A Japanese motorcycle better than BMW? Here is the proposal that is full of quality and the price compared to the German one is decidedly low.
You would like a BMW, but you don’t have the money to buy it, or are you still a beginner and don’t want to spend a lot? Don’t panic, it is possible to find a much cheaper alternative on the market, but with impeccable quality. It is a crossover motorcycle, capable of combining performance and riding pleasure. With this in mind, below, we will compare two examples belonging to the category, much loved precisely for their power and versatility, thanks to which it is possible to move easily around the city, but you can also easily go on a pleasure trip, all full of fun.
Let’s start by revealing the Munich model at the center of the comparison. This is the S1000 XR. With a soft delivery at least at low revs, but then progressively more aggressive, it is easy to handle thanks to the wide handlebars which guarantee comfort, as well as the hollowed out saddle. The fairing is narrow and the semi-active, very light suspension allows the motorcycle to be light and responsive.
BMW challenged by a Japanese one and the price is top
The rival of the moment is the Suzuki GSX-S1000GX. Powering them is the same 999 cc inline four-cylinder, seasoned with lots of electronics, while in both cases the tires are 17 inches. The difference lies in the horsepower that can be delivered: 170 hp for the Germanic and 152 for the Japanese, with maximum torque of 114 Nm and 106 Nm respectively.
Its positive side is the ability to give everything from the beginning, despite, as we have seen, being less performing. Thanks to ride-by-wire and other driver assistance systems, acceleration can be better managed. Looked at from afar it seems smaller than the competitor and indeed it is, despite the aerodynamics which play a fundamental role.
Here too the handlebars are wide, while the tank is narrow to make it easier to put the feet on the ground. The only flaw is that it’s not particularly quick when it comes to cornering and leaning. Able to provide consistent performance, the Hamamatsu beast costs 17,800 euros full optional, although the more complete Sport and Touring variants are available, against BMW’s 19,950.
