BMW G 310 R First Ride

It seems like Indian riders have waited eons for the much anticipated sub-500cc bikes from German automaker BMW Motorrad. That is why I personally felt that the BMW G 310 R had a lot to live up to when I first swung a leg over the 313cc roadster that has been made in collaboration with TVS Motor Company. Many crumble when under such pressure. Is the BMW G 310 R one of those unfortunate or does it stand its ground?

DESIGN AND STYLE OF BMW G 310 R

The BMW G 310 R is a sharp looking naked bike that gets a beefy and muscular fuel tank, fat golden forks at the front and the iconic BMW badging on the sides. The bike does resemble the S 1000R and that is a good thing. The finish all around is impressive with no ugly weld marks on the frame visible and the switchgear having a polished look. The digital instrument cluster packs in a good amount of information including speed, RPM, gear position, dual trip meters, distance covered, average speed, average fuel consumption, time and date. You also get a shift indicator on the right of the LCD. I was, however, let down by the heavy use of plastic which did not have the most sturdy feel.

The G 310 R is not only about performance and good looks, it is quite practical too. The single piece seat offers decent amount of space for a pillion and there is a solidly built split grab rail that looks good and is functional. The triangular headlamp is a halogen unit which is a bit of a let-down but it looks good regardless.  The tail-lamp on the other hand, is a sleek LED unit and fits in better with the rest of the design silhouette.

ENGINE AND PERFORMANCE OF BMW G 310 R

By now everyone knows that the G 310 bikes from BMW share their engine with the TVS Apache RR 310 as both companies developed it together. In fact even the frame is the same. So does the G 310 R feel identical to the Apache RR 310? The answer would be both, yes and no. Given that the same 313cc, single cylinder, water cooled engine is powering the bikes and the state of tune is also quite similar, the engine character is largely same. So the bike is a whole lot of fun to rev. There is a lot of punch in the mid-range that sort of tapers off as you reach the top. The lack of a faring does make the wind blast apparent and affects the top speed negatively. The exhaust note is also a lot different and more satisfying. The fierce cry makes you want to keep the bike on its toes almost always. This bike happily climbs the speedometer resulting in a very satisfying acceleration. The only thing that could have made it even better would be crisper shift. The 6-speed gearbox is pretty adequate most of the times but often times you do feel that it could have been just a tad bit smoother. The small seat height of 785mm, relaxed riding position and compact proportions of this bike make it great for using in the city. In the short time I spent with the bike, I did not feel an uncomfortable amount of heat on my legs or thighs which is always a plus.

The suspension setup consists of 41mm USD forks at the front and a monoshock at the rear which is preload adjustable. They provide a comfortable ride and are soft enough to swallow bad roads if you are careful. Braking is something that impressed me hugely. The 300mm disc at the front and the 240mm disc at the rear are aided by BMW’s ABS which comes standard. The rear brake does take a wee bit longer to stop you but pulling the front brake gives more immediate results without making you lose your balance. I got to take the G 310 R over some sandy patches of road littered with gravel and found the bike to be quite stable without any major slips. So even though this might not be a big off-roader like the GS, the 17-inches Michelin tyres do take care of most terrains that you are bound to encounter. I also did the obligatory corner cutting and the bike impressed by holding the intended line.

VERDICT

There is no doubt that the BMW G 310 R is a capable bike in almost all aspects and BMW Motorrad has managed to deliver a bike that is truly great for everyday use. The brakes and exhaust notes would be the highlights for me but not the price. I must say that it does meet expectations if not exceeding them. The price premium was somewhat expected but on the brighter side, common folks are one step closer to owning the esteemed BMW brand!