BMW Motorrad India launched the 2020 Model Year BS6-compliant BMW G 310 GS in the Indian market at the price of INR 2.85 lakh ex-showroom for the G 310 GS adventure tourer. For 2020, the German brand revamped the Adventure class motorcycle with not just a BS6 compliant motor but also gave the motorcycle new mechanical features and mildly upgraded the electronics package. In this comparison let find out how its direct rivals the KTM 390 Adventure and the Royal Enfield Himalayan, positioned in one of the most sought after – Adventure segment compete with the new offering from BMW Motorrad in terms of their technical specifications.
Powering the 2020 BMW G 310 GS is a BS6/Euro5 compliant 313cc, single-cylinder, reverse-inclined, liquid-cooled, four valves, fuel-injected DOHC motor that produces 34 Hp of power and 28 Nm of torque matched to a 6-speed gearbox with self-reinforcing assist/slipper clutch. To put things into perspective, the KTM 390 Adventure is powered by a BS6 compliant 373.2cc single-cylinder 4-stroke liquid-cooled unit that makes 44 Hp of power and 37 Nm of torque mated to a 6-speed gearbox with PASC assist/slipper clutch. The Royal Enfield Himalayan comes with a BS6 compliant 411cc single-cylinder air-cooled SOHC engine that produces 24.6 Hp of power and 32 Nm of torque matched to a 5-speed gearbox.
In terms of the electronics package, both the 2020 BMW G 310 GS and the KTM 390 Adventure come with a throttle-by-wire technology and full LED lighting on the headlamps, tail lamps and turn indicators, but the Himalayan features a conventional cable-operated throttle and halogen lamps all around. While all three motorcycles come with a dual-channel setup with switchable rear-wheel ABS deactivation, the KTM 390 Adventure is a few steps ahead of the competition and features MTC (lean angle sensitive) disengageable traction control system, Cornering ABS, Offroad Mode (rear-wheel ABS control deactivation) as well as a bi-directional quickshifter.
In terms of dimensions, the 2020 BMW G 310 GS measures 2,075 mm in length, 880 mm in width, 1,230 mm in height, 1,420 mm of the wheelbase, 835 mm of seat height and tips the scales at 175 kg road-ready and fully fueled. The KTM 390 Adventure, on the other hand, measures 2,154 mm in length, 900 mm in width, 1,400 mm in height, 1,430 mm of the wheelbase, 200 mm of the ground clearance, 855 mm of the seat height and weighs 158 kg Dry. The Himalayan measures 2,190 mm in length, 840 mm in width, 1,360 mm in height, 1,465 mm of the wheelbase, 220 mm of ground clearance, 800 mm of seat height and weighs 199 kgs with 90% fuel & oil.
Being one of the most important bits on adventure tourers are their ability to traverse over multiple terrain features mainly highways and light trails and the BMW G 310 GS rides on 41 mm upside down front fork with 180 mm of suspension travel and a spring pre-load adjustable central strut on the rear with 180 mm of suspension travel. The KTM 390 Adventure comes with 43 mm WP APEX upside down front fork with 170 mm of suspension travel and preload adjustable WP APEX monoshock on the rear with 177 mm of suspension travel. The Royal Enfield Himalayan comes with 41 mm right-side up (conventional) front forks with 200 mm of suspension travel and a link-type monoshock on the rear with 180 mm of wheel travel. While the BMW and the KTM come with 19-inch front and 17-inch rear alloy wheels with dual-sport tyres, the Himalayan comes with 21-inch front and 17-inch rear wire-spoke rims with tube-type dual-sport tyres.
For stopping power the BMW G 310 GS comes with 300mm single disc with radially bolted callipers on the front and 240 mm rear disc brakes. The KTM 390 Adventure comes with 320mm single disc with radially mounted calliper on the front and a 230 mm rear disc brake. The Himalayan features 300 mm single disc brake with axially mounted calliper on the front and a 240 mm single disc brake on the rear. All three motorcycles come with dual-channel ABS with disengageable rear wheel ABS function.
The BMW G 310 GS comes with a monochrome LCD backlit instruments display with multiple functions. The KTM 390 Adventure comes with an advanced TFT colour instruments cluster with distance to empty, average fule economy, multiple trip meteres, smartphone connectivity and a plethora of other features. The Himalayan is offered with a more conventional analogue speedometer and tachometer along with a multi-information display.
The BMW G 310 GS is priced at INR 2.85 lakh ex-showroom, India whereas the KTM 390 Adventure costs INR 3.04 lakh ex-showroom, India and the Royal Enfield Himalayan starts at INR 1.91 lakhs ex-showroom, India.