Royal Enfield created a kid of a storm in the market after launching India’s cheapest twin-cylinder motorcycles Interceptor and Continental GT 650 in India. As a result of the same, the sales of the two bikes have also skyrocketed and the company in pretty pleased by the same. However, as they say, one’s good fortune is other’s fortune lost, with the 650 twins registering strong sales in the market, it is only natural that the other models in price segment of Rs. 2-4 lakh are taking a hit as far as the sales are concerned. This has forced the bike-makers are responding to the same with steep discounts. BMW Motorrad has also been following suit and has now come-up with up to 10 percent discount on its entry-level G 310R and G 310 GS bikes in India. This discount is not being offered as a direct cashback or anything as such instead it is being offered as 0 % interest and 0 % down payment on financial services, this gives the customers the chance to save nearly Rs. 40,000 or about 10 % of the bike’s on-road price.
Talking of the prices, BMW G 310R and G 310 GS are priced at Rs. 2.99 and Rs. 3.48 lakhs respectively. TVS and BMW have jointly partnered to manufacture the aforementioned bikes and other small capacity bikes in India. Under this partnership, G 310R and G 310GS are made jointly by TVS Motors and BMW Motorrad, and are sold in India and the global markets under the BMW moniker and this factory also produces Apache RR 310 for TVS Motors to be sold in India. Apart from all the bikes being manufactured in the same factory, the sales and service of the two BMW bikes are handled by BMW Motorrad showrooms and the same for RR310 is handled by TVS showrooms in India.
As far as the entry level bikes from BMW are concerned, BMW G 310R is aimed for being ridden on the streets of urban cities and is more of a naked streetfighter. Whereas, BMW G 310GS is more of an adventure-tourer meant for rough patches of road and highway spins.
Both the bikes feature a 310cc, reverse inclined motor, which has been localized a lot with the help of TVS Motors in India. The engine is rated to produce a healthy 34 Bhp and 34 Nm. Mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox, the mill is capable of pushing the bike up to 140 Kmph and the nil to ton time for the bike is under 8 seconds.
The bikes are good performers but the price sensitive Indian market has not responded to them that warmly. BMW wants to keep the bikes premium and hence isn’t offering a major cut on prices but the new offer sure should entice a lot of customers for the German brand.