Ktm 1290 Super Adventure S vs Bmw R 1250 Gs
Side-by-side comparison for used motorcycle buyers
Ktm 1290 Super Adventure S vs Bmw R 1250 Gs. 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. Bmw R 1250 Gs: 136 hp @ 7,750 rpm hp, 249 kg (wet/curb weight) weight, top speed 220 km/h, Motoryk rating 9.0/10.
Performance at a Glance
Green = winner per metric · Bars are relative to the higher value
Ktm 1290 Super Adventure S
Bmw R 1250 Gs
Horsepower (hp)
160 hp
136 hp
Torque (Nm)
138 Nm
143 Nm
Top Speed (km/h)
240 km/h
220 km/h
Weight (kg) — lower is better
228 kg
249 kg
Type
Adventure
Adventure
Horsepower
160 hp @ 8,000 rpm
136 hp @ 7,750 rpm
Torque
138 Nm @ 6,500 rpm
143 Nm @ 6,250 rpm
Top Speed
240 km/h (estimated, electronically limited)
220 km/h
Weight
228 kg (wet/curb weight)
249 kg (wet/curb weight)
Fuel
6.5 L/100km (approximately 15.4 km/L typical real-world average)
5.5 L/100km (approx. 18.2 km/L typical real-world average)
Fairing
Yes
Yes
Individual Reviews
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
Bmw R 1250 Gs
9.0/10
"The adventure benchmark that justifies every penny, used or new."
Pros
+ShiftCam engine genuinely exceptional
+Electronics suite actually works
+Bulletproof long-term reliability
Cons
−Stubbornly expensive used market
−Heavy at low speeds
−Challenging for shorter riders
Top 10 Accessories
Picks that work on either bike.
