BMW K1200GT & Kawasaki ZZR1200

Dinosaur DNA

BMW and Kawasaki have been active in the sport-touring market for quite a while. The German brand started out with the K series in the mid-eighties, and looking to produce a successor to the powerful ZX-10, the Japanese came up with the ZZR theme in 1990. Here, we've tested their latest versions, both with 1,200cc capacity and plenty of juice.

Concept & Transformation
If you've ever been running late in the countryside and tried to make up time on long stretched interstates, you probably know there is no better choice for the job than a powerful sport-touring bike. It's fast, and comfortable in terms of its protection, seating position and suspension. Based on these qualities, sport-tourers come in a little bit heavier than real sportbikes, but they make up for that with their wide range of usability. You could call 'em the dinosaurs of the motorcycle business: big, strong, and gluttonous – if we're talking about the miles they can swallow.

Within the last two years, BMW and Kawasaki celebrated a revival of their mean sport-touring species with two new versions: the K1200GT and the ZZR1200. So, lean back and get acquainted with two new, exciting residents of Jurassic Park.

The GT actually is a more comfortable version of the well-known RS. Taller handlebars, a standard electronic cruise control, wind deflectors added to the fairing, color-matched luggage, and an electrically adjustable windshield make up the biggest differences....

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