[mohansrides]

I typically don’t like dissing brands. But, the BMW 310s are motorcycles that are the complete opposite of VFM, even if you count owning a BMW as a legitimate value point. The price point of entry into what are essentially barebones motorcycles with completely unremarkable engines is atrocious.

In luxury and performance brands, the biggest markers that contribute to a brand image are the engines. Think of the legendary Honda V4s or the Kawasaki in-line 4s or the Triumph triples or the BMW opposed twins.

Why on earth anyone would go and pay 5 lacs on road for what is essentially a feeble single cylinder engine that BMW is not even known for is something that I will not understand.

This is why I have huge respect for KTM seeing as how they invested themselves in creating a genuine differentiation and value proposition in the sub-400 cc segment. Their positioning and price points as a budget performance brand is spot on. Marriage with Bajaj where it mattered. Sorted service centers. A design aesthetic that is decisive and aimed squarely at the younger crowd. They got everything right (right up to the time where they screwed up with the pricing for the 790). As a brand, they made some bold decisions and are reaping the rewards.

Discount or not, the BMW 300 cc bikes look absolutely ridiculous. Those bikes really look like one is trying too hard.

Of course all this is my personal opinion. And I ask for forgiveness from those who I have offended.

Cheers

[abhi7013]

Originally Posted by Archie_27

Sharing the latest update relevant to this thread. Some dealerships of BMW Motorrad are offering BMW G 310 GS (Red) for 2.80 Lacs (Ex-showroom) on the last few units left with them.

After thorough research upon it, I've booked mine yesterday itself.

Pardon for editing my post but i had written it considering the original ex showroom was 2.98 lacs. But once i searched around, found it to be 3.49 lacs. Didn't know they were so pricey!

Apologies for having posted before knowing the actual price. However, 2.8 is a good enough deal i guess!

[ast.ggn]

Originally Posted by abhi7013

Pardon for editing my post but i had written it considering the original ex showroom was 2.98 lacs. But once i searched around, found it to be 3.49 lacs. Didn't know they were so pricey!

Apologies for having posted before knowing the actual price. However, 2.8 is a good enough deal i guess!

2.8 is a decent deal for GS. I am tempted to exchange my RC now. Only fly in the ointment is the front suspension. Can anyone confirm here if it is adjustable? I found it too soft for my liking. I am willing to overlook other short comings.

[Archie_27]

Originally Posted by ast.ggn

Only fly in the ointment is the front suspension. Can anyone confirm here if it is adjustable?

IMO, the front stock suspension isn't adjustable, only the rear monoshock is. But, GS being an international product, I think ample aftermarket options from companies like Rally Raid are available. I'll still confirm with the Dealership for any type of adjustment to the front suspension.

Also, I think the front suspension being too soft is a twin edged sword. It could unnerve the rider due to the nose dive under heavy braking but it also relaxes the arms and palms from the vigour of any potholes and undulations while cruising. You'd feel that for sure coming from an RC as I did feel it positively coming from a CBR 150R (the hunkered down on palm stance).

Cheers and Happy riding!

[Archie_27]

Originally Posted by abhi7013

Pardon for editing my post but i had written it considering the original ex showroom was 2.98 lacs. But once i searched around, found it to be 3.49 lacs. Didn't know they were so pricey!

Apologies for having posted before knowing the actual price. However, 2.8 is a good enough deal i guess!

Pardoned

It was a deal enough to make me drool.

Also, the salesman says he'll surely do something over and above that at the time of delivery. (fingers crossed)

[Red Liner]

You can change the oil weight in the front suspension to make it stiffer.

[ast.ggn]

Originally Posted by Red Liner

You can change the oil weight in the front suspension to make it stiffer.

I get your point, however what is your experience on longevity of suspension after Oil change? I mean, once we change the oil, seals also needs to be changed. I am sure any work done at workshop level will not have same quality as factory fit and finish. I have had mixed experiences with seals: bad experience on Pulsar 180 long time back and on the other hand a front suspension refill on RC 390 is working fine since past two years. Any thoughts?

[Red Liner]

Originally Posted by ast.ggn

I get your point, however what is your experience on longevity of suspension after Oil change? I mean, once we change the oil, seals also needs to be changed. I am sure any work done at workshop level will not have same quality as factory fit and finish. I have had mixed experiences with seals: bad experience on Pulsar 180 long time back and on the other hand a front suspension refill on RC 390 is working fine since past two years. Any thoughts?

Fork seals going bust is a question of when and not if, if you go out and do hard offroad.

You do not have to visit the ASC at all. DIY or find a good neighbourhood garage with whom you can build a relationship once you throw the warranty in the rubbish.

Get the service manual and study it well, watch a few youtube videos and get yourself acquainted with the process. Then whoever does it, you can observe and correct if needed. Prep is key especially if its your first time.

