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Originally Posted by Thebat Having read this entire thread in one slot, I must say that some of the people are jumping to answer questions on reliability and the niggle free nature of the motorcycle. |
I certainly believe that the BMW has potential in the current market scenario, especially if they manage to launch it at the price claimed by Autocar. It could take the fight straight to the Duke 390 and lead to a very interesting battle in the Indian markets.
But saying that the bike has got nothing but praise abroad? That's a very, very far-fetched claim you seem to be making. All you need to do is to google for BMW G310R issues and you'll find a plethora of them (including problems coolant leaking, issues with random warning lights, radiator fan failures in warmer countries like Thailand, ABS controller issues, bike refusing to start and a myriad variety of software glitches). All BMW bikes being shipped out are quality checked by BMW's German engineers at the TVS factory. So going by your logic, this would mean BMW's QC is at a really bad stage right now and we should really worry about it, if this QC is not done for bikes going to be sold in the Indian market. Also note that these warning lights and software glitches are with a regular digital display on the bike and not a TFT console.
If you are basing this claim of "nothing but praise" on the first ride reviews by auto mags, then the same can also be said of the 2017 Duke 390.
But then again, I would not judge their bikes and expect it to be "niggle free" when it launched in India. It's best to wait for them to start selling these bikes out in the market and then comment on the same.
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Originally Posted by Thebat but having lived with a Royal Enfield most of my riding life I know the importance of having a bike that doesn't stop randomly on the road and one which just functions the way it should. |
I own a 2017 Duke 390 and have clocked 9970 km. Never has the bike randomly stopped on the road. I have faced the ECU error issue, but it's always only when the bike is stationary and is rectified with turning the ignition key off and on again. I agree there are issues with the console. I have faced them as well. I also agree that the bike is far from perfect. But most of the problems stem from the console and none of these issues are so severe that they leave me stranded on the road. These are minor niggles, which KTM ought to fix, but are in no way so damaging to the riding experience that one should believe the KTM is unreliable and worry about whether their bike will work on the commute the next day.
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Originally Posted by rbp As for KTM service, I have experienced it twice and I better not talk about it. If BMW can give me a reliable bike and good service, I don't mind paying the extra premium. KTM's are no more VFM bikes, the new one costs 2.97 OTR and that too with a bag full of issues. |
Drawing on your logic, all Kawasaki dealers in the country do not deserve to be talked about simply because the Bengaluru dealer has stories of customers being taken for a ride and arrogant salespersons. I will point out the Mekhri Circle ASC has a bad reputation and maybe you should try the Banashankari or Indiranagar ASCs, both of which have a decent reputation for helping out their customers.
Also, no more VFM? How is it not VFM when you have features on it that are still not being introduced into its price segment nor in the more expensive Ninja 300, R3 and Benelli like the TFT console, Ride-by-wire throttle system, Metzeler tyres and the 4-piston callipers (now on the RR310)? The TFT console has its issues, but as stated above, so does BMW with its digital display. Not VFM enough when compared to the BMW which offers neither the TFT, the RBW nor the Metz and is still expected to have nearly the same ex-showroom price? This combined with the fact that BMW Motorrad so far has only one showroom and ASC in a city like Bengaluru to deal with what could possibly sell as much as the Duke 390, could surely worry someone who might face issues with the G310R.
At the risk of sounding biased towards KTM since I own one, it is simply astonishing to read these negative reviews on facing minor issues and look at a free pass being given to BMW simply because of the brand association. I am also not against the G310R and believe it could be a worthy competitor to the Duke. There is every chance that BMW could resolve these issues before releasing it in India and more power to them if they manage it. But to write off KTM as "no longer VFM" and "bikes which make you worry about tomorrow's commute" is simply not mandated IMO.