Camerapersons: Abhay Sharma & Sumit Badola
Video Editor: Prashant Chauhan
The BMW G 310 R and G 310 GS - two bikes that are almost “affordable” BMW bikes. Sure, they are still premium, being priced just that wee bit more than similar bikes in their segment. One is a street-focused, naked bike, while the other is an adventure tourer.
The BMW G 310 R is priced at Rs 2.98 lakhs ex-showroom, while the G 310 GS costs Rs 3.49 lakh. Now these are two bikes of very different character, but they have the same engine. And guess what, there is another bike that has the same engine which is the TVS Apache RR310.
The common element across all the bikes is the engine made by BMW. It’s a 313 cc, liquid-cooled motor that puts out 34 bhp of power and 28 Nm of torque, mated to a six-speed transmission. Also common is part of the chassis and the front fork set up. Yet, they differ in character completely.
The BMW G310 R is a very street-focused bike and this one is slightly different from the GS. It comes with 17-inch wheels front and rear. It has 143 mm travel on the front fork. Also, you can’t switch off the ABS on this one. But it’s pretty peppy and you can navigate through traffic easily.
The BMW G310 GS is a typically off-road spec bike. You have 180 mm of travel on the front forks, and you get a 19-inch wheel up front. It is a little better off-road. You also get switchable ABS, where you can switch off the rear ABS on this bike.
The styling on the G310 R is head turning, especially the BMW badge, but it’s the G310 GS that really stands out between these two with its taller wheels and stance. And if you prefer a fully faired bike, there’s the TVS Apache RR310.
Summing up, the BMW G 310 R is a comfortable street bike. It’s a head turner. But that BMW badge, makes the price a bit expensive. There are similarly capable bikes like the Bajaj Dominar or TVS Apache RR 310, which are cheaper.
The BMW G 310 GS is an adventure tourer that’s probably the only bike of its kind in its price segment at the moment. Unless you consider the cheaper Royal Enfield Himalayan.
It’s clear one does end up paying a bit of premium for the badges.
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