BMW G 310 R

BMW has launched the 2022 iteration of the G 310 R, accompanied with a small premium. Check out all the deets in our launch story here

In India, BMW had launched the BS6 G 310 R with new features like LED lighting for all systems, adjustable brake and clutch levers, ride-by-wire, and a slip-and-assist clutch at a staggering price. We have ridden the bike and think it makes for a great package now. Maintenance costs have also been revealed. Is it cheaper to maintain than the KTM 390 Duke?

BMW G 310 R Key Highlights

Design: In terms of design, the G 310 R is exactly what you would expect a BMW designed bike to look like. It gets the same LED headlight and turn indicators that we first saw on the F 900 R. The golden-finished USD fork gives the front an aggressive stance. The profile is dominated by the large sculpted 11-litre fuel tank, the tank extensions, and the massive exhaust. The seat looks long and wide enough for comfort. Seat height is low at 785mm.

Features: The G 310 R now gets all-LED lighting, giving the baby roadster a proper muscular look. The headlight works brilliantly, leaving little room for complaints. The turn indicators get this lovely Lamborghini-esque ‘>’ shape. Our only grouse with the bike’s feature set is the LCD console. While it has enough data on demand, it isn’t that great to look at and doesn’t even have any smartphone connectivity options.

Engine: The G 310 R sports a 313cc single-cylinder liquid-cooled unit that continues to produce 34PS at 9500rpm and 28Nm of torque at 7500rpm. Thanks to the inclusion of ride-by-wire and a few new internal bits, the engine feels a lot smoother than the BS4 motor. It finally gets a slip-and-assist clutch making gear shifts on the six-speed gearbox, an effortless affair. The bike gets a tubular steel frame with 43mm upside-down front forks and rear monoshock damper. It gets 17-inch alloys wrapped in 110/70 R17 front and 150/60 R17 rear Michelin Pilot Street radial tyres. Braking is via a single 300mm front disc clamped with radially mounted calipers and a 240mm rear disc. It gets dual-channel ABS as standard.

Rivals: The chief rival of the BMW G 310 R remains the KTM 390 Duke. After the BS6 updates and recent price revisions of both bikes, the baby Beemer is now more affordable than the Austrian streetfighter. The Honda CB300R is another natural rival of the G 310 R. For the price of the G 310 R though, you could get the TVS Apache RR 310.