[drt_rdr]

Originally Posted by Red Liner

Don't think that will.happen. Pretty sure there is a no compete not to tread in on each other's product segments in India atleast.

I mean then which fool would even look at the BMW?

If TVS develops something fully independent of the BMW partnership, then yes.

Yeah, I'm sure they had a non-compete agreement, but don't manufacturers negotiate a time limit for these things?

The non-compete clause might expire in the near future. I mean weren't there rumours last year about a sportbike model from BMW based on the same platform?

BMW has wasted 2+ years years trying to hook customers into spending more than it was worth and failed, atleast in India. I wonder if BMW even considered India as a priority market (like KTM does) to negotiate a serious non-compete agreement.

Besides, it doesn't have to be based around the 310 series platform and\or price bracket. TVS could downtune the engine to a 230-250cc and offer a more basic package compared to the BMW. Or they could adapt the RTR200 platform into a dual purpose bike. I mean the xpulse is selling and other manufacturers should be taking notice.

[nasirkaka]

Saw the new BS6 310 twins at Tuskar BMW today. As expected, they have managed to make a good looking bike even better. Fit and finish, as usual, is great with very good quality switchgear, paint, bodywork, etc. The darkening of the engine block looks very nice. The Rally edition paint scheme was displayed at the showroom and looked gorgeous.

Coming to new features, the LED headlight is most prominent and looks good with a bright central DRL. The low and high beam seemed OK during the day time inside the showroom. We'll have to wait and see how it illuminates the road at night. And yes, the new headlight assembly does not shake up and down like the previous-generation bike's. Even the switch console is changed with 3-way buttons for the headlight. There is a Ride-by-Wire / electronic throttle, which felt very precise and crisp. The levers are nice and 4 way adjustable, and look good. Hope they are interchangeable with old-gen. Will need to check and confirm. The indicators are LED now and the design looks sleek. The clutch has slipper assistance now. I think they have some other technical name for it. There are some electronic aids which prevents the bike from stalling at lower revs, which was an issue with the old-gen bikes. The engine fires crisply and sounds good too (could be the enclosed showroom space acoustics). Give it some gas and bike feels smooth. One of the main complaints I had with old-gen bike was the buzziness at higher rpms. Seems like they have addressed that part. A ride will reveal more on that.

On the negative side, the bike misses a dedicated ABS button, which was of great convenience to switch the ABS on/off on the go. Seems like some new regulations. Some people have cribbed about the lack of a TFT screen, but I think that's more of a boon than bane. Too much electronics take away from the pure joy of riding a motorcycle, not to mention added cost, repairs, etc. No big deal at all, especially as the price cut would have been an important aspect of the brief.

Coming to which, the best part of the bike is pricing. I have always maintained that the previous-gen bikes were over priced by about a lakh. BMW Motarrad India learnt the hard way, as after the initial euphoria, the sales dwindled. The bike was perceived as so-much over priced that in most talks / comparisons / advertisement segment videos. etc., most of the auto journalists didn't even consider the 310GS, in spite of it being a very capable bike. Motarrad India had to resort to major price reductions to clear the stock.

The BS6 310GS priced at Rs. 2.85L (ex-showroom) and with those additional features is a damn good proposition. Coming from a BMW, I would say it actually sounds like value for money now. Must add here that I had gone to Tuskar BMW this morning to collect my bike from service. This was the 30K kms service and the last service was done at 20K kms. So in 10K kms of riding, all I did was just lube the chain. I did not even have to adjust the chain once. Not a single issue between service intervals and most of those kms have been on rough roads. Speaks a lot on the quality. Touchwood!

I guess the market will not be able to ignore the 310 twins now and sales will definitely rise. I have always maintained that the experience the bike gives is very rounded and complete. Hoping the after sale service experience and spares availability catch up and up their game as well. All the best to prospective buyers and to BMW and TVS.

Lastly, as an owner of a 310GS from the first batch, it feels a bit sad to have paid 60k more, but I can't really put a price to the 30k kms of great experience/adventure I have had in last 2 years of ownership.

Sharing some pics from this morning. Sorry for the bad quality.

[ebonho]

Originally Posted by nasirkaka

.

Lastly, as an owner of first batch of 310 gs, it feels a bit sad to have paid 60k more, but cant really put a price to the 30k kms of great experience/adventure i have had in last 2 years of ownership.
Sharing some pics from this moring, sorry for the bad quality.

Great detail buddy. Can you post a photo of your own bike alongside the new one please so that we can appreciate the visual difference?

To my eye, your version looks like a baby GS. This one not so ....

Cheers, Doc

[jamminbobin]

Are there any current owners of the 310GS (or even the 310R for that matter) who could tell me how important tyre-huggers are for this bike? Especially on wet Bombay roads — I wouldn't want to be splashing folks behind me.

As of right now, tyre huggers are not part of the official accessories list for the new 310s.

[nasirkaka]

Great detail buddy. Can you post a photo of your own bike alongside the new one please so that we can appreciate the visual difference?

To my eye, your version looks like a baby GS. This one not so ....

