By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Sport Tourer vs Adventure
Kawasaki Versys 1000 (LZT00A) vs Yamaha XT 1200 Z Super Ténéré World Crosser (DP01)
Roll on the Kawasaki Versys 1000 from low revs and it's already shoving you forward without a trace of buzz. The Yamaha XT 1200 Z Super Ténéré World Crosser's twist grip doesn't hide a sweet spot you have to hunt for. Anywhere in the revs, it's pulling without a lump.
So which one do you buy?
The Versys 1000 has the edge if…
Daily commuting & city riding
Slight edge: Versys 1000
Your daily ride leans slightly toward the Versys 1000. Fit and price can easily outweigh that.
The XT 1200 Z Super Ténéré World Crosser has the edge if…
Comfortable long-distance riding
Edges it: XT 1200 Z Super Ténéré World Crosser
Over a full day's ride, the XT 1200 Z Super Ténéré World Crosser noses ahead on comfort. Most of that is more stability at speed and a better reliability record. A long test ride could easily flip that.
Sporty riding on twisty roads
By a nose: XT 1200 Z Super Ténéré World Crosser
Through a string of corners, the XT 1200 Z Super Ténéré World Crosser feels a little more eager. That comes from stronger brakes and a sportier chassis. The gap is small, so ride both.
Traveling with luggage
Narrow edge: XT 1200 Z Super Ténéré World Crosser
For trips with luggage, the XT 1200 Z Super Ténéré World Crosser nudges ahead. Not by much.
What makes each one tick
Versys 1000
Long highway days don't grind you down on the Versys 1000, with wide bars holding you upright behind a tall fairing. A passenger on the back doesn't blunt the inline-four when there's a truck to pass. The bar steers into bends neutrally.
Nils rode the Versys 1000 in 2012 (NastyNils Testride).
XT 1200 Z Super Ténéré World Crosser
Day after day, the Yamaha's shaft drive and big twin don't stop eating miles. Thousands of kilometers without a single issue. There's little to wear you out, and you reach camp fresh at day's end. At a moderate touring pace, a bump doesn't unsettle the chassis on that long-travel suspension. The twin rumbles like a V-twin.
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The Versys 1000 has the lower wet weight: 527 lb (239 kg) vs 575 lb (261 kg).
- The Versys 1000 makes more peak power: 118 hp (87 kW) vs 112 hp (82 kW).
- The XT 1200 Z Super Ténéré World Crosser makes more peak torque: 84 lb-ft (114 Nm) vs 75 lb-ft (102 Nm).
Which one for the way you ride
A confidence-building first motorcycle
Wrong job for both
If this is your first motorcycle, keep looking. Neither one makes learning easy.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
Versys 1000
What owners say
Strengths
- Exceptional reliability and low running costs
- Supremely comfortable for long‑distance touring
- Excellent value with standard electronic aids
- Surprisingly agile handling for its size
Trade-offs
- Polarizing styling not loved by all
XT 1200 Z Super Ténéré World Crosser
Strengths
- Fresh At Camp, Not Wrung Out
- Lighter Under You Than On Paper
- Tension-Free Through The Bends
- Long Hauls, Zero Drama
- All-day touring comfort
Trade-offs
- Rear Shock Caps Hard Pace
- Weight Shows In Rough Stuff
- Early Builds Had Recalls
- Odd High-Mile Niggles
- Heavy weight limits off-road agility
Known problems to check before you buy
Versys 1000
No confirmed faults on file yet. That's not the same as fault-free.
XT 1200 Z Super Ténéré World Crosser
- Rear wheel spoke failure Rear wheel spokes can loosen, back out, or break, which can cause wheel truing issues and rim damage if spoke tension is not regularly inspected.
- Final drive oil leak Some owners experience oil leaks or seepage from the final drive unit housing, typically occurring after moderate to high mileage.
What they share
- Seat height
- 33.3 in (845 mm)
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Fork
- Telescopic
Where the spec sheets split
| Versys 1000 | XT 1200 Z Super Ténéré World Crosser | |
|---|---|---|
| Wet weight | 527 lb (239 kg) | 575 lb (261 kg) |
| Versys 1000 | XT 1200 Z Super Ténéré World Crosser | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 1043 cc | 1199 cc |
| Engine | Inline-four | Parallel twin |
| Power | 118 hp (87 kW) | 112 hp (82 kW) |
| Peak power at | 9,000 rpm | 7,250 rpm |
| Torque | 75 lb-ft (102 Nm) | 84 lb-ft (114 Nm) |
| Peak torque at | 7,700 rpm | 6,000 rpm |
| Versys 1000 | XT 1200 Z Super Ténéré World Crosser | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel capacity | 5.5 US gal (21 L) | 6.1 US gal (23 L) |
| Versys 1000 | XT 1200 Z Super Ténéré World Crosser | |
|---|---|---|
| Final drive | Chain | Shaft |
| Front brake | 300 mm | 310 mm |
| Front tire | 120/70-17 | 110/80-19 |
| Rear tire | 180/55-17 | 150/70-17 |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
