KTM 1290 Super Adventure S vs Harley-Davidson PAN America 1250 Special
Prices ex-showroom Delhi, checked 2026-09. On-road and running costs estimated for Delhi.
KTM 1290 Super Adventure S and Harley-Davidson PAN America 1250 Special are both adventure bikes and turn up together on most shortlists. The 1290 Super Adventure S undercuts the PAN America 1250 Special by ₹4,42,100, a gap big enough to notice on the EMI but not to decide the argument on its own.
The 1290 Super Adventure S takes 3 of the 5 categories we score. Our overall ratings are 6/10 for the 1290 Super Adventure S and 6.5/10 for the PAN America 1250 Special.
Category by category
Price
1290 Super Adventure S
The 1290 Super Adventure S starts ₹4,42,100 lower (₹22,73,900 against ₹27,16,000), about ₹14,020 a month less on a standard loan.
Running cost
PAN America 1250 Special
PAN America 1250 Special claims 18 kmpl against 17.5 kmpl. That is roughly ₹1,408 a year in fuel at 30 km a day.
Performance
1290 Super Adventure S
1290 Super Adventure S has the better power-to-weight ratio: 632 against 582 bhp per tonne. It will feel quicker with a pillion and on overtakes.
Safety kit
Tie
Braking and safety equipment are matched.
City manners
1290 Super Adventure S
1290 Super Adventure S is 8 kg lighter and lower in the seat (869 mm), which you feel in traffic and when parking.
Which one should you buy?
Buy the 1290 Super Adventure S if
- you want the lower purchase price and EMI
- you ride two-up or on highways and want the stronger engine
- you are a new rider or shorter and want the lighter bike
- you live where KTM's bigger service network matters
Buy the PAN America 1250 Special if
- mileage matters more to you than outright performance
- your priority is broken roads and touring
- your priority is tall riders
What each really costs
Base variants, Delhi, 30 km a day. Servicing and insurance are class-typical estimates.
| Cost | 1290 Super Adventure S | PAN America 1250 Special |
|---|---|---|
| Ex-showroom | ₹22,73,900 | ₹27,16,000 |
| On-road, Delhi | ₹25,54,314 | ₹30,45,516 |
| Fuel, 5 years | ₹2,53,520 | ₹2,46,480 |
| Servicing, 5 years | ₹35,000 | ₹35,000 |
| Insurance renewals | ₹1,22,608 | ₹1,46,184 |
| Five-year total | ₹29,65,442 | ₹34,73,180 |
Full specification comparison
Better figure in each row is shown in green.
| Spec | KTM1290 Super Adventure S | Harley-DavidsonPAN America 1250 Special |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ||
| Starting ex-showroom | ₹22,73,900 | ₹27,16,000 |
| Rough EMI / month | ₹72,110 | ₹86,130 |
| Engine | ||
| Engine | 1301 cc | 1252 cc |
| Engine type | 2 Cylinder, Liquid Cooled, 4 Valves | 2 Cylinder, Liquid Cooled, 4 Valves |
| Power | 158 bhp | 150.2 bhp |
| Torque | 140 Nm | 128 Nm |
| Claimed mileage | 17.5 kmpl | 18 kmpl |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled | Liquid-cooled |
| Transmission | 6 Speed | 6 Speed |
| Electric | ||
| Top speed | 230 km/h | 200 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Kerb weight | 250 kg | 258 kg |
| Fuel tank | 23 L | 21.2 L |
| Seat height | 869 mm | 875 mm |
| Ground clearance | 223 mm | 175 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1557 mm | 1585 mm |
| Length | — | 2270 mm |
| Width | — | 965 mm |
| Height | — | 1510 mm |
| Brakes & suspension | ||
| Front brake | Disc, 320 mm, 4 piston caliper | Disc, 320 mm, 4 piston caliper |
| Rear brake | Disc, 267 mm, 2 piston caliper | Disc, 280 mm, 1 piston caliper |
| ABS / CBS | Dual Channel ABS | Dual Channel ABS |
| Front suspension | WP SAT (semi-active technology) Upside-Down Ø 48 mm | 47mm inverted fork with electronically adjustable semi-active damping control |
| Rear suspension | WP SAT (semi-active technology) shock absorber | Linkage-mounted monoshock with automatic electronic preload control and semi-active compression & rebound damping |
| Tyres | ||
| Front tyre | 120/70-ZR19 | 120/70-R19 |
| Rear tyre | 170/60-ZR17 | 170/60-R17 |
1290 Super Adventure S vs PAN America 1250 Special: questions people ask
- Which is cheaper, the 1290 Super Adventure S or the PAN America 1250 Special?
- The 1290 Super Adventure S is cheaper by ₹4,42,100 at the base variant (₹22,73,900 against ₹27,16,000 ex-showroom Delhi).
- Which gives better mileage, the 1290 Super Adventure S or the PAN America 1250 Special?
- The PAN America 1250 Special claims 18 kmpl against 17.5 kmpl. Real-world figures for both will be lower.
- What is the on-road price difference between the 1290 Super Adventure S and PAN America 1250 Special in Delhi?
- About ₹4,91,202: roughly ₹25,54,314 for the 1290 Super Adventure S and ₹30,45,516 for the PAN America 1250 Special, base variants, including road tax, registration and insurance.
- Which costs less to own over five years?
- Our estimate for five years at 30 km a day in Delhi is ₹29,65,442 for the 1290 Super Adventure S and ₹34,73,180 for the PAN America 1250 Special, including purchase, fuel, servicing and insurance renewals. The 1290 Super Adventure S comes out ₹5,07,738 ahead.