I am not sure if i understood you correctly. Except the LED headlight, the old and the new bikes are essentially visually same. Its just the new colour schemes, and stickers which gives much different visual appeal. The rallye scheme colour option which was displayed today is like a candy. I would be thinking twice taking it offroadand risk a drop.

But there are couple of other sober options as well.
Anyways, sharing the old and new pic (from web) together and also other colour schemes available now, along with my bike pic.

Are there any current owners of the 310GS (or even the 310R for that matter) who could tell me how important tyre-huggers are for this bike? Especially on wet Bombay roads — I wouldn't want to be splashing folks behind me.

As of right now, tyre huggers are not part of the official accessories list for the new 310s.

Many have it on the bike, from places like ali-express to hugger from 310RR. Its not as big deal, and more than spraying people behind, it helps maintain the bike, top box, etc a bit clean. On a few GS, due to rough usage, and cantilevered design nature, the hugger is broken and fallen off as well.

[drt_rdr]

Originally Posted by nasirkaka

On the negative side, the Bike misses the dedicated ABS button, which was of great convenience to switch ABS on/off on the go. Seems some new regulations.

They made the ABS non-switchable? That's a bit of a sore point.

[TorkBHP]

Sharing the specs sheet
Disappointing that they don't have the sport style in white colour.
In my view, white hp (bs4) looked better than the newly launched limestone colour (the red mags and frame make it look better).

[ebonho]

Originally Posted by nasirkaka

I am not sure if i understood you correctly. Except the LED headlight, the old and the new bikes are essentially visually same. Its just the new colour schemes, and stickers which gives much different visual appeal. The rallye scheme colour option which was displayed today is like a candy. I would be thinking twice taking it offroadand risk a drop.

I recall reading that the beak had been modified to make it thinner and smaller, so was asking. Can't recall where though. Thanks all the same.

Cheers, Doc

[acarun.vel]

At 2.86 Lacs ex-showroom for the 310GS, the pricing is same as Interceptor - Chrome edition. Wish it had been introduced a month earlier since I booked the Interceptor - Baker express, then. Mighty move by BMW (or say TVS) !

While I would really miss the snob value of owning a BMW & a high quality product, I am happy to live with that torquey 650 twin with that sweet exhaust note. Very few bikes give the aural pleasure at that price point.

[rahulskumar]

Any idea whether the alternator and battery issue has been sorted out in BS6

[swiftnfurious]

Originally Posted by nasirkaka

Saw the new BS6 310 twins at Tuskar BMW today...

Sharing some pics from this moring, sorry for the bad quality.

Great report, Thank you! Does the GS have a visor in the package and not fitted as of now? Or buy it as an accessory?

[surjaonwheelz]

Originally Posted by acarun.vel

At 2.86 Lacs ex-showroom for the 310GS, the pricing is same as Interceptor - Chrome edition. Wish it had been introduced a month earlier since I booked the Interceptor - Baker express, then. Mighty move by BMW (or say TVS) !

While I would really miss the snob value of owning a BMW & a high quality product, I am happy to live with that torquey 650 twin with that sweet exhaust note. Very few bikes give the aural pleasure at that price point.

You can't compare the INT650 with the GS310 just because they're priced similar. They are completely different flavors of motorcycling!

@nasirkaka has both, he's the best person to comment on the diversity. Take a TR of the GS310 to know if this is the bike for you.

The motorcycle you have is the best.
/surjaonwheelz

[nasirkaka]

They made the ABS non-switchable? That's a bit of a sore point.

Yes, the dedicated ABS button was a good convenience. They said its a new regulation where the ABS must remain on always or something to that effect. Atleast the old gen riders will have something to brag about on their bikes.

At 2.86 Lacs ex-showroom for the 310GS, the pricing is same as Interceptor - Chrome edition. Wish it had been introduced a month earlier since I booked the Interceptor - Baker express, then. Mighty move by BMW (or say TVS) !

While I would really miss the snob value of owning a BMW & a high quality product, I am happy to live with that torquey 650 twin with that sweet exhaust note. Very few bikes give the aural pleasure at that price point.

You cant really choose between these two bikes. They are so different, and cater to different requirement. I have them both and they compliment each other very well. But if i had to live with one of them, the 310 it would be mainly for the being the jack of all.

Any idea whether the alternator and battery issue has been sorted out in BS6

Yes, see the pic below.

Great report, Thank you! Does the GS have a visor in the package and not fitted as of now? Or buy it as an accessory?

GS comes with a bikini fairing in all the markets. Just that in certain markets they supply the same in clear material and in certain market, the same is supplied in black opaque plastic. The design is exactly the same. For India, its the black one, and the clear one is available as an accessory.

[nitinkbhaskar]

What a masterstroke by BMW !!
With this price, I am now seriously considering this bike. That Rally livery looks sick

Originally Posted by nasirkaka

Yes, see the pic below.

While we are at this, can you please confirm the comfortable highway cruising speed on your bike ? Need something, which can help me travel good distances + a bit of offroading without giving me aches / buzzy feeling.

[cataclysm]

Great pricing indeed! Per the BMW website, you'll have to pay 6k more for the Rallye and that black 40 years of GS colour, so 2.91 lakh for them.