BMW G 310 R vs KTM 390 Duke: Which One Scores Better?

The Indian Market Has Matured And Is Now Actively Embracing High-Speed Motorbikes, With Riders Ready To Go The Extra Mile And Extend Their Budget To Get Their Hands On A Fast Machine That Complements Their Style. To Tap This Segment, German Automaker BMW And Austrian Motorcycle Brand KTM Have Started Launching Bikes Aimed At Those Who Enjoy The Pleasure Of A Good Motorbike That Can Reach High Speeds Without Losing Out On Comfort And Safety.

The KTM 390 Duke 2019 Is An Updated Version Of A Bike That Has Already Made Its Presence Felt In The Indian Market, While The BMW G310 Is A New Entrant That Is Creating A Name For Itself. 

So, Which One Should You Opt For If You Are Considering Buying A Motorbike? Here Is A Comparison Of The Two Amazing Bikes To Help You Select The Best One.

High-Speed Riding

Since Both Bikes Are Built For Speed, The Main Focus For Anyone Purchasing The Same Is The Engine, Ride Quality, And Comfort At High Speeds. 

The BMW 310 R Is Powered By A 313 Cc Four-Stroke Single-Cylinder Engine That Is Water-Cooled And Belts Out Around 34 HP At 9500 RPM, And Also Boasts 28 Nm Of Peak Torque At 7500 RPM. While That Is Enough To Reach High Speeds, The BMW 310 R Can Reach A Maximum Speed Of 143 Km/Hr, Providing Great Support With Cast-Aluminium Wheels, BMW Motorrad ABS, 6-Speed Gearbox Integrated With The Crankcase, And Great Suspension.

The KTM 390 Duke, On The Other Hand, Is Also Packing A Lightweight 373.2 Cc Single-Cylinder, Liquid-Cooled Engine, That Can Give Up To 43.5 HP At 9000 RPM And Peak Torque Of 37 Nm At 7000 RPM. The Bike Is Built For Speed And Performs Amazingly Due To The Crisp Throttle Response, Flaunting A Top Speed Of Up To 167 Km/Hr.

Although The Duke Is Slightly Less Fuel-Efficient (28 Km/L) In Comparison To The BMW (30 Km/L), The KTM 390 Duke Packs A Punch Where It Matters!

Winner: KTM 390 Duke

Ride Comfort & Handling

The BMW G 310 R Is Solid And Offers High Manoeuvrability, With Michelin Pilot Street Radial Tyres And Ergonomically Designed Handlebars, Footrest, And Control Elements. The Comfortable Seating Position Makes It Easy To Ride At High Speeds. Even On Uneven Roads, The BMW Sails Effortlessly And Feels Safe And Planted; Even In Fast Corners.

The Look And Feel Of The KTM 390 Duke, One Of The Best KTM Bikes In India, Resembles That Of A Superbike, And Although The Hi-Tech Upright Handlebars Offer A Great Riding Position For Perfect Balance And Confidence At High Speeds, It Is Not Too Comfortable For Long Distances. This Is Because The Rider Is Seated With A Slight Crouch. The Ride Quality, However, Is Just As Good As The BMW, With The Lightweight Steel Trellis Frame Giving It Added Manoeuvrability And Precision. 

Winner: BMW G 310 R

Design & Overall Looks.

In Terms Of Looks And Design, Both Bikes Are Head Turners And Are Designed To Provide Great Support To Riders. The KTM 390 Duke Features Aggressive LED Headlights With Up To 30 LEDs And Parking Lights, While The Design Is Equally Sporty And Feature-Rich. The Full-Colour TFT Instrument Panel With Smartphone-Enabled KYM MY Ride Support Makes It Versatile And Gives It An Edge Over The BMW.  

The BMW G 310 R Is Well Polished And Gives A Premium Look And Feel, And The Design Is Subtle Yet Dashing. The Instrument Panel Is Digital And Showcases Information On Display, But In Both The Departments, It Falls Short Of Making A Mark In Front Of The KTM.

Winner: KTM 390 Duke

Specs Comparison

 BMW G310 R | KTM 390 Duke

> Displacement 313cc / 373.2 Cc

> Transmission 6-Speed / 6-Speed

> Maximum Power 34 HP At 9500 RPM / 43.5 HP At 9000 RPM

> Maximum Torque 28 NM At 7500 RPM / 37 NM At 7000 RPM

> 0-60 Kmph 3.70 Seconds / 2.57 Seconds

> 0-100 Kmph 7.50 Seconds / 5.60 Seconds

> Top Speed 143 Km/Hr / 167 Km/Hr

> Mileage 30 Km/L (Certified) / 28 Km/L (Certified)

> Price (Ex-Showroom) INR 2.99 Lakhs / INR 2.39 Lakhs

> Fuel Tank 11 Litres / 13.5 Litres

> Length 2005 Mm / 2002 Mm 

> Width 849 Mm / 838 Mm

> Height 1227 Mm / 1274 Mm 

> Wheelbase 1374 Mm / 1357 Mm 

> Ground Clearance 165 Mm / 185 Mm

> ABS 2-Channel ABS / 2-Channel ABS

Verdict

While The BMW G 310 R Is A Well-Built, Solid Bike With Great Performance And Comfort, It Falls Slightly On The Expensive Side With An Ex-Showroom Price Of INR 2.99 Lakhs. In Spite Of The Premium Feel And Finish, The Price Tag And Features Rob It Of Being A Great Entry-Level Performer. 

The KTM 390 Duke, On The Other Hand, Is Fast, Has A More Rugged Presence And Brings Amazing Features At INR 2.44 Lakhs. Although The KTM Is Not At All Economical, The Top-Notch Features And Finish Make It Great Value For Money.

Putting Aside The INR 50,000 Price Difference, The KTM 390 Duke Still Comes Out On Top In Comparison To The BMW G 310 R. In Spite Of The High Price Tag, Both The Bikes Can Easily Be Availed Via Attractive Two Wheeler Loan, With Interest Rates As Low As 7.85%.