Review: 2020 BMW G 310 GS
The BMW GS has been quite popular among adventure bikes the world over, and the G 310 GS somehow never felt good enough for a lot of interested buyers. The reason being, too much of vibration filtered through, the suspension didn’t feel up to the mark and NVH levels were a bit on the higher side. And it was priced too high as well. It may have lured a few buyers to showrooms, but that didn’t necessarily mean BMW had nailed it with the product.
After the BS6 norms kicked-in, the BMW cars Twin received some tweaks. So there are some updates, but do not include the brakes, engine, suspension and tyres. We rode it on and off the road to give you our first impression.
The ‘new’ stuff
Some important changes include a ride-by-wire throttle, adjustable hand levers, a full LED headlight, a slipper-and-assist clutch and all LED indicators. It is also now available in three new colours, one of which gets its trellis frame in red. This has always been a stylish-looking bike, but the fresh cosmetic updates make it even better to look at. The fit, finish and paint quality are definitely worth a mention here, but we still wish it came with a new instrument cluster.
A ‘new’ ride too
Throttle response has improved; it’s peppier and the motor is more energetic and tractable on and off the road. The 313cc engine makes 33.5bhp and 28Nm of torque, and the bike is now heavier at 175kgs. However, this hasn’t blunted performance by any margin. The mid-range is strong and rather fun to experience, although vibrations can be felt on the foot pegs and handlebar. The bike likes cruising away at around 100kph. The 6-speed transmission works well, and because of the slipper clutch, feels lighter too. The ride quality is good as it deals with undulations well. We love the upright seating posture, the comfortable saddle and the wide handlebar, but we think, it is in dire need of a big windscreen.
It handles in a composed manner, feels nimble and stays planted; it’s an ADV you can use every day. It is glued to the tarmac around bends. This is a hugely capable bike, and the brakes provide a strong bite.
Good enough, then?
It proves to be immensely capable off road, and with its slew of abilities, it makes it a great all-rounder. Also, its seat height of 835mm gives one a great view of the road. However, it’s not as talented as the premium ADVs out there. And the springs are still a bit on the mellow side. It makes sense buying one of these because it’s also a great long-distance tourer that can deal with Indian roads. Also, grab the latest info on the new cars, only at autoX.