Earlier this month, BMW launched the updated versions of the 310s in India. Both the naked R and the tourer GS got mild revisions and now confirm to BS6 emission norms. On the same day, I went ahead and booked the latter and got it home earlier this week. So why did I purchase the BMW G 310 GS BS6? Here are the deciding factors.
Price
I had earlier booked the new Honda CB350 Highness as I desperately wanted to get back in motorcycling and needed an easy going machine. However, the moment BMW announced the pricing for the new 310s, I was blown away. Inspite of updates, the new BS6 models were cheaper and at Rs 2.85 lakh (ex-showroom) for the G 310 GS BS6, I knew what I had to do next!
Tourer
I have always been a long distance rider and love bikes that can chew up miles rapidly. From the earlier Karizma to the good old CBR250R and later the Himalayan, touring bikes have always kept me happy. The G 310 GS BS6 seemed so much better for me over the CB350. Mind you, the CB350 is a great motorcycle in its own segment but the 310 just excited me more on the mere thought of hitting open roads this winter season.
Size
I stand 6 feet tall and have a fairly large build. When I had gone to Honda's Big Wing showroom to book the CB350 [see VIDEO below], I did swing my leg over to understand how the bike felt. Comparatively, the G 310 GS BS6 is much bigger, with generous proportions and suits my frame too. This was another important pointer for me.
Bayerische Motoren Werke
And ofcourse the brand matters. Honda has proved its forte in the Indian market and the BigWing showrooms feel nice but that important blue and white logo on the motorcycle speaks a lot. Yes I understand, long term maintenance will be expensive but at 37 years of age, these elements don't bother me much.
And other aspects...
With a 3 year standard warranty and a service interval of 10,000km, peace of mind factor works well with the 310. Its also a more powerful bike and will easily hold 100-120 all day long on open roads. I am sure the bike will also feel more planted with a pillion as compared to the CB350 Highness.
I bought bike home on 29th October 2020 and look forward to getting the first service and run-in period done with soon. The generous 6000rpm limit for the run-in period means I can easily hold 90-95 km/h in the 6th gear which should help quicken up weekend rides. Stay tuned for more updates later on.
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