By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Sport Tourer
Kawasaki Versys 1000 (LZT00B) vs Yamaha Tracer 900 (RN29)
Kawasaki Versys 1000 vs Yamaha Tracer 900: which one you'd rather spend the big miles on.
At the mouth of a tight bend, the Kawasaki Versys 1000 doesn't argue and goes right where you point it. The Yamaha Tracer 900 needs only a light hand on the bars. It tips in eagerly and holds its line.
So which one do you buy?
The Versys 1000 has the edge if…
Comfortable long-distance riding
Nose ahead: Versys 1000
The Versys 1000 nudges ahead once the miles pile up. The reason: a better reliability record. Still, it's a narrow gap.
The Tracer 900 has the edge if…
Sporty riding on twisty roads
Narrow edge: Tracer 900
On a twisty road, the Tracer 900 edges ahead. Put it down to more feel through the bars and lighter steering. Not by enough to settle it alone.
Which one's the smarter buy
No clear winner on value
Neither bike is the clear better buy at these used prices. The Kawasaki Versys 1000 costs less, but that doesn't make it the smarter spend.
What makes each one tick
Versys 1000
Miles stack up on the Versys 1000 from an early spring start to a late fall finish, with its tall screen and roomy seat sheltering rider and pillion all day. On the Blue Ridge Parkway, the wide handlebar swings it through the curves like a sporty naked bike. Its inline-four answers the throttle in a clear, readable way, and that's why you'll push it hard.
Nils rode the Versys 1000 in Austria in 2015 (NastyNils Testride).
Tracer 900
There's a rush in the Tracer 900's triple that keeps building toward the top of the rev range, with torque that never gets old. Steering's sharp and takes little effort on twisty roads, yet the chassis stays planted once the pace climbs. The brake lever reins in 463 lb (210 kg) of bike. Its exhaust wails through every commute.
Nils rode the Tracer 900 in Austria in 2015 (NastyNils Testride).
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The Tracer 900 has the lower wet weight: 463 lb (210 kg) vs 551 lb (250 kg).
- The Versys 1000 makes more peak torque: 75 lb-ft (102 Nm) vs 65 lb-ft (88 Nm).
- The Versys 1000 has the larger engine: 1043 cc vs 847 cc.
Which one for the way you ride
A confidence-building first motorcycle
Not built for this
Neither one is where you should learn. Get a season on something gentler first.
Call it even on commuting and running costs. Choose on fit, price and the one that makes you grin.
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
Tracer 900
What owners say
Strengths
- Charismatic triple engine
- Lively, agile handling
What they cost used
These prices compare a 10-year-old Versys 1000 with a 10-year-old Tracer 900.
- Versys 1000
- $5,000
- Tracer 900
- $6,600
At ten years old, the Kawasaki Versys 1000 sits around $5,000 while the Yamaha Tracer 900 runs about $6,600. That's a $1,600 gap in the Versys 1000's favor. These figures come from earlier US market records, not live listings.
What they share
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Fork
- Upside-down (USD)
- Front tire
- 120/70-17
- Rear tire
- 180/55-17
Where the spec sheets split
| Versys 1000 | Tracer 900 | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 33.1 in (840 mm) | 33.3 in (845 mm) |
| Wet weight | 551 lb (250 kg) | 463 lb (210 kg) |
| Versys 1000 | Tracer 900 | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 1043 cc | 847 cc |
| Engine | Inline-four | Inline-three |
| Power | 120 hp (88 kW) | 115 hp (85 kW) |
| Peak power at | 9,000 rpm | 10,000 rpm |
| Torque | 75 lb-ft (102 Nm) | 65 lb-ft (88 Nm) |
| Peak torque at | 7,500 rpm | 8,500 rpm |
| Versys 1000 | Tracer 900 | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel economy | 43 mpg (US) / 5.5 L/100 km | 42 mpg (US) / 5.65 L/100 km |
| Fuel capacity | 5.5 US gal (21 L) | 4.8 US gal (18 L) |
| Versys 1000 | Tracer 900 | |
|---|---|---|
| Front brake | 310 mm | 298 mm |
| Wheelbase | 59.8 in (1520 mm) | 56.7 in (1440 mm) |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| Versys 1000 | Tracer 900 | |
|---|---|---|
| Luggage System | Option | Not offered |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
