After our comparative ‘ big trials in universal joint ‘, here is that of the trails wholesale trades in the chain… And this time, we united the last resolutely sports and technological novelties: Aprilia Caponord 1200 Travel Pack, Ducati Multistrada 1200 S, KTM 1190 Adventure EDS, and certainly BMW R1200GS measures in meters standard. Four motorbikes, so many constitutions, and winning one potential. Yes, but which?
The new BMW R1200GS ‘liquid’ was dictated by his law imposing a clever compromise between versatility and impressive performance for the category.
A character usually claimed by the big sports trails ‘ string’, that they too, have considerably evolved recently… Our comparative trial 2013 source was not of interest: could the German flagship of the great raid for all also face without complex its European competitors ‘sports’? With their powerful engines (but bridled at 106 hp. here) at the forefront of technology, their aid to the Cree last conduct, their sharp chassis, and their oversized equipment, Caponord, Multistrada and Adventure 2013 announced a comparative muscular and hotly disputed. And well it was!
Aprilia Caponord 1200 Travel Pack Anti Multistrada
The Aprilia Caponord 1200 Travel Pack is the youngest of the Big Trails family. Taking the technical basis of the Dorsoduro 1.2, it expects various supplements (fairing, bags, saddle, and back cover) and changes (oscillating, low exhaust arm) to convince a – more – wider audience.
From a “philosophical” point of view – even technical – Aprilia approaches the Ducati Multistrada 1200 (rims alloy of 17 inches, road tires, twin-cylinder out of V sporting, anti-skid and cartography engine adjustable…) but side obstruction, Aprilia 1200 Caponord is the most imposing motorcycle of the plate. With 256 kg all full facts; it exceeds the KTM Adventure of 20 kg: within the same category, it is enormous.
Once in the saddle, Aprilia gives the broadest handlebar and the thickest bedding, reminding of that of Kawasaki 1000 Versys, of a reference in the field. This saddle participates in comfort on the freeway but keeps warmth on the long course or in the city. The Caponord is also distinguished by the order of the strongest clutch comparative shame because his selection is correct. In town, finally, care should be taken to its width. And, as the KTM, Aprilia does not take long to heat up the engine aspect to consider in the summer.
A twin-cylinder which likes the directions
On the road and freeway, Aprilia Caponord 1200 puts forward a remarkable comfort for the pilot as for the passenger who will appreciate having more place and comfort than on KTM and Ducati. Caponord also introduces the most ‘reassuring ‘ geometry. Understand thereabouts that it proves to be less nervous of direction than KTM or BMW R1200GS while remaining more stable in general than Ducati. Back of the medal, Caponord is most clumsy, the least quick to bow in turn.
Its electronic suspensions ensure a good damping and thanks to the Pirelli Angel GT mounted in place of the Dunlop of the presentation press the Caponord found healthier behavior. It finally offers the sensation of locking on the corner. It remains nonetheless one that divides the most when it upsets. It is possible to mitigate the general floating by switching the automatic mode to the duo for example suspensions.
Braking, competitive enough also suffers from the most inconsistent order in the catch of the lever. Nothing of serious side security: ABS looks after the grain. In sports behavior, she cannot compete therefore with the extremist light KTM, does the carpet stealing BMW on bumps or Ducati on the billiards, but his twin-cylinder brings more feelings than the others.
The best soundtrack, big torque everything down, effective engine braking deceleration, binds the more demonstrative: we want more! Damage however that this engine is disadvantaged by a sensitive to mid-range hollow which penalizes in times, and consumption in the high average of the comparative.
Assessment: A complete package and feelings
Sold for 15 €399, € 3,900 less than our loan to neighboring equipment, the Aprilia Caponord 1200 Travel Pack BMW has excellent price/equipment / pleasure and suitcases that did not the KTM. It is certainly the most clumsy and suffers from an engine disabled by a trough at midrange, which going not experts in cartography, probably towards consumption. In the end, given the services rendered Aprilia1200 Caponord is an excellent motorcycle with an engine to use.
