Pan America 1250 vs KTM 1290

Get ready to take on the trails with a new adventure touring bike. The 2022 Pan America 1250 and KTM 1290 Super Adventure R are two popular off-road motorcycles on the market today, but which one of these will serve you best?

At Pfaff Harley-Davidson, we want to show Richmond Hill, Markham, and Vaughan, Ontario, riders what makes these motorcycles different—and how they measure up to each other. If you want to learn more, reach out to our Harley-Davidson dealer anytime.

Off-Road Features

Would you prefer a motorcycle that can take you past the pavement’s end? The Pan America 1250 has the edge here, owing to a variety of adventure-ready features. While the KTM is also an excellent adventure bike, it lacks some key features found on the Pan America.  

ADV riders will want to give these Pan America features a serious look:

H-D® / Michelin™ Scorcher tyres

Set on a 19-inch front and 17-inch rear cast aluminum wheelset, these tyres were made to handle on-road, as well as off-road, touring riding. If you want an optimized performance on any surface, they’re the way to go.

Pre-programmed ride modes

These modes include Off-Road and Off-Road Plus for the trails. They tune your bike to achieve the optimum power delivery, engine braking, and other systems for a wide range of conditions.

Revolution™ Max 1250 engine

This powertrain is innovative in a few ways. As a structural component of the motorcycle chassis, it allows a traditional frame to be eliminated, and thus reduces weight for tighter handling.

The Pan America 1250 is made to maintain a high-speed ride and to handle off-road performance, hence its dominance in the adventure bike segment.

Well-Matched Performance: Pan America vs KTM 1290

In terms of pure performance specs, the Pan America 1250 and KTM 1290 Super Adventure R are well matched. Their competitive engines are sure to be fun for any rider.

Both rely on the proven power of V-Twin engines. The Revolution™ Max 1250 engine in the Pan America and the LC8 engine in the KTM produce upward of 110 kW of horsepower for an engaging ride on the toughest terrain. Meanwhile, the two engines top 125 Nm of torque as well.

The fuel economy of the Pan America 1250, meanwhile, is an estimated 5.1 L/100 km. You'll be riding more efficiently in the hills and on the trails.

Pan America 1250 vs KTM 1290: Choose Your Bike

We hope our Richmond Hill, Markham, and Vaughan, ON, readers found this comparison helpful. If you want more information on these adventure bikes, you can reach out to our team of motorcycle experts.

If you want to see the Pan America 1250 in action, we’ll make it happen at Pfaff Harley-Davidson. Just schedule your test ride online and stop by our showroom. You’ll get a feel for the Pfaff Difference.