BMW G 310 RR first ride review

Till BMW came out with the G 310 RR earlier this year, badge-engineering wasn't as evident in the two-wheeler space as it is with cars out here in India. The G 310 RR is effectively a TVS at heart. From its specifications and dimensions, to the very platform it is based on and its very panel, the bikes are exactly the same. So does the little BMW warrant your consideration if you're looking to own a small-capacity sports motorcycle?

On the looks frontier, the BMW doesn't really give you much to write home about with the 310 RR showing off the same styling cues as the Apache which has been around for little over half a decade now. The LED headlamp unit, the aggressive fairing, the sports-bike shape tank, all carried over from the older TVS badged model. However, the new BMW M colour scheme does freshen things up a bit, as does the Motorrad graphics when you light it up, although you won't have the option of pairing your phone to the bike via Bluetooth as you do with the TVS. This essentially rules out the possibility of turn-by-turn navigation and ride-supported apps for this bike model.

In terms of ride and handling, the BMW carries forward pretty much the same sport-focused pedigree of the TVS, minus the option of adjustable suspension of the latter, like that on offer with the BTO. You'll still be in the same committed riding position as before, and along with the USD 41mm fork and central spring strut suspension units setup on the stiffer side you'll be more comfortable astride this bike when riding fast. Low speed ride is still very lumpy, which can be pretty uncomfortable on Mumbai's roads.

You have four ride modes to choose from – Track, Sport, Rain and Urban – which decide the way the engine revs, brakes and responds to throttle inputs. The bike still takes to corners like a happy kid to candy and the ABS assisted single 300mm disc with its four-piston radially bolted fixed calliper up front paired with the single 240mm rear disc, with single-piston floating calliper brakes setup are pretty much spot on for a bike of this calibre. But I still think BMW should have really thrown in a pair of reach-adjustable levers on this one.

Here in India, the BMW G 310 RR can be seen as a rebadged Apache RR310 which doesn't offer as many options as the TVS while costing a pretty penny in comparison, but is still an impressive motorcycle with all it brings to the table. In a way, the BMW G 310 RR comes across as a solid pat on the back of TVS for the Apache RR 310, once you realise that BMW felt that not just the build quality, but the sole functioning of the TVS bike was suitable to bear some Bayerische Motoren Werke logos.

Yes, you don't have the option of slapping on some additional adjustable suspension but that doesn't necessarily mean that the 310 RR is a motorcycle that fails to check a certain amount of boxes on your list of requirements. In markets abroad, where BMW foresees this bike doing well, the G310 RR is BMW Motorrad's entry-level sports motorcycle, which is never going to be a bad thing.

Photography: Vaibhav Dhanawade