Auto Expo 2018: BMW to Finally Launch G 310 R, G 310 GS in India in Mid-2018

After a long wait, BMW Motorrad has finally indicated that it is getting close to the launch of its G 310 R and G 310 GS motorcycles in India.

As the Auto Expo 2018 goes on in Greater Noida, there is one motorcycle company at the show that we are rather interested in: BMW Motorrad India. That German motorcycle maker has tied up with India’s very own TVS Motor Company for a partnership to enter India is old news. But since the launch of that partnership, little else has come out from the BMW stable. The BMW G 310 R was a hot product touted to come to Indian markets. Along with its adventure motorcycle cousin, the BMW G 310 GS, it even begun manufacturing in India. But it was unsure when the two bikes would finally launch in India. ALSO READ: Auto Expo 2018: New Yamaha YZF-R3 Launched in India at INR 3.48 Lakhs

Now, at the Auto Expo 2018, BMW Motorrad has addressed these issues by announcing that both the BMW G 310 R and the BMW G 310 GS will be coming to Indian roads by mid-2018. With this announcement, the wait time for these two 300cc motorcycles has been cut down to just a few more months. That should come as a relief for a lot of folks who were waiting for an upgrade to a BMW motorcycle. The two bikes have been showcased in all their splendor at the Auto Expo 2018, but they were also present at the 2016 Auto Expo.

Manufacturing of the BMW G 310 R began at the TVS plant in Hosur some time ago and the bike hit international markets too, receiving good reviews along the way. But while everyone was waiting with bated breath for the BMW bikes to arrive in India, the German bike maker kept mum about its plans. Plans were delayed as BMW Motorrad India tried to set up its service and sales network in the country. But this announcement means that the company is near the end of its preparations and will soon launch its first products into the market.

The G 310 R and G 310 GS are first-time products for BMW Motorrad. They are the first motorcycles that are below the 500 cc mark for the German automaker, and the most affordable ones in its lineup at the moment. The G 310 GS is an adventure and touring motorcycle derived from the G 310 R naked motorcycle, so they share most of their main cycle parts. For instance, their engine is the same: a liquid-cooled, single-cylinder 313 cc engine that delivers 34 bhp of power and 28 Nm of torque. The engine is mated to a six-speed gearbox and is cantered towards the rear for a lower center of gravity. NOW READ: UM Renegade Thor Electric, Renegade Duty 230 Motorcycles Showcased at Auto Expo 2018

The BMW G 310 GS borrows some of its styling from the much bigger BMW R 1200 GS, complete with the beak-like front protrusion that is seen in the bigger adventurer touring motorcycle. Other changes from the naked roadster BMW G 310 R are more functional, like a longer suspension travel and a more relaxed riding position. According to BMW Motorrad India, more than 90 percent of the G 310 R is localized, so the pricing should be competition and could be around the same range as the current favorite, the KTM 390 Duke.