By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Adventure
BMW F 900 GS (K81) vs KTM 890 Adventure R (MY2021)
BMW F 900 GS vs KTM 890 Adventure R: which one you'd rather spend the big miles on.
You'll find the BMW F 900 GS's throttle doesn't ask much of you, and its pull suits a weekday of errands. The KTM 890 Adventure R's throttle wakes a midrange that's already shoving hard. Then it's rushing for the top end.
So which one do you buy?
Which one's the smarter buy
Depends what you want it for
The KTM 890 Adventure R costs less, but that doesn't make it the better buy. Neither bike is the clear winner on value alone. Your choice depends on what you want the bike to do.
What makes each one tick
F 900 GS
The F 900 GS doesn't make you learn anything: the wide bar and controls sit right where you reach, and the seat settles you in from the first mile. On broken mountain pavement, it steers into a corner and doesn't wander off its line. The bar won't fight back. Corner exit brings no surprise from the twin, but there's mechanical buzz in the bars and pegs at every rev. The twin revs freely to a deep exhaust growl.
Nils rode the F 900 GS in Portugal in 2024, and in the Canary Islands in 2025 (NastyNils Testride).
890 Adventure R
There's a punch to the 890 Adventure R's twin, with 74 lb-ft (100 Nm) landing at 6,500 rpm. The rally-style fuel tank's slung low, and the chassis stays agile. Off the pavement, the WP XPLOR suspension doesn't flinch at a bump. Dirt's where this KTM excels.
Nils rode the 890 Adventure R in the Pyrenees in 2022 (NastyNils Testride).
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The 890 Adventure R makes more peak torque: 74 lb-ft (100 Nm) vs 69 lb-ft (93 Nm).
- The 890 Adventure R has the larger fuel tank: 5.3 US gal (20 L) vs 3.8 US gal (14.5 L).
- Smartphone Connectivity: standard on the F 900 GS, option on the 890 Adventure R.
Which one for the way you ride
Comfortable long-distance riding
Not suited: 890 Adventure R
Leave the 890 Adventure R out of any touring plans. Big miles aren't what it's made for.
Count the dirt, commuting, twisty roads, and running costs as a draw. The deal on the table and the condition of the bike matter more here.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
F 900 GS
Strengths
- Planted on rough tarmac
- Easy to live with daily
- Controls fall right to hand
- Livelier than the Adventure version
- Genuine off-road capability
Trade-offs
- Stock suspension folds off-road
- Enduro Pro Package near-mandatory
- Buzzy across the rev range
- Expensive when configured with packages
890 Adventure R
What owners say
Strengths
- Punchy, characterful parallel‑twin engine
What they cost used
These prices compare a 2-year-old F 900 GS with a 2-year-old 890 Adventure R.
- F 900 GS
- about $12,000
- 890 Adventure R
- about $10,900
Two-year-old BMW F 900 GS and KTM 890 Adventure R both sit in the US used market. The F 900 GS runs about $12,000, while the 890 Adventure R lands near $10,900. That leaves a gap of roughly $1,100 in the KTM's favor. These are estimates from earlier records, not live asking prices.
What they share
- Engine
- Parallel twin
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Power
- 105 hp (77 kW)
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Fork
- Upside-down (USD)
- Front tire
- 90/90-21
Where the spec sheets split
| F 900 GS | 890 Adventure R | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 34.3 in (870 mm) | 34.6 in (880 mm) |
| F 900 GS | 890 Adventure R | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 895 cc | 889 cc |
| Peak power at | 8,500 rpm | 8,000 rpm |
| Torque | 69 lb-ft (93 Nm) | 74 lb-ft (100 Nm) |
| Peak torque at | 6,750 rpm | 6,500 rpm |
| F 900 GS | 890 Adventure R | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel capacity | 3.8 US gal (14.5 L) | 5.3 US gal (20 L) |
| F 900 GS | 890 Adventure R | |
|---|---|---|
| Rear tire | 150/70-17 | 150/70-18 |
| Ground clearance | 9.8 in (250 mm) | 10.4 in (263 mm) |
| Front travel | 9.1 in (230 mm) | 9.4 in (240 mm) |
| Rear travel | 8.5 in (215 mm) | 9.4 in (240 mm) |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| F 900 GS | 890 Adventure R | |
|---|---|---|
| Smartphone Connectivity | Standard | Option |
| Navigation | Not offered | Option |
| Heated Grips | Standard | Option |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
