By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Adventure
BMW R 1300 GS (KA1) vs KTM 1390 Super Adventure S (MY2026)
BMW R 1300 GS vs KTM 1390 Super Adventure S: long days, loaded bags, one choice to make.
You'll feel the BMW R 1300 GS's chassis get busy on turn-in long before its tires run out. The KTM 1390 Super Adventure S settles and holds.
So which one do you buy?
The R 1300 GS has the edge if…
Daily commuting & city riding
Narrow edge: R 1300 GS
Day in, day out, the R 1300 GS nudges ahead in traffic. It isn't a big enough gap to plan around.
The 1390 Super Adventure S has the edge if…
Comfortable long-distance riding
Inches ahead: 1390 Super Adventure S
Long days lean slightly toward the 1390 Super Adventure S. Most of that is more range per tank and better wind protection. Your own body is the better judge of a gap this small.
What makes each one tick
R 1300 GS
Corner exits in Dynamic mode get violent enough on the R 1300 GS that local sport riders can't keep up. On a tight, technical road the front dives on entry and the rear squats under drive, because the suspension's at its limit before the electronics are. There's enough pull from the boxer at full throttle to unweight the front wheel. Sometimes the wheel floats free.
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 S
Huge torque pours out of the 1390 Super Adventure S, yet the electronics meter the V-twin so finely that it doesn't feel like it'll buck you off. In automatic mode the shifting and clutch work disappear, so you spend your attention on picking the line and using the power. A high-quality, stable chassis combined with the electronics package makes this an unbelievably quick machine. A touch of rear brake trims the last bit of speed and balance, and it covers for the odd automated shift that isn't quite right. Harshness doesn't reach the seat. You'll step off feeling you lit it up.
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The R 1300 GS has the lower wet weight: 522 lb (237 kg) vs 545 lb (247 kg).
- The 1390 Super Adventure S makes more peak power: 173 hp (127 kW) vs 145 hp (107 kW).
- The 1390 Super Adventure S has the larger fuel tank: 6.1 US gal (23 L) vs 5.0 US gal (19 L).
Which one for the way you ride
These two run dead level on the dirt, twisty roads, and running costs. Sit on both in the showroom and trust what your body says.
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 S
Strengths
- Semi-active damping with real range
- Torque where you ride
- Acceleration that reshapes a day
- Headlight you can trust after dark
- Ferocious LC8 V-twin
Trade-offs
- 545 lb makes itself known
- Road-biased wheels and rubber
- Chain drive on a long tour
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 S
No confirmed faults on file yet. That's not the same as fault-free.
What they share
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Front tire
- 120/70-19
- Rear tire
- 170/60-17
Where the spec sheets split
| R 1300 GS | 1390 Super Adventure S | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 33.5 in (850 mm) | 33.4 in (849 mm) |
| Wet weight | 522 lb (237 kg) | 545 lb (247 kg) |
| R 1300 GS | 1390 Super Adventure S | |
|---|---|---|
| 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) |
| Torque | 110 lb-ft (149 Nm) | 107 lb-ft (145 Nm) |
| R 1300 GS | 1390 Super Adventure S | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel capacity | 5.0 US gal (19 L) | 6.1 US gal (23 L) |
| R 1300 GS | 1390 Super Adventure S | |
|---|---|---|
| Final drive | Shaft | Chain |
| Front brake | 310 mm | 320 mm |
| Front travel | 7.5 in (190 mm) | 7.9 in (200 mm) |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| R 1300 GS | 1390 Super Adventure S | |
|---|---|---|
| Electronic Suspension | Option | Standard |
| Quickshifter | Option | Standard |
| Heated Grips | Standard | Option |
| Adjustable Seat Height | Not offered | Standard |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
