KTM launched its second Adventure model, the 250 Adventure in India, this month. At Rs 2.48 lakh, the 250 Adventure comes as a more-affordable version of the 390 Adventure that has a price tag of a little over Rs 3 lakh. While the feature-rich 390 Adventure is almost in a segment of its own, the 250 faces competition from the Royal Enfield Himalayan and BMW G 310 GS in India.
KTM 250 Adventure vs rivals: Engine
Powering the KTM 250 Adventure is the engine from the 250 Duke, which means it puts out an identical 30hp and 24Nm of torque. While it continues to be liquid-cooled like its naked sibling, the 250 Adventure uses the larger radiator and dual fan setup from the 390 Adventure. This should aid with cooling in the city. The 250 Adventure has the smallest engine in this comparison, but it still manages to have the second highest power-to-weight ratio.
Royal Enfield’s Himalayan was recently updated to meet BS6 emission norms with the help of changes to the exhaust system and the EMS. However, that hasn’t changed the performance and it continues to build power in a linear manner from as low as 2000rpm. At 32Nm, it also has the highest torque figure in this bunch.
| KTM 250 Adventure vs rivals: Powertrain | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| KTM 250 Adventure | Royal Enfield Himalayan | BMW G 310 GS | |
| Engine | 248.8cc single-cylinder, liquid-cooled | 411cc single-cylinder, air-cooled | 313cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled |
| Power | 30hp at 9000rpm | 24.3hp at 6500rpm | 34hp at 9,500rpm |
| Torque | 24Nm at 7500rpm | 32Nm at 4000-4500rpm | 28Nm at 7,500rpm |
| Power-to-weight ratio | 169.4hp/tonne | 122.1hp/tonne | 194.2hp/tonne |
| Gearbox | 6-speed | 5-speed | 6-speed |
As for the BMW, it was also updated to BS6 recently, and like the Himalayan, it’s power and torque figures haven’t changed. With 34hp on tap and the lowest kerb weight figure at 175kg, it has the highest power-to-weight ratio of 194.2hp/tonne.
While the KTM and BMW use a six-speed gearbox and slipper clutch set up, the Royal Enfield comes equipped with a five-speed transmission and a conventional clutch.
KTM 250 Adventure vs rivals: Chassis
The KTM 250 Adventure and BMW G 310 GS employ tubular steel trellis frames. Both motorcycles have a USD telescopic fork and an adjustable monoshock. The alloy wheel sizes are the same as well, with a 19-inch front and 17-inch rear wheel setup.
As for the Royal Enfield, it uses a split cradle frame, a telescopic fork and a preload adjustable monoshock. It’s also the only one with spoked-wheels that measure 21 inches at the front and 17 inches at the rear. Consequently, it's also the only one with tubed tyres.
The other areas where differences begin to show are in the size of the fork, brakes and suspension travel. Where the BMW has a 41mm fork, the KTM has a beefier, 43mm unit. However, the BMW's suspension has longer travel (180mm front/rear) than the KTM's which is 170mm front and 177mm at the rear. The Himalayan, meanwhile, has a 41mm fork that has 200mm of travel while its monoshock allows for 180mm of travel.
| KTM 250 Adventure vs rivals: Underpinnings | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| KTM 250 Adventure | Royal Enfield Himalayan | BMW G 310 GS | |
| Weight (kerb) | 177kg | 199kg | 175kg |
| Ground clearance | 200mm | 220mm | 220mm |
| Brakes (f) | 320mm disc | 300mm disc | 300mm disc |
| Brakes (r) | 230mm disc | 240mm disc | 240mm disc |
| Suspension (f) | USD fork | Telescopic fork | USD fork |
| Suspension (r) | Monoshock | Monoshock | Monoshock |
| Tyres (f) | 100/90-19 | 90/90-21 | 110/80-19 |
| Tyres (r) | 130/80-17 | 120/90-17 | 150/70-17 |
| Fuel capacity | 14.5 litres | 15 litres | 11 litres |
As far as the brakes are concerned, the KTM's front disc is 20mm larger in diameter than the 300mm disc on the BMW and Royal Enfield. But its rear disc is 10mm smaller.
When it comes to fuel tank capacity, it’s the Himalayan that has the largest one at 15 litres, while the GS has a fairly small one at 11 litres.
KTM 250 Adventure vs rivals: Features
To cut costs, KTM has reduced the number of features on the 250 Adventure as compared to the 390 Adventure. For instance, it uses a halogen headlight with LED DRLs instead of a full LED unit. It also misses out on the TFT and features an LCD display that displays basic information along with fuel efficiency data.
All three motorcycles offer dual channel ABS and the option to switch off the system at the rear, to enable the rider to slide the motorcycle on off-road surfaces. With the 2020 update, BMW has added an LED headlight to the G 310 GS. It’s also the only bike in this group to feature ride-by-wire. As for the instrumentation, it uses an LCD display that’s as informative as the KTM’s
As for the Royal Enfield, it has the same display as before, but uses a white backlight. It’s the only one that has an analogue speedometer, fuel gauge and rpm gauge.
| KTM 250 Adventure vs rivals: Pricing | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| KTM 250 Adventure | Royal Enfield Himalayan | BMW G 310 GS | |
| Price (ex-showroom, Delhi) | Rs 2.48 lakh | Rs 1.91-1.96 lakh | Rs 2.85 lakh |
KTM 250 Adventure vs rivals: Pricing
The KTM 250 Adventure costs Rs 37,000 less than the BMW G 310 GS and 55,000 more than the Himalayan. While the KTM and BMW are better equipped, they are considerably more expensive. What remains to be seen is how the three compare in the real world.
Which entry-level ADV do you think is the winner on paper? Let us know in the comments below.