VOLUME 57 ISSUE 22 JUNE 2, 2020 P85
To sum up the KTM 390 Adventure, you're
simply getting the most for your money, but
it takes a little more money to get it. It looks
aggressive and high-tech and backs up that
look with real functionality across all terrain.
From its spunky character to its full LED head
and taillights, the KTM 390 Adventure is the
leading edge of entry-level ADV and shines
brightest in this three-way comparison.
BMW G 310 GS
The Beginner's Beemer
Just as every one of our test riders placed
KTM at the top of the ranks for perfor-
mance, they placed the 2020 BMW G 310
GS as the best choice for beginners to the
adventure motorcycle lifestyle. It's manner-
ism and attitude exude ease-of-use with little
to learn from a tech feature standpoint and
little to intimidate from the power world. It's
also cheaper than the KTM at $5795.
Even though it's not the performance
leader, the BMW is plenty capable of
getting you out exploring new routes and
more. There is only one electronic rider
aid to adjust, and that is the ABS sys-
tem, which can be turned off for dirt use.
That's it. Simple.
Power delivery from the BMW G 310 GS
comes on silky smooth and consistent if
just a little soft. It's down 60cc to the KTM's
displacement, so it should feel softer, really.
Its power pull throughout the rpm range has
few weak (or necessarily strong) spots. It
just spins with linear delivery that feels very
refined and consistent, but not exciting. In a
word, you can describe the BMW G 310 GS
as simply predictable.
This is what makes it the perfect choice
for a first bike, or maybe a first-bike-in-a-
while. Like the KTM, the BMW features
a nicely spaced six-speed gearbox that
shifts cleanly and easily for great long-
distance stretches. It features the same
nicely performing Bybre brake compo-
nents (although they don't work quite as
well as KTM's). This bike rules the tarmac,
Because of its
old-school looks,
one might not
take the Royal
Enfield Himalayan
seriously, but, as
they say, don't let
the looks fool you.
The Himalayan is
a formidable flier.
ROYAL ENFIELD
HIMALAYAN
