37 Bevel/crown wheel |
1 : 3.09 11/34 Bevel/crown wheel |
1 : 3.20 10/32 or 1 : 3.36 11/37 Bevel/crown wheel |
1 : 3.20 10/32 or 1 : 3.36 11/37 Bevel/crown wheel |
Rear wheel ratio |
|||
470 W |
600 W |
Alternator |
700 W |
280 W |
280 W |
460 W |
460 W |
Alternator |
|||||
14 |
19? |
Battery Ah |
19 |
14? |
12 |
16 [9 without starter] |
25 |
25 |
25 |
Battery Ah |
|||
digital electronic (TSI Twin Spark Ignition) Electronic DIAC (Dynamic Ignition Advance Control) |
Computer-controlled digital transistorized |
electronic ignition Bosch Motronic MA2.2? |
Ignition |
electronic ignition Bosch Motronic MA2.2 |
Contact less |
Contact less |
electronic ignition Bosch |
electronic ignition Bosch |
Ignition |
||||
Elect |
Elect. |
Elect. |
Elect.1,1 kW |
Starter |
Elect.1,1 kW |
Elect.1,1 kW |
elect |
Elect. 0,7 kW |
Elect. 0,7 kW |
Elect. 0,7 kW |
Elect. 0,7 kW |
Starter |
|
2 per cylinder |
Bosch FR5 DTC |
Spark plugs |
Bosch FR5 DTC |
Bosch FR5 DTC? |
W 7 D / Beru 14 - 7 D / Champion N 10Y |
W 7 DC / Beru 14 - 7 DU / Champion N 9YC |
Bosch X 5 DC, Beru 12-5 DU |
Bosch X 5 DC, Beru 12-5 DU |
Spark plugs |
||||
perimeter frame, aluminium and magnesium |
Double cradle |
3-part tubular space frame, engine serving as load-bearing |
Type of frame |
3-part tubular space frame, engine serving as load-bearing |
Rear section of frame: aluminium, bolt on |
space frame chromium molybdenum tubular : subframe aluminium |
tubular ? frame |
tubular frame; bolt on rear section(weak) |
tubular frame; bolt on rear section |
tubular frame engine serving as load-bearing |
tubular frame engine serving as load-bearing |
Type of frame |
|
50 fork |
43mm fork |
43mm forks |
strut teleleaver |
Front suspension |
strut teleleaver |
48 mm WP |
WP-USD 43 MA |
36 fork |
40 ? fork |
40 ? fork |
40? WP USD fork |
Front suspension |
|
progressive linkage |
Pro-Link single |
Single |
BMW Paralever - swinging arm |
Rear suspension |
BMW Paralever - swinging arm |
HPN Paralever: WP PDS |
WP-PDS- |
single |
BMW Monolever - swinging arm |
BMW Paralever - swinging arm |
BMW Monolever - swinging arm |
BMW Monolever - swinging arm |
Rear suspension |
175/165 |
175/155 |
235/200 |
190 / 200 |
Spring travel mm |
190 / 200 |
300/300 |
265 / 2650 |
200/172 |
200 / 170 |
225 / 180 |
185 / 114 |
300 / 270 |
Spring travel mm |
110/80 VR 19 |
110/80 R19 59H |
110/80 19 |
110/80 - H 19 TL |
Tyres front |
110/80 - H 19 TL |
90/90-21; |
90/90-21" |
90/90 21 |
3,00 - 21 48 R |
90/90 21 S |
100/90 - 18 56 H |
90/90 21 |
Tyres front |
150/70 VR 17 |
150/70 R17 69H |
140/80 17 |
150/70 - H 17 TL |
Tyres rear |
150/70 - H 17 TL |
140/80-18 |
150/70-18 |
120/90 17 |
4,00 - 18 64 R |
130/80 17 S |
120/90 - 17 68 H |
120/90 - 17 68 H |
Tyres rear |
300 *2 4?piston |
296 *2 3 piston |
276 *2 floating |
300*2 |
Brakes front Ø mm |
305*2 |
300 *1 floating, ;4 pot caliper |
320 *2 |
256 *2 |
260 single |
285 single |
285 *2 |
320 4 piston |
Brakes front Ø mm |
270 *1 |
256 3 piston |
255 disk |
276 disk |
Brakes rear Ø mm |
200 drum |
285 disc |
240 disk |
240 |
200 drum |
200 drum |
200 drum |
285 disk |
Brakes rear Ø mm |
2310 x 830 x 1440 |
2295 x 880 x 1460 |
2189 x 920 x 1366 |
Length x width x height |
2189 x 920 x 1366 |
2257 922 1318 |
2230x820x1150 |
2290 x 1000 x 1165 P-D: height 1365 |
2220 x 900 x 1300 |
Length x width x height |
||||
1560 |
1560 |
1560 |
1509 |
Wheel base mm |
1509 |
1,597 |
1570 |
1501 |
1465 |
1514 |
1516 |
1580 |
Wheel base mm |
27.9° |
Steering head angle degrees |
26.6 |
Steering head angle degrees |
||||||||||
129 |
caster mm |
116 |
119 |
caster mm |
|||||||||
195 |
200 |
Ground clearance mm |
200 |
311 |
316 |
192 |
175 |
200 |
175 |
? |
Ground clearance mm |
||
820 |
845 |
850 |
840/860 |
Seat height: mm |
840/860? |
995 |
920 |
843 |
860 |
850 |
810 |
910 |
Seat height: mm |
25 |
25 |
25 |
22 |
Tank capacity l |
25 |
34 main tank |
26 |
19 |
19 |
24 [P-D: 35 ] |
21 |
21 |
Tank capacity l |
215 dry |
220 dry |
209 dry |
249 wet |
Unladen weight,kg |
243 |
Dry 190 |
189 dry, 223? |
191 dry |
192/186 |
210 [PD 236 ] |
227 |
195 |
Unladen weight,kg |
460 |
Max permissible weight kg |
450 |
398 |
420 |
450 |
450 |
Max permissible weight kg |
||||||
5.4 |
4,.5 |
Fuel consumption l/100km @90km/h |
4,6 |
5 |
4,9 |
4,2 |
4,2 |
Fuel consumption l/100km @90km/h |
|||||
4,3 s |
Acceleration 0-100km/h |
4,3 s |
4,8 s |
4,6 s |
4,6 s |
Acceleration 0-100km/h |
|||||||
190 ? |
190 |
194 |
Top speed km/h |
195 |
195 |
190 |
168 |
181 |
200 |
200 |
Top speed km/h |
||
463 |
489 |
range km |
543 |
739 |
380 |
490 |
500 |
500 |
range km |
||||
You can e-mail me at Yahoo with any comments.
back to my home page & start again
Dated 30 March 2001