Have they got what is required to dethrone the present king in big bore adventure touring category.
Present king.
BMW R 1200 GS
Specs
<table class="table_info" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr class=""><th colspan="2">[B]Engine: [/B]</th> </tr> <tr class="alt1"> <td valign="top">Engine Type</td> <td valign="top"> Flat Twin</td> </tr> <tr class="alt2"> <td valign="top">Cylinders</td> <td valign="top"> 2</td> </tr> <tr class="alt1"> <td valign="top">Engine Stroke</td> <td valign="top"> 4-Stroke</td> </tr> <tr class="alt2"> <td valign="top">Cooling</td> <td valign="top"> Air / Oil</td> </tr> <tr class="alt1"> <td valign="top">Valves</td> <td valign="top"> 8</td> </tr> <tr class="alt2"> <td valign="top">Valves Per Cylinder</td> <td valign="top"> 4</td> </tr> <tr class="alt1"> <td valign="top">Valve Configuration</td> <td valign="top"> DOHC</td> </tr> <tr class="alt2"> <td valign="top">Compression Ratio</td> <td valign="top"> 12.0:1</td> </tr> <tr class="alt1"> <td valign="top">Starter</td> <td valign="top"> Electric</td> </tr> <tr class="alt2"> <td valign="top">Fuel Requirements</td> <td valign="top"> Premium</td> </tr> <tr class="alt1"> <td valign="top">Fuel Type</td> <td valign="top"> Gas</td> </tr> <tr class=""> <th colspan="2">[B]Transmission: [/B]</th> </tr> <tr class="alt2"> <td valign="top">Transmission Type</td> <td valign="top"> Manual</td> </tr> <tr class="alt1"> <td valign="top">Number Of Speeds</td> <td valign="top"> 6</td> </tr> <tr class="alt2"> <td valign="top">Primary Drive (Rear Wheel)</td> <td valign="top"> Shaft</td> </tr> <tr class=""> <th colspan="2">[B]Wheels & Tires: [/B]</th> </tr> <tr class="alt1"> <td valign="top">Front Tire (Full Spec)</td> <td valign="top"> 110/80 HR19</td> </tr> <tr class="alt2"> <td valign="top">Rear Tire (Full Spec)</td> <td valign="top"> 150/70 HR17</td> </tr> <tr class=""> <th colspan="2">[B]Brakes: [/B]</th> </tr> <tr class="alt1"> <td valign="top">Front Brake Type</td> <td valign="top"> Dual Hydraulic Disc</td> </tr> <tr class="alt2"> <td valign="top">Rear Brake Type</td> <td valign="top"> Hydraulic Disc</td> </tr> <tr class=""> <th colspan="2">[B]Technical Specifications: [/B]</th> </tr> <tr class="alt1"> <td valign="top">Wheelbase (in/mm)</td> <td valign="top"> 59.4 / 1508.8</td> </tr> <tr class="alt2"> <td valign="top">Fuel Capacity (gal/l)</td> <td valign="top"> 8.7 / 33</td></tr></tbody></table>
Challenger number 1
Yamaha Super Tenere 1200
Specs
ENGINE
Type: Liquid-cooled, 4-stroke, DOHC, inline 2-cylinder, 4-valve, fuel injected, twin spark engine
Displacement: 1199cc
Bore x stroke: 98 x 79.5 mm
Compression ratio: 11.0:1
Firing intervals: 270- and 450-degree points
Max. Power: 80.9kW (110PS) @7,250rpm
Max. Torque: 114.1 Nm (11.6kgf・m) @6000 r/min
Lubrication system: Dry sump, oil tank in crankcase
Fuel supply system: Fuel injection
Ignition system: Twin spark
Starter system: Electric
Transmission system: Constant mesh, 6-speed
Throttle system: Yamaha Chip-Controlled Throttle (YCC-T)
Yamaha D-MODE: 2 modes, Sport (S) and Touring (T)
Traction control: 3 modes, TCS1, TCS2 and OFF
Exhaust System: 2-into-1
Primary Drive: Shaft
CHASSIS
Front suspension: Upside-down telescopic fork, 43 mm inner tube, adjustable preload, compression and rebound damping
Front wheel travel: 190 mm
Rear suspension: Monoshock, adjustable preload and rebound damping
Rear wheel travel: 190 mm
Front brake: Twin 310 mm wave discs, ABS/Unified Brake System
Rear brake: Single 282 mm wave disc
Front tyre: 110/80/19
Rear tyre: 150/70/17
DIMENSIONS
Overall length: 2,250 mm
Overall width: 980 mm
Overall height: MIN:1,410 mm / MAX:1,440 mm
Seat height: Adjustable 835-860 mm
Wheelbase: 1,540 mm
Min. ground clearance: 205 mm
Wet weight: 261kg (includes full oil and fuel tank)
Fuel capacity: 22 litres
Challenger number 2.
2010 Ducati Multistrada 1200
Engine
Type: L-Twin cylinder, 4 valve per cylinder, Desmodromic, liquid cooled
Displacement: 1198.4cc
Bore x Stroke: 106x67.9mm
Compression Ratio: 11.5:1
Power: 150hp - 110.3kW @ 9250rpm
Torque: 87.5lb-ft 118.7Nm @7500rpm
Fuel injection: tsubishi electronic fuel injection system, Mikuni elliptical throttle bodies
Exhaust: Stainless steel muffler with catalytic converter and 2 lambda probes, alluminium tail pipes
Transmission
Gearbox: 6 speed
Ratio: 1=37/15 2=30/17 3=27/20 4=24/22 5=23/24 6=22/25
Primary Drive: Straight cut gears, Ratio 1.84:1
Final Drive: Chain 5.30"; Front sprocket 15; Rear sprocket 40
Clutch: Light action, wet, multiplate clutch with hydraulic control. Self-servo action on drive, slipper action on over-run.
Emissions
Standard: Euro 3
Chassis
Frame: Tubular steel Trellis frame
Wheelbase: 1530mm (60.2in)
Rake: 25°
Front Suspension: Marzocchi 50mm fully adjustable usd forks
Front Wheel Travel: 170mm (6.7in)
Front Wheel: 10-spoke in light alloy 3.50 x 17
Front Tyre: 120/70 ZR17
Rear Suspension: Progressive linkage with fully adjustable Sachs monoshock. Aluminium single-sided swingarm
Rear Wheel Travel: 170mm (6.7in)
Rear Wheel: 10-spoke light alloy 6.00 x 17
Rear Tyre: 190/55 ZR17
Front Brake: 2 x 320mm semi-floating discs, radially mounted Brembo callipers, 4-piston, 2-pad. ABS optional
Rear Brake: 245mm disc, 2-piston caliper
Fuel Tank Capacity: 20l - 5.3gallon (US)
Dry Weight: 189kg (417lb)
Instruments: Na
Warranty: Na
Body Colour (Frame/Wheel): Red (racing grey / black) - Arctic white (racing grey / black)
Versions: Dual seat, ABS optional
Seat Height: 850mm (33.5in)
These are not the only ones, sensing the demand and popularity many other major players are planning to enter this market segment. Such as Honda with its redesigned and beefed up legendary XRV Africa Twin and Aprilia with 1200 Tuareg.
Big Beamer has been a deserving leader so far but now with these challengers and more to come it is going to be little tough.
One more question remains to be answered and that is have the others got what it takes to be up there. May be one of them should start looking for some one like Ewan Mcgregor and Charlie Boorman.