Aprilia Caponord 1200 2013
BMW R 200GS: abandoned, the GS Liquid Cooled!
If shown its sporty side-to-side trail gimbals, the BMW R1200GS is hard to cope with competing chains. Still daunting stature, BMW ‘water’ maintains a remarkably ergonomic. Like KTM one is sitting more behind the bike, one enjoys greater fineness inside leg, an adjustable seat height…
The catch in the hands of BMW puts immediately ahead its diabolic agility, the greatest ease of comparison with the slow paces thanks to the center of gravity low: you with the driving boxer which, in addition, lets goes up less heat than the others. And especially, what a constitution! The flat new cooled down by air and water climbs high regimes as quickly as the V-twin of KTM! Incidentally, the famous couple of inversion tends to make us forget. Alone finally selection remains medium facing rival sports architectures, BMW seldom shines on this point.
One touched of road atypical and (always) unequaled
In highway driving, the BMW R1200GS dominates times, even at very low speeds. The operating range of the engine is the largest due to its willingness to 2500 rev/min, the quasi-proscribed on the Ducati. Still, the filling could be improved. Our loan model, although more drivable in Dynamic mode in our first comparison, had a rough running at constant speed linked to a flaw in the approval.
One needs one well of them because, with its part cycles atypical, the BMW R1200GS 2013 dominates over all the coatings. More rigid than before, it presents a directional stability close to that of Ducati, agility close to the KTM, and especially unequaled a flying carpet effect. Bituminous smooth or broken, it digests all. The couple Telelever/ESA Dynamic is worth well the electronic suspensions of the other trails of this comparative high-end.
Side comfort, the passenger of the BMW R1200GS will love the most ergonomic handles of the lot still the very comfortable saddle. It is a pity that a stool is needed to climb over. The Bavarian engineers can continue working on sometimes arguable protection with a tortured bubble that penalizes vision, small parasitic vibrations of the motor, or sometimes importunate selection. But on the whole, R1200GS stays in front of the competition or not far.
Assessment: To invest to give pleasure
Sold €15,150 ABS, the Center stand (with the gimbals for those who are sensitive), the BMW R1200GS requires typing in options packs to complement its daily of more or less relevant features. You can see. Our motorbike borrowing, sold 19 299 €, loaded sacred equipment, the credit with call option will carefully have to be reflected… German Qualities in terms of road potential stays which allow him to shine in the daily, travel in duos, or sports behavior there.
BMW R1200GS 2013
Ducati Multistrada 1200 S Touring
From the beginning of the epoch of Ducati Multistrada 1200, Ducati put the packet on loaded technology: electronic accelerator, mapping multi-mode, ABS and anti-skating disconnectable illumination, semi-active suspensions Skyhook since 2013, in LED… All these innovations are taken back by competition, optionally or of series today. Also aboard the Multistrada, you discover the atmosphere of the space shuttle with the most complex dashboard lot and ignition ‘hands-free’. Ergonomics is typical sports roadster one is sitting in the bike closer to the steering column, which appears the more upright.
From the first laps, we guess it will deal with the L-Twin which was less flexible than others. At low speeds, he hits more often and requires dosing the clutch, fortunately not too close to a native of Bologna.
The Ducati Multistrada 1200 prefers the high tempo, quick Routes
Despite the quite successful work of engineers House to smooth out the engine, the Ducati 1200 Multistrada remains the least suitable for urban use or the ride at low speeds. She loves it when it scrolls fast when it runs strong. On the motorway, the protection offered by the adjustable bubble and the large hand-guards, the overall stiffness conferring excellent handling of the cap, and the health of the engine grow to support the higher averages of the comparative…
On the road, despite the Skyhook suspension to suit the road (with less complex calculation algorithms on the Aprilia), the Ducati continues to flourish in large perfectly smooth curves. This is the most comfortable of the lot when it comes to driving fast in large successions thanks to its superior stability on the angle. Its braking is a sharper bite, power, and mass transfer moderate towards the Aprilia and KTM.
