BMW S 1000 XR 2015 vs. KTM 1290 Super Adventure S 2021

BMW S 1000 XR 2015

KTM 1290 Super Adventure S 2021
Technical Specifications BMW S 1000 XR 2015 compared to KTM 1290 Super Adventure S 2021
Pros and Cons in comparison
Pros and Cons in comparison
BMW S 1000 XR 2015

The BMW S 1000 XR does its job as a sporty touring machine very well. 160 hp and 228 kilos ready to ride already hint at agile handling, but in the saddle it looks even better. Just like the naked heavyweight S 1000 R, the XR cannot deny its kinship to the S 1000 R superbike. Added to this is an impeccably comfortable riding position and a wide handlebar that makes zipping through hairpin bends a pleasure. The electronics inspire unrestricted confidence and the brakes can be applied as if on a super sports bike. Only the screeching four-cylinder exhaust noise and the vibrations in the mid-range don't really suit a tourer. Otherwise, the S 1000 XR is completely convincing.
KTM 1290 Super Adventure S 2021

All in all, the long-distance capable KTM 1290 Super Adventure S is made for a trip for two, whereby the rider hardly ever has to think about where it is going. It likes motorway sections, fast country road passages or winding mountain passes in the tightest of corners just as much as unpaved roads with the occasional rough gravel section, where it is primarily the rider or their routine that decides how far they can go. The handling, which is improved compared to the predecessor due to the lower tank (and thus centre of gravity), also scores points here. The electronic chassis copes perfectly with the changing surfaces of a journey and always conveys transparency, the engine sovereignty in every situation. Ready to race - or also: Ready for long-distance racing!