2016 YAMAHA XSR900 VS. 2016 DUCATI MONSTER 821
COMPARISON TEST
P62
rpm. The V-twin is absolutely
different to the Yamaha's 847cc
inline triple, a gruff and raucous
engine that's been ripped from
the FZ-09 with an updated ECU
and fuel injection settings to
crack out about 113 horsepower
at 10,000 rpm and 64.5 lb-ft of
torque at 8500 rpm.
The Yamaha's 41mm front
suspenders are adjustable via
preload and rebound damping,
which compare favorably to the
Ducati's un-adjustable 43mm
legs. The Yamaha also has the
edge with rear suspension fid-
dling, as the shock has preload
and rebound adjustment ver-
sus the Ducati, which has only
preload adjustment for the party.
The Yamaha is also lighter at a
claimed 430 pounds wet to the
Ducati's claimed 453 pounds
wet.
As far as electronics go, these
two are pretty close. Both come
with their own versions of trac-
tion control (three settings for
the Yamaha, eight for the Ducati)
and ABS, as well as varying
engine modes via a ride-by-wire
throttle. So, on paper, there's
not a lot to separate them across
engine, chassis and electronic
platforms. But what does it all
mean?
T H E R I D E
A telling notion here is the
smooth throttle response of the
Yamaha over the Ducati. It's
hard to believe this is essentially
the same engine that had such
shocking throttle response in the
first FZ-09, a bike berated for
having the subtlety of a chainsaw
at initial throttle opening. Yama-
ha's changes to the ECU have
yielded a much nicer reaction to
torque than on the FZ-09, and
while it's not perfect, it's simply
better in every form than its op-
ponent in the Ducati.
The Ducati's throttle response
is abrupt and quick in compari-
(Clockwise) Looks good from
every angle, doesn't it? Just like
the big brother 1200, the 821 still
gets that beautiful exhaust.
The Yamaha's engine in
comparison looks industrial
and bland.
