BMW G 310 R BS6 Review In Picture Gallery

Just how much better has the baby BMW roadster become?

After receiving much criticism for the lack of refinement and high premium pricing for its small-capacity motorcycles, BMW Motorrad has got its act right with the BS6 G 310 R and G 310 GS. The bikes have received the same set of updates as its Indian cousin, the TVS Apache RR 310 BS6. Have those updates made a real difference? After spending some time with the roadster, here’s what we think of it:

Not much has changed in terms of the styling of the G 310 R. The motorcycle remains fairly round and chunky. Overall, the build quality is typical BMW, solid with premium material finishes all over.

The fuel tank, as well as the floating tank extensions, have been redesigned and carry over the mass-forward styling from the litre-class S 1000 R.

LED lighting all around is a welcome addition to a motorcycle pitched as a premium offering.

Sadly, the LCD dash doesn’t go well with the bike’s classy persona any longer. It’s a bit of a mismatch on such a bike.

No difference in the powertrain: it still packs the same 313cc single-cylinder engine with the same power output. The difference lies in the catalytic converter and the ECU, as is the case with all BS6 bikes. 

It’s a little over half a second slower than the BS4 model while darting from 0 to 100kmph. Mid-range performance, which is most useful in city traffic, and quick overtakes have also taken a hit. Having said that, you don’t really feel the difference.

No change has been made to the BS6 G 310 R’s underlying hardware but the German manufacturer has tinkered with the suspension tune to make it slightly firmer. While the previous suspension setup was pliant, it felt a bit wallowy with a pillion on board.

The light front-end lets you throw it into a corner with the chassis and suspension setup acting as anchors, allowing you to hold the line, and correct it if need be, quite easily.

The handling capabilities of the BMW G 310 R far outweigh the grip of its Michelin Pilot Street tyres. We’d suggest you swap them out for a pair of Michelin Road 5s instead.

All the ills that were found on the previous-gen bike have been resolved on the BS6 BMW G 310 R. And with the lowered cost of owning as well as maintaining the bike, the loveable Beemer surely makes for a brilliant motorcycle. It’s ideal for those who want simple riding joys as opposed to living on the knife’s edge with the KTM 390 Duke.