BMW R 1150 GS Adventure versus KTM 690 SMC R
BMW R 1150 GS Adventure
KTM 690 SMC R
Year of construction / RRP / Test report
Competitors
- Comfort
- Processing
- Off-road capability
- Sporty
- Incredibly manoeuvrable
- High weight
- Price
- Everyday use
Dimensions & Weight
Length : 2.180 mm
Seat : 900 mm
Weight : 287 (max: 460 ) kg
Seat : 890 mm
Weight : 157 (max: 350 ) kg
Engine
Displacement: 1.130 ccm
Hub: 71 mm
Hole: 101 mm
Cooling: Öl-Luft
Drive: Kardan
Aisles: 6
Displacement: 693 ccm
Hub: 80 mm
Hole: 105 mm
Cooling: flüssig
Drive: X-Ring Kette
Aisles: 6
Performance
Performance: 85 HP at 6.750 U/Min
Torque: 98 NM bei 5.250 U/Min Tank contents: 22 Litre
Consumption: 5 l
Performance: 74 HP at 8.000 U/Min
Torque: 74 NM bei 6.500 U/Min Tank contents: 14 Litre
Consumption: 4 l
Reach: 349 km
Chassis
Tubular space frame (steel) Front suspension:
Telelever (travel 210 mm) Rear suspension:
Central strut (travel 220 mm)
Rear suspension:
Paralever single-arm swingarm Tyres at the front: 110/80 B 19 TL
Rear tyres: 150/70 H 17 TL
Lattice tube (chromium-molybdenum) Front suspension:
WP-USD Apex Ø 48 mm (travel 215 mm) Rear suspension:
WP strut (travel 240 mm)
Rear suspension:
Pro-Lever deflection Tyres at the front: 120/70 ZR 17
Rear tyres: 160/60 ZR 17
Brakes
Double disc brakes (∅ 305 mm) Rear brake
Single disc (∅ 276 mm)
Disc, Brembo four-piston radial fixed caliper (∅ 320 mm) Rear brake
Disc, 1-piston floating caliper (∅ 240 mm)
Cheap never, well mostly
MW driving has never been a particularly cheap pleasure. Although many specimens are around 20 years old and have collected correspondingly many kilometers, these GS are still not a bargain. It must be at least 5,000 euros, top-maintained specimens like our test bike like to scratch at the five-digit. You can understand this: The BMW R 1150 GS, if you don't catch a rocked-out model, is an almost ideal companion for the very big tour.
If you can do without cornering and agility, the GS is the ideal travel moped, where the road can be three steps below perfect.
As I said, a buddy for the good and the bad days.
Conclusion: You want to like them, but it's not easy
Does she get her thumbs up from us? Difficult decision. Even if it is the most agile and consistent Supermoto compared to the competition, it simply has too many flaws for most interested parties. This is not about such things as the lack of suitability for the future or the non-existent windscreen. About such things, dedicated KTM SMC R 690 drivers can only grin, and they are right about it. By the way, there are many fans: The machine is ranked 15th in the current registration statistics.
No, there is one big drawback: it does not deliver in its parade discipline, because it is really fast only if you want to go up the stairwell of the Hamburger Michel. Otherwise there's more show than Shine. If the world's most powerful single-cylinder engine delivers only 75 hp, this is the decisive performance shortcoming compared to the not much less manoeuvrable Ducati Hypermotard with its 114 hp. That's more than 50% more.
The fact that comparisons with Ducatis appear at all is due to the sporty pricing policy of the Austrians, from which even BMW could learn something. For the raw SMC R 690, KTM actually charges 10,799 euros. By comparison, the same engine is installed in the 690 Enduro R for 10,799 euros, the Naked Bike Duke 690 is available for 8,899 euros.
Ducati motorcycles are not considered softies. The Hypermotard may be that compared to the SMC, but for a seat more, the extensive equipment and 114 hp require Ducati 12,490 euros, which is only 1,691 euros more.
But probably this is not for the KTMlers. Yes, it is the most consistent Supermoto on the market. And with it a statement, wonderful.
Thanks to M.A.S. for the test bike.
