BMW F 900 R versus KTM 1290 Super Adventure S

Make
Model
Make
Model
Make
Model
BMW

BMW F 900 R

Naked
KTM

KTM 1290 Super Adventure S

Adventure

Year of construction / RRP / Test report

Built von 2019 bis 2024~
Built von 2018 bis 2024~
RRP 9.400 €
RRP 21.599 €
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Pros:
  • Engine
  • Basic price
  • Comfort
Pros:
  • plenty of power
  • lavish furnishings
  • good usability
  • good travel comfort for driver and pillion passenger
  • successful deitails
  • plenty of accessories available
Cons:
  • Windbreak
  • Pillion comfort
Cons:
  • high, but not unusual price in this class
  • somewhat idiosyncratic front mask (a matter of taste)
  • for some maybe a bit overloaded with technology

Dimensions & Weight

Wheelbase: 1.518 mm
Length :
2.140 mm Height : 1.130 mm
Seat :
815 mm
Weight :
211 (max: 430 ) kg
Wheelbase: 1.560 mm
Length :
2.250 mm Height : 1.520 mm
Seat :
849 mm until : 869 mm
Weight :
243 (max: 460 ) kg

Engine

Motor design: In-line motor 2 Cylinder
Displacement: 895 ccm
Hub: 77 mm
Hole: 86 mm
Cooling: flüssig
Drive: O-Ring Kette
Aisles: 6
Motor design: 2-cylinder, 4-stroke, V 75° 2 Cylinder
Displacement: 1.301 ccm
Hub: 71 mm
Hole: 108 mm
Cooling: flüssig
Drive: Kette
Aisles: 6

Performance

Maximum speed: 216 km/h
Performance: 105 HP at 8.500 U/Min
Torque: 92 NM bei 6.500 U/Min
Tank contents: 13 Litre
Consumption:
4 l
Reach:
310 km
Maximum speed: 250 km/h
Performance: 160 HP at 9.000 U/Min
Torque: 138 NM bei 6.750 U/Min
Tank contents: 23 Litre
Consumption:
6 l
Reach:
404 km

Chassis

Frame type:
Bridge frame in shell construction (steel)
Front suspension:
Upside-down fork, Ø 43 mm (travel 135 mm)
Rear suspension:
Directly hinged central strut, spring base hydraulically adjustable, rebound damping adjustable (travel 142 mm)
Rear suspension:
Aluminum two-arm swingarm
Tyres at the front: 120/70 ZR 17
Rear tyres: 180/55 ZR 17
Frame type:
Lattice tube (chromium-molybdenum)
Front suspension:
Semi-active WP-USD fork Ø 48 mm (travel 200 mm)
Rear suspension:
Semi-active WP Monoshock strut (travel 200 mm)
Rear suspension:
Die-cast two-arm swingarm
Tyres at the front: 120/70 ZR19
Rear tyres: 170/60 ZR17

Brakes

Front brake
Double disc brake, floating brake discs, 4-piston radial caliper ( 320 mm) Rear brake
Single disc brake, 1-piston floating caliper ( 265 mm)
Front brake
Double disc Brembo four-piston radial fixed caliper ( 320 mm) Rear brake
Brembo two-piston fixed caliper ( 267 mm)

Ideal for a sporty short trip

If things go the way they did with their predecessor, BMW has a potential bestseller in its range with the F 900 R. Why not: The machine is quite cheap for BMW ratios and at the same time quite good.

You just have to know what you want. This bike is ideal for a sporty excursion without great travel ambitions. Whose wish this was always: Test drive please!

The test bike was provided to us by Bergmann and Söhne in Pinneberg near Hamburg.

Price / Colours / Years of Construction

  • Price: 8.800€
  • Years of construction: since 2020
  • Colours: red-silver, blue, black

Conclusion - what gets stuck

Well, bad motorcycles aren't actually built in this class any more. So what remains to be said? You have to look for the mistakes with a magnifying glass. But of course we have done this too and therefore mention the following criticisms: The compartment for the mobile phone is unfortunately too small for many models. From the point of view of a travel machine, a gimbal would also be nice – but clearly it's just KTM.

The optics of the front mask in particular are not for everyone – but this really falls under the category of taste question. The purchase price is quite lavish, but even with that the KTM is not alone. So let's return to the entry question of whether the KTM 1290 Super Adventure S is the new benchmark. The new benchmark is perhaps very ambitious. But the KTM can keep up with the big competing machines from this segment. And you almost get the impression that the differences are getting smaller and smaller.

The test machine was provided to us by Motorrad Ruser.

Price/Availability/Colours/Years of Construction

  • Price: from 18.495 €
  • Years of construction: from 2021
  • Availability: from 2021
  • Colours: orange, black