BMW G 310 GS BS6: What To Expect?

The upcoming ADV was recently spotted testing in India and here’s what it is likely to pack 

The BMW G 310 GS BS6 as well as the BMW G 310 R BS6 were recently spotted testing in India, hinting at their launch in the near future. With the adventure segment showing a lot of potential in India, some of you enthusiasts might be keen on buying the upcoming BMW G 310 GS BS6. So here’s our analysis of what the upcoming baby GS from BMW will be all about:

Expected Pricing and Launch Timeline

We had earlier revealed in our exclusive report that BMW might price the upcoming BMW G 310 GS very competitively. While the BS4-compliant BMW G 310 GS was priced at Rs 3.49 lakh, expect the upcoming BS6-compliant model to command a price tag of around Rs 3 lakh (both ex-showroom). That would put it around the same ballpark as its arch-nemesis, the KTM 390 Adventure. This, coupled with the kind of features it is expected to get, should make the bike a lot better value-for-money proposition than its predecessor. Expect BMW Motorrad to launch the bike either next month or in September 2020. The BMW G 310 GS BS6 will also be a more premium, road-biased alternative to the spartan-yet-functional Royal Enfield Himalayan.

Powertrain 

The 313cc single-cylinder reverse inclined liquid-cooled engine was shared with both the BMW G 310 twins as well as the TVS Apache RR 310. All three bikes weren’t exactly known to be refined but TVS made a host of changes in its BS6-compliant RR 310 to make it run smoother. So expect similar measures to be taken in the German motorcycles too. That said, the exhaust note in the test mule wasn’t all that appealing. 

More importantly, the BS6 TVS Apache RR 310 features ride-by-wire throttle with four riding modes (Rain, Urban, Sport and Track). Being a premium product, we wouldn’t be surprised if BMW Motorrad offers something similar in the G 310 GS as well. If it does, the Track mode could be replaced with an Off-road mode in the GS to suit its character. In the TVS Apache RR 310 BS6, the engine produces 34PS and 27.3Nm under the Sport and Track modes whereas the output figures are restricted to 28.5PS and 25Nm in the Urban and Rain mode. Expect similar power and torque numbers in the BMW G 310 GS too. But since it’s a soft-roader, the gearing could be a little different, with better low-end grunt. The 6-speed transmission is also expected to get a slipper clutch like the faired bike from Hosur. That should make aggressive downshifting a lot safer as it prevents the rear wheel from locking up.

Features

The most notable change in the BMW G 310 GS BS6 is the inclusion of an all-LED lighting system. The halogen headlamp in the BS4-compliant version wasn’t particularly known for its brightness, so we hope the new LED lights will do a better job. Moreover, they also enhance the bike’s looks as well as its premium quotient. The instrument cluster is still not a TFT unit, so that's a little bit of a downer. The dual-channel ABS is also expected to be switchable like before.

Underpinnings

The BMW G 310 GS’ underpinnings were pretty much up to the mark in its BS4 guise, so not much has changed in the BS6 iteration. The test mule seems to continue with the same inverted front fork, rear monoshock setup as before. Even the alloy wheels -- 19-inch front and 17-inch rear with block pattern tyres -- appear to have remained unchanged. The 300mm front and 240mm rear disc brake with dual-channel ABS are likely to remain unchanged too.