What's best? KTM 790 Adventure R or BMW F850GS Adventure?

Massive litre class plus adventure bikes are all very well for well heeled riders who want to tour, but what if you want an adv bike that is properly capable off-road as well as on, has all the bells and whistles of the flagship bikes but won't need you to extend your mortgage? There are two front runners in this category for 2019 the BMW F850GS Adventure R and the KTM 790 Adventure - both amazing machines but which one do I think is best? In this video I put the bikes head to head to find out....

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[iw]

I’m surprised you didn’t way up the size of the fuel tanks, pretty important and n an adventure bike I think.

[DaemonViews]

So you let the BMW win on price? I'm sorry, but what?
That is a BMW base price, meaning you get wheels and an engine. The TFT screen you liked? 650 euro. The ESA you liked? 1000 euro.
Lean sensitive ABS on the BMW, also an extra. Can't recall the price for that but remember that you need to have the rider modes as well as an option.

You really need to look at the options you get standard and spec them out similarly, otherwise it is incorrect. Just take the standard KTM stuff and add it in on the BMW. KTM doesn't have endless option lists.

[frankpinion]

It's an adventure bike-what's with all the riding on the road. That's no test of it's off road ability!

[randykawasaki]

Particularly enjoyed the extensive off road element of the

[SteveInskip]

For means of practicality, ‘the ability to dispense with a white van’ has to be the main issue with any bike round your way. Marks out off 10 please? 😉 Bon weekend!

[Jamby]

you should have titled your video, "what's the best for riding on the street?" The GS is much more of a Street bike. The 790R is much more of a Dirt bike. So to isolate a comparison of these bikes to either surface is a statement of the obvious. the real question is how would these bikes compare on a course of 50% Dirt & 50% street. That's what we need to understand.

[praveennigam]

Would be nice if you compare KTM 790Adventure( standard) and Triumph Tiger!

[MrEtnorb]

You have to remember that many times TMF has stated that he isn’t an experienced dirt rider. There is no doubt that the hard core dirt riders would not consider the GS is in the same ballpark as the 790. Look at the roads travelled in this report-purely a road rest where the KTM’s dirt qualities are not obvious. Forgetting about the overwhelming superiority of the KTM in the dirt, the KTM’s weight advantage alone would be enough to make it a winner. My motto is 2 cylinders = too much weight for a dirt bike so I could never go backwards to a GS/790/T700 Yam.

[masterr]

Well, I do have a 2019 BMW f850 adventure, un exactly the same configuration as the one in the video, and with respect to the transmission, is noticeable smoother now with 3000 miles on it.on the other hand, even when most people will compare this two bikes as in the same category, Me thinks they are not. The ktm was made as a big dirt bike that occasionally you can take on the road, and the BMW is a big touring bike that you can occasionally take off road.

[DifferentSpokesTV]

That 'mid-size' Beemer is huge. Looks close in size to the 1250. Off road it would be no contest.

[ajveeden]

The GS is for touring and folks that like to go sight seeing hanging out at the pub after a cozy ride. The KTM is for taking on true off-road adventures were there are no pubs . No comparison.

[dirtbikesandsimracing]

Put the KTM in Rally mode as it provides the most direct throttle response. Also, aftermarket screens can be bought for touring so would never base a decision of whether to buy a bike or not based on wind protection.

[Aleph]

Without testing either Offroad, I feel like you really missed the point of owning one of these Adventure bikes ... this comparison is really for road users and not for a real Adventure Riders

[alantrek]

I think you missed the whole point of these bikes, off road capability? That’s the point of them, also the weight difference is far from marginal as you stated. I know a lot of people will not take the BMW off road but KTM will probably spend most of its life off road, also off road the KTMs 48mm front forks are on a different level, so is the travel and the ground clearance..

[web]

I know you don't like offroad, however a true comparison for these bikes needs to include an offroad test. Doesn't need to be through an enduro course but at least through some gravel or dirt.

[kennethvernonprivate]

great honest and personal review of both! This will absolutely help someone trying to decide between the two. Good job!

Cheers from CANADA!

[wesgilbert]

Great review/comparison my friend! I actually just purchased the 790 Adventure standard version (not the R) and I must say that I love it! I was looking at the Beemer as well but my nearest BMW dealer is in Missoula, Montana which is about 4 hours from me. (I’m in Bozeman, MT). I did find your opinions on the aspects that you reviewed on the KTM to be spot on. Either way that’s 2 amazing bikes there!

[Propelled]

Love to hear how people think about the 790 after a year of ownership.

[milolabrett]

I’ve owned an F 800 GS and preferred the Petrol Tank in the centre with Petrol cap at the back right side. This position gave the bike-amazing centre of gravity and easy fill when using tank bag. Both bikes have the two-cylinder Rotax engine, which is just absolutely Bullet proof. I found F 800 GS very easy to work on for general maintenace. The London Anti – Terror Police use the F series GS and I can understand why, since they are absolutely nimble in city traffic. The Israeli Yasam / Special Police Force also use the standard versions nothing modified F series GS.

[TheDesertsweeper]

And being "adventure" bikes is good to see you threw some gravel sections in there, with the odd river crossing and a mud - bath, to give the viewer a true sense of their multi-terrain capabilities...