The buzzword around town is “BMW” and it’s not just the rich and wealthy who are excited this time around. It’s because the company’s first entry-level “Made in India” bike, the G310 R is about to launch in India. The bike has been available in the international market since over a year now, so to imagine what the BMW G310 R performs like, is not very difficult. But the biggest question is whether we should be excited about the entry level beemer or not. Our market has changed a lot since the G310 R was first announced. At the top of the naked 300 cc spectrum, we have Duke 390, which is the most powerful bike in its segment. Period. Then we have Bajaj Dominar 400, which strikes the balance between power and economy. So how and most importantly where will the BMW manage to establish itself in the entry-level segment. Let’s take a look.
The Apache’s Shadow:
According to several International reviews, BMW has kept the gearing on the G310 R really tall, as a result of it the bike stalls several times in traffic condition. The 310 motor also features a lot of vibrations in the upper end of the rev-range, but being a single cylinder thumper, it is almost impossible to reduce vibrations without adding another cylinder, unless you’re KTM.
The body of a Horse:
The RR 310 and the G310 R share the same chassis, suspension, swingarm, wheels and fuel tank. Starting with the under-bone, the Trellis frame is fantastic and fits well almost universally on every bike in the market. The inverted cartridge suspension is tuned for the softer state, these were not so good on the Apache RR 310 but will prove useful on the naked BMW. The aluminum swingarm will effectively help in reducing the weight and in providing support to the unsprung mass. The 11-litre fuel tank will prove a bane while cruising, which is the 70% of what this bike will be used for.As expensive as dreams:
The BMW G310 R, if launched with a price tag greater than the Duke 390, then it will only sell because of the brand name. But if by any luck it manages to retail under 2.5 lakhs, then almost every other brand entering the 300 cc segment will be given a run for their money.
The little beemer, despite being made on a budget carries a BMW badge and for most people that’s everything. Overall the bike is expected to deliver decent performance, decent fuel economy but a very exquisite sense of ownership. Just to say that I own a BMW, is a big factor in itself.
Despite its shortcomings, the launch of BMW G310 R should be a cause for celebration. Not only has it helped BMW to gain a foot in the entry-level segment but has also helped TVS Apache RR 310 become India’s international icon. Things are just starting to pick up in the Indian motorcycling scene and so far it’s looking pretty good.
By: Yetnesh Dubey
