By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Sport Tourer
Kawasaki Versys 1000 (LZT00B) vs BMW R 1200 RS (K54)
Kawasaki Versys 1000 vs BMW R 1200 RS: which one's easier to live with on a long trip.
Into a quick bend, the Kawasaki Versys 1000 points where it's aimed and shoots for the exit. The BMW R 1200 RS snaps onto its line the moment you push on the bar. Its suspension doesn't go soft over mid-turn ripples.
So which one do you buy?
The R 1200 RS has the edge if…
Keeping running costs low
By a nose: R 1200 RS
The R 1200 RS is a touch easier on the wallet to run. Condition still matters more than the model.
Sporty riding on twisty roads
Small edge: R 1200 RS
Back-road fun leans slightly toward the R 1200 RS. It's down to a sportier chassis and better suspension. It's a narrow call, so trust your test ride.
Daily commuting & city riding
Inches ahead: R 1200 RS
Day in, day out, the R 1200 RS nudges ahead in traffic. It isn't a big enough gap to plan around.
Comfortable long-distance riding
Narrow edge: R 1200 RS
For a day of interstate and back roads, the R 1200 RS makes a little more sense. The difference is more stability at speed. Sit on both, because the gap is modest.
Which one's the smarter buy
No clear advantage
The lower sticker price doesn't settle which one is the better buy. Neither bike is the clear better value for the money.
What makes each one tick
Versys 1000
From the first cold morning to the last one in fall, the Versys soaks up daily miles while its tall screen and padded seat keep the weather and the ache away. The screen shelters a pillion too. Off the brake lever, the inline-four's pull swells in a way that's easy to read, and you'll trust it when the pace climbs. The wide bar flicks it through Blue Ridge Parkway switchbacks.
Nils rode the Versys 1000 in Austria in 2015 (NastyNils Testride).
R 1200 RS
Way past normal highway pace, the R 1200 RS holds its chassis steady and doesn't twitch. Its semi-clip-ons fold you into a forward lean. You steer with your whole body. Even so, the throttle wakes a boxer twin that's thick with shove from low revs and still eager near the redline. Its exhaust barks with a flat-twin voice all its own.
Nils rode the R 1200 RS in 2018 (NastyNils Testride).
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The R 1200 RS has the lower seat: 32.3 in (820 mm) vs 33.1 in (840 mm).
- The R 1200 RS has the lower wet weight: 520 lb (236 kg) vs 551 lb (250 kg).
- The R 1200 RS makes more peak torque: 92 lb-ft (125 Nm) vs 75 lb-ft (102 Nm).
Which one for the way you ride
A confidence-building first motorcycle
Both miss here
As first bikes, both are a stretch. Starting smaller isn't a step down.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
Versys 1000
From Nils' own saddle time
Strengths
- Swallows A Full Touring Load
- Built To Run Long
- 120 hp, Plenty In Reserve
- Controls You Stop Noticing
- Willing From Low Revs
Trade-offs
- No Cruise Control Fitted
- Fork Seals Can Weep
- Steering Head Bearings Wear
- Neutral Light Plays Tricks
R 1200 RS
Strengths
- Flat bar changes everything
- Planted at highway speed
- Sportier and comfier at once
- Aftermarket seat unlocks the day
- Sidestand widener earns its keep
Trade-offs
- Stock clip-ons ask more of you
- Water pump can weep
- Instrument cluster fogging
- Corrosion under the fuel cap
- High-frequency vibrations at elevated RPM
Known problems to check before you buy
Versys 1000
No confirmed faults on file yet. That's not the same as fault-free.
R 1200 RS
- Rear reflector obscured by luggage (recall) Recall 17V481000 BMW issued a safety recall (NHTSA 17V481) for 2015-2017 RS models with optional luggage cases that partially blocked the rear reflectors. Dealers installed additional reflectors.
- Water pump failure/seeping Some owners report coolant weeping or premature failure of the water pump, sometimes requiring multiple replacements under warranty. Early LC engines were affected.
What they cost used
These prices compare an 8-year-old Versys 1000 with an 8-year-old R 1200 RS.
- Versys 1000
- about $6,300
- R 1200 RS
- about $9,600
At eight years old, the Kawasaki Versys 1000 sits around $6,300 while the BMW R 1200 RS runs about $9,600. That's a $3,300 gap in the Versys 1000's favor. These are US market estimates, not live listings.
What they share
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Fork
- Upside-down (USD)
- Front tire
- 120/70-17
- Rear tire
- 180/55-17
Where the spec sheets split
| Versys 1000 | R 1200 RS | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 33.1 in (840 mm) | 32.3 in (820 mm) |
| Wet weight | 551 lb (250 kg) | 520 lb (236 kg) |
| Versys 1000 | R 1200 RS | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 1043 cc | 1170 cc |
| Engine | Inline-four | Flat-twin (boxer) |
| Power | 120 hp (88 kW) | 125 hp (92 kW) |
| Peak power at | 9,000 rpm | 7,750 rpm |
| Torque | 75 lb-ft (102 Nm) | 92 lb-ft (125 Nm) |
| Peak torque at | 7,500 rpm | 6,500 rpm |
| Versys 1000 | R 1200 RS | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel capacity | 5.5 US gal (21 L) | 4.8 US gal (18 L) |
| Versys 1000 | R 1200 RS | |
|---|---|---|
| Final drive | Chain | Shaft |
| Front brake | 310 mm | 320 mm |
| Wheelbase | 59.8 in (1520 mm) | 60.2 in (1530 mm) |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| Versys 1000 | R 1200 RS | |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise Control | Not offered | Option |
| Quickshifter | Not offered | Option |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
