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2016 YAMAHA XSR900 VS. 2016 DUCATI MONSTER 821 COMPARISON TEST P66 the Yamaha thanks to the wider bar and more bulldog-like riding stance. But there's also more weight, and the Yamaha carries is smaller girth better than the Ducati. The Yamaha's weight sits a touch lower in the frame for a more adept center of gravity, giving it slightly more poise in the corners and when changing direction. The Ducati is by no means a slouch, but the Yamaha does have the edge on cor- ner entry when on the brakes, despite the Ducati having more overall braking power. The riding position helps here. The Yamaha has a more upright position and even though it has a smaller handlebar, is more comfortable and allows you to adjust your body position more. The tank is skinnier, giving you more body position options for cornering, and makes for a more involving ride. The Ducati's seat is wider and will accompany more backsides in greater comfort than the Ya- maha's. While I like the Yamaha's pew, it does get pretty hard over time, so that's a nod to the Ducati. But it's just not enough to top- ple the Yamaha, which, sad for the Bologna faithful is just better pretty much everywhere. It's got more power, more torque, weighs less and costs 1000 fewer dollars than its Italian rival. Those factors alone make the Yamaha hard to beat, but when you combine them with a better riding experience, the Yamaha is the clear winner. CN YAMAHA XSR900 ENGINE: ........3-cylinder inline, 4-stroke, DOHC DISPLACEMENT: ............................847cc BORE X STROKE: ........... 78 x 59.1mm HORSEPOWER: .....113 hp @ 10,000 rpm TORQUE:. ............ 64.5 lb-ft @ 8500 rpm COMPRESSION RATIO: ....................11.5:1 TRANSMISSION: .........................6-speed CHASSIS: .............. Twin spar aluminum FRONT SUSPENSION: .................... 41mm inverted fork, adjustable rebound and spring preload REAR SUSPENSION: ......................Single shock absorber, adjustable rebound and spring preload FRONT BRAKE: ........ Twin 289mm discs, four-piston radial calipers, ABS REAR BRAKE: .........Single 245mm disc, single-piston caliper, ABS FRONT TIRE: ...................... 120/70 ZR17 REAR TIRE: ........................ 180/55 ZR17 RAKE: ................................................. 25° TRAIL: .......................................... 4.05 in. WHEELBASE: .............................56.69 in. SEAT HEIGHT: ............................. 32.6 in. OVERALL WIDTH: ......................32.08 in. OVERALL LENGTH: .....................81.69 in. FUEL CAPACITY: ...........................3.7 gal WEIGHT: .......... 430 lbs. (wet, claimed). COLOR: ........MatteGray and Aluminum, 60th Anniversary Speedblock yellow/ black MSRP: ................. $ 9490 ($9990 60th Anniversary Speedblock) S P E C I F I C A T I O N S DUCATI MONS TER 82 1 DARK ENGINE: ........Testastretta 11° L-Twin, 4 Desmodromically actuated valves per cylinder, liquid cooled DISPLACEMENT: ...........................821cc BORE X STROKE: .............88 x 67.5mm HORSEPOWER: ....... 112hp @ 9250 rpm TORQUE: ............65.8 lb-ft @ 7750 rpm COMPRESSION RATIO: ..................12.8:1 TRANSMISSION: ....................... 6-speed CHASSIS: ...Tubular steel Trellis frame attached to the cylinder head FRONT SUSPENSION: .. 43mm inverted fork REAR SUSPENSION: .........Single shock absorber, adjustable spring preload FRONT BRAKE: ....................2 x 320mm semi-floating discs, radially mounted Monobloc Brembo M4-32 four-piston calipers, ABS REAR BRAKE: ..........245mm disc, twin- piston floating caliper, ABS FRONT TIRE: ..................... 120/70 ZR17 REAR TIRE: .......................180/60 ZR17 RAKE: .............................................24.3° TRAIL: ............................................3.7 in. WHEELBASE: ..............................58.3 in. SEAT HEIGHT: ................... 30.9-31.9 in. OVERALL WIDTH: ........................31.5 in. OVERALL LENGTH: ..................... 85.4 in. FUEL CAPACITY: ......................... 4.6 gal WEIGHT: ..........453 lbs (wet, claimed). COLOR: .......................................... Black MSRP: .......................................$10,995

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