BMW F 450 GS

Autocar India

•1d

Addressing the two single-cylinder machines first, between the 399cc KTM 390 Adventure and 350cc Triumph Scrambler 400 XC, the KTM bike is sure to be the more fun and capable machine. Its engine is much more powerful, its suspension much more capable and it fits the brief better for your needs than the Triumph bike. One area where the 390 Adventure will not be as good as the Scrambler 400 XC is city manners, because its engine feels buzzy and frankly unhappy at lower revs and its large windscreen also blocks some cooling wind at predominantly slower city speeds. Now coming to the BMW F 450 GS, this is a machine that could be your one bike to do it all with its twin-cylinder engine, capable suspension and comfortable ergonomics. However, we still haven't spent enough seat time on the small GS - the first ride event was a rather rushed one - and BMW bikes are notorious for being expensive to own and maintain. Then there's also the fact that the F 450 GS is based on an all-new platform and its long-term reliability still remains a question mark. Our recommendation would be the 399cc KTM 390 Adventure of the three bikes you've chosen but should you decide to go for the GS instead, we'd advise you to at least defer your purchase by six months so that you have more real-world information on the GS and then make an informed decision.

Autocar India

•15w

The Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 is a proven commodity in our market, and it is a fairly capable city machine, so long as you get used to its weight. Since it uses a big 648cc, twin-cylinder engine, its fuel economy isn't its strongest suit, although that's par for the course for an engine of this size. The Interceptor is the most affordable RE 650 model, and since it is a simple machine, servicing and maintaining it shouldn't be too expensive. Since the BMW F 450 GS is yet to launch and we also haven't ridden it, we can't comment on what the bike will be like to ride or to live with. We recommend you wait until media and owners' reviews are out before making a decision.Do bear in mind that BMW's dealer and service network is far smaller than Royal Enfield's expansive dealer network across the country.

Autocar India

•12w

The KTM 390 Adventure is a thoroughly competent machine, and if you are satisfied with its riding experience, it will make for a good adventure bike in the class. Plus, all Bajaj-made KTM 390s and Triumph 400s will be downsized to 350cc to better comply with the new GST norms, so now is a good time to buy the 390 Adventure while you can still get one. Coming to the BMW F 450 GS, it will be considerably more expensive to purchase and maintain than the KTM, owing to its twin-cylinder engine and the Bavarian brand's reputation for rather high ownership costs. We would also urge you to wait until media reviews and customer feedback of the F 450 GS emerge, which will take some time. Another option to look at in this class is the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450. Its strong points are its magic-carpet-like ride, punchy performance and a widespread sales & service network. Its heavy kerb weight and oddball styling are some reasons to not get one. A test ride of the KTM and the RE will help you make up your mind if you want to buy a bike right away.

Autocar India

•17w

The Honda NX500 is a smooth, proven, and reliable package as an ADV tourer, and is something you can't go wrong with. Its few drawbacks are its steep price tag and a shock that rebounds a little too quickly for comfort. Since it's a Honda bike, it's likely to last a long time without major issues and also be fairly easy on the wallet to maintain. Since we have not ridden the BMW F 450 GS, we can't comment on its strengths or weaknesses. We recommend you wait until the media as well as owners' reviews of this bike are out before making a purchase.

Autocar India

•18w

If you want an adventure bike that is E20 compliant, you will need to either purchase a new bike or search the pre-owned market for a lightly used model manufactured within the last 1 or 2 years. If you are looking for a new bike, we would recommend paying the high initial purchase price of the twin-cylinder Honda NX500. It is a rather sorted machine in almost every regard and will feel like a nice step up from your single-cylinder KTM. And since you're familiar with the trouble-free Honda big bike ownership experience, the NX500 makes for a logical step up. If you decide to go for something a little less pricey, then bikes like the latest KTM 390 Adventure models and the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 are also options worth looking at. You also have the option of waiting for the new BMW F 450 GS, although its pricing will be similar to the Honda bike rather than the single-cylinder models mentioned above.A test ride of everything you shortlist should help you make a decision.

Autocar India

•18w

There's no way to accurately portray how much the maintainance cost of the BMW F 450 GS will be, as it is yet to be launched. However, BMW bikes have a reputation for being a little pricey to live with, even the smaller 310s. You shouldn't expect the F 450 GS to be as easy on the wallet as its peers, like the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450, KTM 390 Adventure models or even the Honda NX500. We recommend you wait a while before you buy the F 450 GS so that you can see thorough reviews of the bike. Also, you can speak to actual owners of the machine, and then make an informed decision.

Autocar India

•19w

We have not yet ridden either the Norton Atlas or the BMW F 450 GS, so we can't comment on the riding dynamics of either machine. We would suggest you wait until you can see multiple reviews of both bikes before purchasing either one to err on the side of caution.