There are plenty of reviews done by experts on how good this bike is and videos on how it performs in the city and highway. I am not going to get into any of those details, but prefer to keep this space as a general guideline on many things that an ownership experience would come across.
This is my first geared bike in life so I was reserved about the power requirement, thereby limited my choices upto 300cc. The bikes I liked and considered were the following with details :
1. Kawasaki Ninja 300 : I liked everything about this bike but an upright sitting position was important for me, so it was off the list.
2. Dominar 400 : It ticked all the boxes but the new facelift is around the corner as informed by one of the sales persons. I didn't want to feel "old" within months of taking a new bike.
3. KTM 390 : Its a good bike, I have more than 6 within my neighbourhood and the image of a college kid bike made me look elsewhere.
4. Enfield TB 350x and 500x : Many user friends in my circle, but most of them didn't show an approval pointing to the vibrations, engine heat within city etc.
Now the reasons why I picked the BMW 310 R (Racing Red) :
1. Refreshing design and styling
2. Perfect power for my requirement
3. Unique in the crowd
4. Special liking for the brand (I drive an X1)
5. Positive reviews and videos
The delivery was taken on 30th January 2019 from Tusker Motorrad, Bangalore. On Road total is Rs.364500/- with the FREE Insurance (RSA not included. I didn't take it yet. Its 1 year = Rs.8259 and 3 years = Rs.21239). Bike was delivered on Temp Registration valid for 30 days (upto 27th Feb). I was also introduced to the whatsapp group of Bangalore 310 riders by another team-bhpian.
My Temp registration expired on 27th, Tusker failed to give me the permanent number within 30 days. I contacted the Motorrad India HQ and assistance was offered. Finally on the 31st day RTO number was messaged to me. Let's move on with the ownership experience and other related topics below.
Some images before we continue:
The perfect naked bike angle:
The 150mm rear tire is a perfect combo.
Exhaust pipe is powder coated with added protection plate.
Not so aggressive front view.
Very simple and elegant display console (no color display)
Engine kill switch and ignition switch are soft to touch. Mirrors are perfect.
Side indicator with push cancellation, Horn button (need a horn upgrade)
Tail might feel too long in some angle, I may get a tail tidy !
Exhaust opening is just the thumb finger size.
My favorite angle which shows a fierce feel to the overall look. Its a perfectly designed bike by all means, a baby 1000R as per many reviewers.
Things noticed in the first 30 days :
I received the bike with 6kms on the ODO. Today its at 370 kms. Running-in period as per the handbook has various parts. Ride under 6000 RPM upto 300 kms. No full throttle upto 1000 kms and mileage check to be done within the 500-1200 range etc.
Screenshot below :
First service is to be done at 1000 and the following one at 10,000 which is pretty good interval compared to many other bikes in the market.
I like to point out the following Positive things as my first 30 days ownership :
1. Engine braking is just too good. Saves the brake pads and cables long term.
2. Seat comfort is at its best as the pillion seat is shaped bit higher, giving a slotted kind of feel to rider's butt at any speeds.
3. Suspension is perfect for Indian roads. Going through potholes is a pleasant experience and one will never get bored of the soft suspension.
4. Brakes are excellent with the twin ABS, I have checked hard braking, its a confidence inspiring feel.
5. Tires are wide enough to give a planted feel on any kind of road condition. The rear 150/60/R17 offers plenty of grip on cornering. I think Ninja 300 has 140 width for rear.
6. Instrument Cluster offers a wide range of information like Date, Time, ODO, Speed, RPM bar, Gear positions, Neutral green light, Distance to empty, Average Fuel used, Average Speed and plenty more.
7. Fuel tank design is so perfect, anyone below 6 feet will have his knee perfectly slotted on the tank sides. Its a firm gripping feel to the knees.
8. There is a suspension adjustment below the seat which can be done with the tool provided in the kit.
9. Engine heat is perfectly managed, one will never feel any heat coming to the legs regardless of the traffic condition or speed.