Note that Ducati offers less suspension travel (170 mm front / rear 190 mm against the KTM) and a much more constrained in general hydraulics. This allows us to fully exploit a lively and punchy mid-range engine, but causing a lot of vibration. They penalize the duo also correct even if the seat has been too close to its end, and its rise is also painful.
Assessment: Ducati plus general public, but always typified
While the BMW R1200GS will be a day declination Adventure, the Ducati Multistrada 1200 S Touring has a variant Pikes Peak for sporty driving. We understand why the Italian coasting. In a cramped city, uncomfortable in any field, the Ducati Multistrada 2013 reveals his true face in highway driving. More Porsche Cayenne – Audi Q7 or to stay in the family – the Range Rover, this luxurious two-wheeled SUV sold € 19,990, is joined by competitors offering the same package (Aprilia, KTM with suitcases option), for a price lower.
Ducati Multistrada 1200 2013
KTM 1190 Adventure: Discomfort TT to counter BMW
With KTM 1190 Adventure, KTM goes up in range: more cubic capacity, more technology (cartography multi-mode, anti-skating, suspensions with electrical regulation, pressure pick-ups of the tires), it drives out clearly on the grounds of its German neighbor. On board, we find the good sides of KTM with the most natural position of the shelf, an adjustable saddle height and well worked fine. It sits behind the bike, with the possibility to control standing, as on the BMW. The very good ergonomics also applies for orders: almost the most intuitive of the lot.
From the first meters, the KTM emphasizes its lightness (236.6 audited kg), advantageous in the city, as the Adventure 1190 conserved genes Enduro: the shorter turning radius and lot more flexible clutch lever. Its engine, frankly smooth for an Austrian mechanical, allows strolling at mid-range but resumed less than the flat German twin.
Nimblest, the most typified any ground too
On the motorway, where one does not move saddles during long stages, the KTM reveals its larger defect: a saddle well too firm. It is all the more regrettable as the base of the passenger, it, is shown as rather comfortable. For the duo, this last will regret nevertheless the least ergonomic handles of the comparative, which impose to hang on either in door-packet or to the pilot. Protection is good, but the present parasitic vibrations. Happily, for KTM, there is only the freeway in life.
On the road, KTM Adventure 1190 reveals its sporting temperament with a handling bluff ante on all coatings and the best agility in the sinuous one. It is it that lightens more its nose gear during the phase shifts or the uneven one. Even regulated flexible, the shock absorber of direction is not thus there to make pretty.
Another unique aspect of the conduct of the KTM 1190 Adventure is the flexibility of its long-travel suspensions. Compared to the competition, the KTM is a real grasshopper! Glued to the road by Continental tire grip mixed with the road tires, KTM Adventure causes the largest weight transfer under braking. Even by changing the electrical regulations of suspensions, this character resides. But once this assimilated aspect, KTM becomes an efficient extremist
The twin-cylinder sports RC8 reworked for the occasion, offers an equivalent livelier BMW block and filling half of what diet is effective stick to train in BMW R1200GS times. Instant throttle response, true habits KTM remains, but the electronic audience (including traction control) is always on the alert, manifesting a flashing dashboard.
Review: KTM rake more wide, without renouncing its fundamental
All in all, the new KTM 1190 Adventure equalizes its competitors of the day as regards technology (cartography, anti-skid…), practical aspects (adjustable bubble), and cubic capacity, with 200 Cm3 moreover to the 990 Adventure.
It preserves the fundamental ones of KTM: it lightest is typified off road… With final, it makes watching a frightening effective on the road or in sporting control. With a basic tariff of 13,990 €, its weak points as its too hard saddle will be easy to correct thereafter.
KTM 1190 Adventure 2013
BMW R1200GS 1st
Aprilia Caponord 1200 Travel Pack 2nd
KTM 1190 Adventure 3rd
Ducati Multistrada 1200 4th
