2022 KTM 390 Adventure vs BMW G 310 GS – best of sub-500cc adventure tourers compared

Not too long ago, both BMW and KTM revolutionized the sub-500cc adventure tourer segment with their respective offerings – the G 310 GS and 390 adventure. The previous iteration of the BMW G 310 GS felt a bit pared down and suffered from minor quality niggles, and its more premium pricing over the KTM 390 Adventure made choosing the latter a no-brainer decision.

However, BMW heard the feedback, worked on it positively and came up with the updated version of the G 310 GS, which felt much better while costing lesser. Thanks to these advancements, the BMW G 310 GS started feeling like a potent rival to the 390 Adventure – something it should have been in the very first place.

Now, it was the turn of KTM to update the 390 Adventure, and it has introduced one with lighter new alloy wheels, a new traction control system and new colour options. Here, we compare both the KTM 390 Adventure and BMW G 310 GS head on to find out which one of the two is worth spending your money on. 

Price

While the BMW G 310 GS is priced at Rs 3.05 lakh, the KTM 390 Adventure is priced at Rs 3.35 lakh. With this, the 390 Adventure carries a premium of almost Rs 30,000 over the G 310 GS.

(prices mentioned above are ex-showroom, NCR)

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Engine and Chassis

Both the motorcycles here get four-stroke, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engines. But the KTM 390 Adventure benefits with the bigger displacement here, as it posts significantly higher power and torque outputs from the almost 60cc bigger engine.

Both the motorcycles come with upside-down hydraulic telescopic forks at the front and mono-shock with an aluminium swing-arm at the rear, but the KTM 390 Adventure benefits with slightly bigger front forks. Though, the BMW G 310 GS gets marginally more suspension travel at both front and rear. The G 310 GS also gets wider front and rear tyres, both of which are radial units. While the front disc brake of the 390 Adventure is bigger by 20mm, the story is opposite when it comes to the rear disc brake, with the G 310 GS having a 10mm bigger disc at the rear.

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Dimension

When it comes to dimensions, the KTM 390 Adventure is a bigger motorcycle than the BMW G 310 GS, with more length, width, height, wheelbase, kerb weight, fuel tank capacity and even seat height on offer. However, the G 310 GS sits higher than the 390 Adventure by almost 20 mm.

Design and Features

Both the KTM 390 Adventure and BMW G 310 GS are inspired by their respective bigger adventure tourer siblings in their families. While the aspect of the design is purely subjective to one’s opinion, we feel that the BMW G 310 GS feels more premium in the way it looks, despite having smaller dimensions in comparison. The fit and finish quality levels in both the motorcycles are equally good too.

The KTM 390 Adventure has a minor advantage in the way it has been equipped. Both the motorcycles here come with full-LED headlamps with daytime running LEDs, LED tail lamp, LED turn indicators, alloy wheels, ride by wire technology, assist and slipper clutch, luggage rack, pannier holders and dual-channel ABS. However, the 390 Adventure edges ahead by offering a full-TFT instrument console (against the monotone LCD console of the G 310 GS), backlit switchgear, handlebar crash guards, Bluetooth connectivity and navigation inputs, switchable ABS and two-level traction control (Street and Off-Road). The only extra feature available in the G 310 GS is adjustable front brake and clutch levers. 

Verdict

The current updated version of the BMW G 310 GS looks and feels much more updated and desirable than the first-ever iteration of the motorcycle. BMW has ironed out all the niggles and shortcomings of the previous iteration of the G 310 GS, with improvements such as an all-LED headlamp and turn indicators, a premium paint job for body panels and engine, much better-controlled vibrations of the engine and better handling – all these at a lower price point than before. However, BMW could have used this opportunity by offering a more advanced TFT instrument console, which could have sought inspiration from the bigger BMW motorcycles.

When you pit the BMW G 310 GS against the KTM 390 Adventure, you will feel that the latter makes more sense despite it asking a premium of around Rs 30,000 over the G 310 GS. The 390 Adventure has a bigger and more powerful engine, more features, a fancier and more comprehensive instrument console, better switchgear and bigger front forks. Also, the bigger dimensions of the 390 Adventure give it a feel of a bigger motorcycle over the G 310 GS, which it is. All these attributes make the KTM 390 Adventure a better value for money proposition in this comparison.

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