As a raft of exciting new metal in showrooms fall on the sportier side of the adventure sector it’s clear that adventure sports bikes are answering the needs of many.
Countless riders who are perhaps trading in their sports bike for something that delivers similar performance with the added bonus of increased comfort and practicality have seen sports bikes such as the Yamaha Tracer move quickly up the sales rankings.
It’s understandable why too. Those who have no off-road aspirations can enjoy the same comfortable seating position and added features of an adventure bike while still keeping hold of exceptional speed and handling.
As you are probably aware, two of the biggest players in this sector are the BMW S1000XR and the Ducati Multistrada 1200S and in the latest issue of ABR we’ve pitted the two against each other to see which is best.
Of course, we can’t reveal the results here. For that you’ll have to check out the magazine. But in the meantime we want to know, based on photos and specifications which machine would you plump for? Let us know on Facebook, Twitter or in the comments below.
BMW S1000XR
Exceptional build quality, awesome performance and great handling all combine to great effect on the BMW. And at almost £3,000 cheaper it leaves a lot to think about…
Price: £12,995
Engine: 999cc 16v in-line 4
Bore & stroke: 80×49.7mm
Power: 160bhp at 11,000rpm
Torque: 83lb.ft at 9,250rpm
Frame: Aluminium beam
Front suspension: Fully adjustable 46mm up-side-down (Dynamic ESA option)
Rear suspension: Fully adjustable monoshock (Dynamic ESA option)
Front brake: Two 320mm discs with 4 pot callipers. ABS with Pro option
Back brake: 265mm disc with 2 pot callipers. ABS with Pro option
Front wheel: 17”
Rear wheel: 17”
Seat height: 790-840mm
Fuel capacity: 20L
Weight: 228kg (wet)
Colours: Red, white
Ducati Multistrada 1200S
Stylish, comfortable and with a larger engine than the BMW, the Ducati is one hell of a bike. Of course, a larger capacity also means a substantially higher price…
Price: £15,595 (red), £15,795 (white)
Engine: 1198.4cc, L-Twin cylinder
Bore & stroke: 106×67.9mm
Power: 160bhp at 9,500rpm
Torque: 100.3lb.ft at 7,500rpm
Frame: Tubular steel Trellis frame
Front suspension: Sachs 48mm fully adjustable USD forks with Ducati Skyhook Suspension Evo (DSS)
Rear suspension: Fully adjustable Sachs unit
Front brake: Two 330mm semi-floating discs, radially mounted Brembo monobloc Evo M50 4-piston callipers
Back brake: 265mm disc, 2-piston floating calliper with cornering ABS as standard
Front wheel: 17”
Rear wheel: 17”
Seat height: 825 – 845mm
Fuel capacity: 20L
Weight: 212kg (dry)
Colours: Red, white
Want to get your hands on the full head to head review? Click here to find out how you can get your hands on issue 30 plus all new issues and the complete back catalogue of Adventure Bike Rider magazine.