By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Adventure
BMW R 1300 GS (KA1) vs KTM 1390 Super Adventure R (MY2025)
BMW R 1300 GS vs KTM 1390 Super Adventure R: long days, loaded bags, one choice to make.
You'll feel the BMW R 1300 GS's front wheel go light the moment you roll the throttle hard in Dynamic mode. The KTM 1390 Super Adventure R's twin pulls strong across a broad spread of revs and doesn't let up. Up top, it's surging harder still.
So which one do you buy?
The R 1300 GS has the edge if…
Daily commuting & city riding
By a nose: R 1300 GS
For the Monday-to-Friday grind, the R 1300 GS pulls a nose in front. That comes from simpler maintenance. Your own commute could easily flip it.
Comfortable long-distance riding
Inches ahead: R 1300 GS
For a day of interstate and back roads, the R 1300 GS makes a little more sense. Sit on both, because the gap is modest.
Keeping running costs low
Nose ahead: R 1300 GS
For the money you spend after the purchase, the R 1300 GS nudges ahead. The gap is too small to plan a budget around.
Which one's the smarter buy
Value's a wash
The price gap is small enough that it won't drive your decision. Neither bike is the clear better buy for the money.
What makes each one tick
R 1300 GS
Ridden hard on a technical road, the R 1300 GS dives into corners and squats as it drives out. Sometimes it's enough to slide. There's a calmer setting that settles the pitching right down.
Nils rode the R 1300 GS in 2023, in Austria, Portugal, and the Bavarian Forest in 2024, and in Andalusia and the Canary Islands in 2026 (NastyNils Testride).
1390 Super Adventure R
Dirt comes first on the 1390 Super Adventure R; comfort on long days isn't its priority. Its long-travel WP XPLOR suspension soaks up rough terrain, and the bike doesn't lose its stability at pace. The LC8's got a mean streak.
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The R 1300 GS has the lower wet weight: 522 lb (237 kg) vs 547 lb (248 kg).
- The 1390 Super Adventure R makes more peak power: 173 hp (127 kW) vs 145 hp (107 kW).
- The 1390 Super Adventure R has the larger fuel tank: 6.1 US gal (23.1 L) vs 5.0 US gal (19 L).
Which one for the way you ride
Call it even on the dirt and twisty roads. Choose on fit, price and the one that makes you grin.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
R 1300 GS
Strengths
- Loaded Weight Simply Vanishes
- Brutal, Immediate Low-End Pull
- Built To Take A Beating
- Punches Above Its Size Off-Road
- Tunable Fit For Any Rider
Trade-offs
- Throttle Too Sharp Two-Up
- Wet-Descent ABS Goes Numb
- Arrows On Screen, No Map
- Lumpy, Buzzy At Low Revs
- Option pricing climbs steeply
1390 Super Adventure R
What owners say
Strengths
- Excellent off-road suspension and handling
- Powerful and charismatic V-twin engine
Trade-offs
- KTM reliability concerns and brand reputation
Known problems to check before you buy
R 1300 GS
- Adaptive ride height failure The adaptive ride height system malfunctions and triggers warning messages on the display. This can leave the suspension stuck in its lower setting and compromise high-speed stability.
- Recall 24V557000: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY:RELAY Recall 24V557000 BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2024 R 1300 GS motorcycles. The housing for the starter motor relay may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in a damaged relay that can overheat.
- Recall 25V480000: COMMUNICATION: AUTO CRASH NOTIFICATION Recall 25V480000 BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2025 F 900 GS, F 800 GS, R 1300 GS Adventure, R 1300 GS, S 1000 RR, S 1000 R, and K 1600 GT vehicles equipped with the optional emergency call system. The emergency call system (eCall) may have been deactivated due to a software programming error.
1390 Super Adventure R
- Excessive engine heat affecting rider comfort Even with upgraded fans, the V-twin engine radiates considerable heat toward the rider's legs and body, particularly in stop-and-go traffic or hot climates.
What they cost used
These prices compare a 1-year-old R 1300 GS with a 1-year-old 1390 Super Adventure R.
- R 1300 GS
- about $19,800
- 1390 Super Adventure R
- about $18,700
What they share
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
Where the spec sheets split
| R 1300 GS | 1390 Super Adventure R | |
|---|---|---|
| Wet weight | 522 lb (237 kg) | 547 lb (248 kg) |
| R 1300 GS | 1390 Super Adventure R | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 1300 cc | 1350 cc |
| Engine | Flat-twin (boxer) | 75° V-twin |
| Cooling | Air/liquid-cooled | Liquid-cooled |
| Power | 145 hp (107 kW) | 173 hp (127 kW) |
| Peak power at | 7,750 rpm | 9,500 rpm |
| Torque | 110 lb-ft (149 Nm) | 107 lb-ft (145 Nm) |
| Peak torque at | 6,500 rpm | 8,000 rpm |
| R 1300 GS | 1390 Super Adventure R | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel capacity | 5.0 US gal (19 L) | 6.1 US gal (23.1 L) |
| R 1300 GS | 1390 Super Adventure R | |
|---|---|---|
| Final drive | Shaft | Chain |
| Fork | Telelever | Upside-down (USD) |
| Front brake | 310 mm | 320 mm |
| Front tire | 120/70-19 | 90/90-21 |
| Rear tire | 170/60-17 | 150/70-18 |
| Front travel | 7.5 in (190 mm) | 9.4 in (239 mm) |
| Rear travel | 7.9 in (200 mm) | 9.4 in (239 mm) |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| R 1300 GS | 1390 Super Adventure R | |
|---|---|---|
| Electronic Suspension | Option | Not offered |
| Manually Adjustable Front Suspension | Not offered | Standard |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