10. All the buttons are soft to touch, premium material and precise.
Now lets see some Negatives, which BMW can alter or upgrade in the upcoming batches :
1. Engine stalls easily at RPM under 2000, so one needs to keep it above the 2000+ band, specially at bumper to bumper and speed breakers. A 'creep' function would have been a big bonus within city as this bike is designed for urban conditions. But I am not sure of the possibility on a single cylinder.
2. Halogen headlights. It's a decade behind any other bike or scooter in the market right now. LED is the way and it saves battery.
3. Battery draining issues. Few owners have reported battery going dead middle of their ride or after keeping the bike idle for few days. There are few bad batteries reported so far, not enough number for a recall.
4. Rear Mud Guard/ Tyre Hugger Missing. If you dare to ride this machine in a drizzle or through slush, its guaranteed half the slush will be on your back. Even in normal dry conditions, under seat part gets totally dirty with a single ride within city. Presently rear tyre hugger is not available in India. Need to research on what other brand part can fit on this.
5. Fuel tank capacity is limited to 11 litres. Its not a major issue for riders who use it once a week or less than that. But a daily rider will make frequent visits to the fuel station.
6. AHO (Auto Headlamp On) feature on this bike might be a culprit contributing to the battery drain. Because a 55 watts Halogen bulb is ON from the moment ignition key is turned. If the engine is not started sooner, it will drain the battery instantly.
7. DRL is again the same 55 watts halogen. If BMW followed an LED angel light pattern from their cars, it would have been a power saver for sure, also beautiful to look at.
8. Exhaust Note is very similar to the KTM. I personally prefer bit more base note, but we can't ask too much from a single cylinder engine anyway. Few owners have upgraded to Akrapovic exhaust. But it's too loud for most people.
I will be adding more things as we cover more kilometers. As of now, its fresh and ready for the road anytime. Hope it serves me for a long time
My riding experience upto 400 kms on the ODO
1. There is a massive difference in how the engine responds to the throttle input as each 100 is crossed. It has already become smooth at 400kms.
2. Gear lever has become more precise. I used to see a --- symbol between gear shifts in the first week. Now it's no more there. Each slot has become very predictable, changes between gears with a soft push/pull.
3. Although I had seen some reviewers ride upto 50/60 kms on the 1st gear, its definitely not a good thing to do at least until the running-in period is over.
4. My present gear pattern is like this :
1st Gear : Upto 20
2nd Gear : Upto 30
3rd Gear : Upto 40
4th Gear : Upto 60
5th Gear : Upto 80
6th Gear : Above 80
5. Max speed touched so far is 100 kms on 6th gear keeping the RPM under 6000. Company claims 145 kmph officially, but I think it can go across 160 on good straight roads.
6. There is a mirror vibration seen when the RPM is higher than required at gears between 4th to 6th.
7. Gear change warning light is there on the console, but I have never seen it till today, may be after I cross 1000 km running-in period !!
8. I have taken 2 rides towards the Airport on this, the bike is planted at speeds above 80. There is no moment of doubt or fear at any point.
9. Crawling through traffic is a comfortable feeling as the handle bars are aptly placed on width and height.
10. This is a perfect bike for modifications, there are plenty of things you can do on this.
11. Lastly, the most feel good factor : Other riders always check top to bottom of this bike when you are at a signal or passing through someone. It has an exclusive feel to it. The logo on both sides are big enough to attract attention. Lot of people already know BMW bikes are expensive, not many know 310 is the cheapest from the brand
There are close to 150 BMW 310 R and 310 GS delivered in Bangalore. Out of that only 3
Racing Red are delivered in the R version. Mine is one. Also
mine is the only BMW bike registered under KA-50 (Yelahanka RTO). So, if you find me on the road anytime, dont hesitate to wave a Hi
More thoughts will be shared as we cross more kilometers on this beauty !