The Royal Enfield Himalayan is easily the superior choice if you’re looking for an off-road-friendly adventure tourer. Its longer travel front fork, coupled with the large front spoke wheel with block pattern tyre, should help in going over harsh terrain effortlessly. On the other hand, the BMW G 310 GS is still a road-biased tourer with alloy wheels. It also gets radial tyres which should improve cornering confidence thanks to their stronger sidewalls, compared to conventional tyres. Additionally, these tubeless tyres can also handle punctures much more easily than the tubed ones in the Himalayan. As far as braking is concerned, the G 310 GS’ front radial caliper should theoretically offer better feedback and progression. This along with its lighter weight should make the baby GS a more agile motorcycle than the Himalayan, at least on paper.
Specifications
|
BMW G 310 GS BS6
|
Royal Enfield Himalayan BS6
|
Wheelbase
|
1420mm
|
1465mm
|
Ground clearance
|
NA
|
220mm
|
Fuel tank capacity
|
11 litres
|
15 litres
|
Seat height
|
835mm
|
800mm
|
Kerb weight
|
169.5kg
|
199kg
|
Despite its off-road-friendly credentials, the Royal Enfield Himalayan has an accessible seat. However, moving around in tight parking spaces could require a bit more effort due to its hefty 199kg weight. When it comes to munching miles, the Himalayan should offer better range between fuel-ups thanks to its larger 15-litre fuel tank. It also has a much longer wheelbase, which should add stability on the straights.
As far as the features are concerned, the Himalayan gets a halogen headlamp with LED tail lamp and bulb indicators. It has a fairly info-laden semi-digital instrument cluster with a gear position indicator, an electronic compass, and an ambient temperature readout. BMW Motorrad has sadly retained the same fully digital instrument cluster as before. But make no mistake, it still shows useful information like distance-to-empty and gear position among other run-of-the-mill bits. We would have appreciated it if BMW Motorrad had offered a TFT screen with smartphone connectivity as a part of the BS6 update, though. That said, it does get other useful bits like 4-position adjustable brake and clutch levers as well as an all-LED lighting system.
Price & Verdict:
BMW G 310 GS BS6
|
Royal Enfield Himalayan BS6
|
Rs 2.85 lakh
|
Rs 1,91,401
|
BMW has done a stellar job by making the G 310 GS a lot more accessible for more riders by giving it a major price cut of Rs 65,000 from its BS4 model. Despite the massive price cut, it still doesn't undercut the Royal Enfield Himalayan’s aggressive price tag. Overall, if you’re looking for a not-so-expensive adventure tourer that doesn’t shy away from going the less travelled path, the Himalayan is a perfect choice. If you like a comfortable motorcycle that’s capable of munching miles on the highway at speed and turn heads everywhere it goes, the BMW G 310 GS BS6 does make a really good case for itself.
(All prices ex-showroom Delhi)