BMW Motorrad has launched two of their much awaited adventure touring motorcycles, the G 310 R which is a street fighter and the G 310 GS which is an entry-level ADV at Rs 2.99 lakh and Rs 3.49 lakh (ex-showroom, India) respectively. The G 310 R and the G 310 GS are the most affordable motorcycles in the BMW Motorrad portfolio and will be the only ones from the lot that will be built in India at TVS Motor Company’s manufacturing facility in Hosur, Tamil Nadu.
The BMW Motorrad duo is powered by a 313cc, liquid-cooled, DOHC 4-valve, single-cylinder motor that puts out 33.5bhp at 9500 rpm and 28Nm of peak torque at 7500 rpm and comes mated to a 6-speed gearbox. Both the motorcycles share the same tubular frame with an aluminium swingarm. The engine is reverse-inclined, allowing the drive system to be moved forward thereby shortening the wheelbase resulting in a lower and longer swingarm making the bikes more nimble yet stable mid-corner. The wheelbase of the GS stands at 1,420 mm which is longer compared to the G 310 R resulting in a different steering head angle for both the bikes. The braking duties are handled by a 300mm single disc with 4-piston radial caliper at the front and 240mm disc with a single piston floating caliper at the rear. Both motorcycles will be equipped with dual-channel ABS as standard.
The GS and the R feature 41mm upside-down forks and monoshocks adjustable for preload. But since the GS is an adventure tourer it is equipped with long travel suspension (180mm) at the front and rear. The GS has a larger 19-inch alloys at the front and 17-inch alloys at the rear which is ideal for soft-roading. It is fitted with a bash plate for added protection. Both bikes will get an LCD instrument cluster. The dimensions of both the bikes also differ, as the G 310 GS is 70mm longer, 31mm wider and 150mm higher compared to the G 310 R. As mentioned on the BMW Motorrad International website, the GS boasts a standard seat height of 835mm as opposed to the G 310 R which has a seat height of 785mm . The international variant also gets two optional seats with a variable seat height. The G 310 GS is 11kgs heavier compared to the G 310 R.
The BMW G 310 R goes up against the KTM 390 Duke which is priced at Rs 2.40 lakhs. The KTM 390 Duke makes 43bhp as compared to the 33.5bhp of the G 310 R. The 390 Duke also features 20mm larger discs and a larger fuel tank (13.5-litre) compared to the G 310 R. The 390 Duke also has a full-colour TFT LCD instrument display with Bluetooth connectivity while the G 310 R makes do with a LCD multi-function display. We can’t wait to get our hands on the BMW Motorrad twins, Watch this space for our first ride review.