BMW G 310 R: Pros, Cons And Should You Buy One?

Still skeptical about buying the baby Beemer? This will make things easier for you

When the BMW G 310 R made its debut in India in 2018, the baby Beemer didn’t come out as a value for money proposition, especially in a market spoiled by KTM. Adding to the G 310 R’s woes was the vibey experience and lack of features With the BS6 versions, BMW aims to change this.

The Pros

Good vibes

The older model was plagued with vibrations and with the BS6 version, BMW has ironed out the issue. Just like with TVS Apache RR 310, BMW has used rubber mountings and minor changes that have resulted in very fews vibes that wouldn’t bother you even on long journeys.

Composed ride

The previous model had a pliant suspension setup, however, with a pillion on board, the bike felt a bit wallowy. With the BS6 model, the German manufacturer has tinkered with the setup, making it slightly stiffer. The result is a setup that offers more a composed ride, even with a pillion on board.

Excellent brakes

The BS6 BMW G 310 R gets noticeable improvement in the braking department. The brake lever now offers more feel than the BS4 model. Adding to this is the better progression and feedback.

Ride-by-Wire

Taking cues from the RR 310, the BMW G 310 R finally gets ride-by-wire throttle. However, unlike the Indian cousin, the Beemer doesn’t get any riding modes.

LED illumination

Replacing the halogen unit seen on the older bike, the new G 310 R sports a complete LED headlamp unit with LED DRLs. The bike also receives a new set of sleeker indicators.

Price

The biggest grouse with the older G 310 R was the high asking price. BMW has addressed that by slashing the pricing by Rs 54,000, despite adding new features on the bike.

The Cons

The Michelin Pilot Street tyres lack grip, thus affecting handling dynamics.

With the retuned  suspension and a vibe-free engine, you’d want to extract more from the bike. However, the Michelin Pilot Street tyres play spoilsport. The tyres not only limit the handling, but also hamper the braking experience. Michelin Road 5 tyres would have been perfect for the job.

Sticks to the same LCD display.

The Rs. 54,000 price cut has its repercussions. The bike is still equipped with the LCD display seen on the previous model. In times when even scooters offer navigation and smartphone connectivity, the BMW’s console feels quite dated.

Service and spare part costs.

Though BMW has nailed it with the pricing, the spare part costs may still keep buyers at bay. The brand has addressed this issue and claims that  few spare parts are cheaper than the TVS Apache RR 310.

Should You Buy One?

Yes. At Rs 2.45 lakh (ex-showroom), the bike is a whole Rs 21,000 cheaper than the KTM 390 Duke. That said, the Beemer certainly won’t match up to the KTM in terms of spare costs. However, if you are looking for a bike that isn’t as frantic as the 390 without being boring, look no further than the G 310 R.