Bmw R 1300 Gs vs Ktm 1290 Super Adventure S
Side-by-side comparison for used motorcycle buyers
Bmw R 1300 Gs vs Ktm 1290 Super Adventure S. Bmw R 1300 Gs: 145 hp @ 7,750 rpm hp, 237 kg (wet/curb weight) weight, top speed 220 km/h (estimated), Motoryk rating 8.8/10. Ktm 1290 Super Adventure S: 160 hp @ 8,000 rpm hp, 228 kg (wet/curb weight) weight, top speed 240 km/h (estimated, electronically limited), Motoryk rating 8.5/10.
Performance at a Glance
Green = winner per metric · Bars are relative to the higher value
Bmw R 1300 Gs
Ktm 1290 Super Adventure S
Horsepower (hp)
145 hp
160 hp
Torque (Nm)
149 Nm
138 Nm
Top Speed (km/h)
220 km/h
240 km/h
Weight (kg) — lower is better
237 kg
228 kg
Type
Adventure
Adventure
Horsepower
145 hp @ 7,750 rpm
160 hp @ 8,000 rpm
Torque
149 Nm @ 6,500 rpm
138 Nm @ 6,500 rpm
Top Speed
220 km/h (estimated)
240 km/h (estimated, electronically limited)
Weight
237 kg (wet/curb weight)
228 kg (wet/curb weight)
Fuel
5.5–6.5 L/100km (typical real-world average)
6.5 L/100km (approximately 15.4 km/L typical real-world average)
Fairing
Yes
Yes
Individual Reviews
Bmw R 1300 Gs
8.8/10
"The benchmark adventure bike, best bought used with patience."
Pros
+ShiftCam engine is outstanding
+Best chassis in class
+Excellent electronics suite
Cons
−ASA gearbox needs checking
−Options wildly inflate price
−Tall seat alienates shorter riders
Ktm 1290 Super Adventure S
8.5/10
"The best big adventure bike money can buy, if maintained properly."
Pros
+Ferocious V-twin performance
+Semi-active suspension is excellent
+Lean-sensitive electronics work brilliantly
Cons
−Higher maintenance costs than rivals
−Pre-2018 throttle body issues
−Punishing if neglected by previous owner
Top 10 Accessories
Picks that work on either bike.