[ashwinprakas]

Originally Posted by ast.ggn

I get your point, however what is your experience on longevity of suspension after Oil change? I mean, once we change the oil, seals also needs to be changed. I am sure any work done at workshop level will not have same quality as factory fit and finish. I have had mixed experiences with seals: bad experience on Pulsar 180 long time back and on the other hand a front suspension refill on RC 390 is working fine since past two years. Any thoughts?

You have to look into the parts that are being affected.

1. If you're simply draining old oil and refilling new oil, in which case your fork seals remain intact, your workshop manual would have details pertaining to quantity of oil to be filled during refill and overhaul, go according to it.

Here's a sample snipped from my P220's service manual;



The only means of messing this up is by not replacing the O-Ring on the cap bolt, or by scratching the fork tube while uninstalling or installing. It is really hard to mess this up, but we live in India.

2. If you're going for a rebuild, in which case you'd need to change Seals and Springs, the latter isn't necessary but usually a complete rebuild is done as the miles accumulate and the springs are the cheapest components in the front suspension so why even think twice.

Now when it comes to rebuild since quite a bit of parts are pried off it requires dexterity to not mess-up things, if done right then all is well, if done carelessly then your headaches would just about start.

There is no such thing as factory fit and finish, there is simply good workmanship and poor workmanship, and being from India we seem to be getting buck loads of the latter.

From personal experience my P220 usually gets the entire front end overhauled every 15k km's and she's nearing the 60k mark on the odo, haven't faced a leak per say from the seals, but I prematurely overhaul due to the speeds she does on the interstate.

As for my CT100B, she's nearing 40k km's and the front end hasn't even been touched since purchased, I simply regard the stiffness to be a complementary race-spec setting.

P.S. A tip shared by a fellow enthusiast who works for KTM is to run a ballpoint pen over any visible marks on the fork tube, if the pen doesn't glide over smoothly and does get caught in one of the indentations then you'd need to replace the fork inner tube.

Cheers,
A.P.

[ani_meher]

Pune: GS 310 are all sold. Only few street 310 remain with 90k discount.

[Waspune]

I got my Red G310R on 6th March for 2.99 ONR. I wasn't given any freebies (read: helmet/jacket) as I wanted the latest manufactured bike. Mine is Oct'19 manufactured. They had a lot of 2018 bikes as well on which they were running offers.
I guess on 5th March the offer on the G310R was 2.75 ONR applicable to only 2018 makes. The very same day 12 bookings had happened.
I have just clocked ~100 kms till now. Thanks to some travelling involved.

[JithinR]

Originally Posted by Waspune

They had a lot of 2018 bikes as well on which they were running offers.
I guess on 5th March the offer on the G310R was 2.75 ONR applicable to only 2018 makes.

Congrats on the bike.

2018 bikes being sold in 2020.I guess they wanted to make sure that the premium image of BMW is maintained (can't be done if you are selling of bikes at a heavy discount). Honestly, I would not pick up a 2 year old unused bike.

You made the right choice taking the 2019 one. Looks amazing in red.

[ast.ggn]

GS is out of stock in NCR also. First they asked for my phone number, when I gave them the number, they sent a message over facebook that bike is not in stock. I asked them about 310R, to which I didn't get any reply till now. (Lutyens Motorrad, Delhi).

[Archie_27]

Originally Posted by ast.ggn

GS is out of stock in NCR also. First they asked for my phone number, when I gave them the number, they sent a message over facebook that bike is not in stock. I asked them about 310R, to which I didn't get any reply till now. (Lutyens Motorrad, Delhi).

PM me if you wanna purchase it, I think there are some units in Jaipur. I may be able to help you out and I have the contact info of the sales guys there as I was gonna buy from there.

[rajushank84]

Originally Posted by JithinR

Congrats on the bike.

2018 bikes being sold in 2020.I guess they wanted to make sure that the premium image of BMW is maintained (can't be done if you are selling of bikes at a heavy discount). Honestly, I would not pick up a 2 year old unused bike.

You made the right choice taking the 2019 one. Looks amazing in red.

I am either naive or optimistic when I see old showroom-new bikes. What could be that bad except tires, that can't be fixed with a quick service?

Two-year showroom-new bikes are quite common in the US and I have indulged myself a couple of times, and a lot of people buy these, don't seem to be having any particular trouble.
A few crazy deals I have seen
- BMW F700R - $7k after taxes
- Triumph Thunderbird Storm - $9k after taxes
- ZX10R - $10k after taxes

I *cough* may have indulged myself in some of these . But then, I didn't keep these bikes very long either, so if you say something could've gone wrong down the line, I guess you could be right.

Personally, I would still jump at deals like that on a bike that has been standing for a year or two.