BMW Motorrad has finally launched the much-awaited G 310 R and G 310 GS in India. The G 310 R is priced at Rs 2.99 lakh while the G310 GS – its adventure variant – is priced at Rs 3.49 lakh (all prices ex-showroom, Delhi). Back in April 2018, we had reported that BMW Motorrad dealers were accepting bookings for the bikes. However, official bookings only opened on June 8, 2018.
The German motorcycle maker had showcased both, the G 310 R and G 310 GS, at the 2018 Auto Expo. Though the G 310 R had also made an Indian appearance earlier (at Auto Expo 2016) this year’s expo marked the India-debut of the GS. The G 310 GS has been developed by BMW Motorrad in Germany and is built at the TVS plant in Hosur, India, like the G 310 R. The baby GS inherits its family's styling, including the stubby front beak, radiator shrouds, headlamp cowl and tank design.
Like the TVS Apache RR 310, the G 310 R and G 310 GS come with a reversed cylinder design that slopes towards the rear wheel, instead of the conventional engine layout. This engine is a 313cc, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder unit with four valves and a DOHC cylinder head. It churns out 34hp of power and 28Nm of torque on both bikes and is paired to a six-speed gearbox. Both bikes also get tubular steel frames, five-spoke alloy wheels and dual-channel ABS; the GS gets ABS that can be disengaged. The kerb weights for the G 310 R and G 310 GS are 158.5kg and 169.5kg, respectively.
The GS gets an upside-down 41mm fork, just like the R. However, at 180mm, the GS has 40mm more travel than the R. While the front suspension is non-adjustable on both bikes, the monoshock does boast adjustable preload. The R (being a sport naked) rides on 17-inch front and rear wheels, while the GS (being the adventure variant) gets a larger 19-inch front wheel and a standard-size 17-inch rear wheel. BMW offers Michelin tyres for the G 310 R, while the G 310 GS gets Metzelers. Brakes on both bikes are identical – a 300mm front disc and 240mm rear disc. The G 310 GS sports the same 11-litre fuel tank as the R. We wish it was offered with a larger-capacity unit, though.
At this price point, the G 310 R is around Rs 57,000 more expensive than its more-powerful rival, the KTM 390 Duke which carries a price tag of Rs 2.42 lakh. The G 310 GS, at Rs 3.49 lakh, doesn’t face direct competition, yet – at least until KTM launches its hugely anticipated 390 Adventure. The only other adventure motorcycles that the G 310 GS goes up against, for now, are the Royal Enfield Himalayan (Rs 1.68 lakh) and the Kawasaki Versys X-300 (Rs 4.69 lakh).
All prices, ex-showroom, Delhi
Azaman Chothia
Vishal Venugopal
