The BMW G310 GS and the RE Interceptor comparison shows which amongst the two motorcycles will be the perfect choice for you if you planning to invest 3 Lakh rupees behind your next new motorcycle
Royal Enfield will be introducing the Interceptor 650 in India soon and it will definitely catch the attention of those who love to cover some serious distance on their motorcycles. The RE flagship offering will be priced quite aggressively and many reports are saying that it will be the cheapest twin cylinder motorcycle of India.
The Interceptor 650 will rival directly with the likes of the entry-level BMW motorcycles including the G310R and G310 GS. Today we will be comparing the upcoming motorcycle with the existing BMW G310 GS. The G310 GS although is powered by a smaller engine but the motorcycle carries some of its bigger sibling GS genes and is an adventure tourer in nature. We have compared both the motorcycles side-by-side in terms of styling, powertrain, fuel efficiency figures and pricing in the comparison here:
Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 vs BMW G310GS specifications
Styling
When you are buying a motorcycle with your hard earned money then styling is definitely one quotient which comes to every buyer’s mind first. If we compare the Interceptor 650 with the BMW G310GS in terms of appearance then both these motorcycles look miles apart. The Interceptor 650 is a retro Roadster and is heavily inspired by the Iconic Interceptor of the 60’s era. The BMW G310GS on the other hand is a modern day adventure tourer and gets long suspension travel cushioned seats and wide handlebars for easy manoeuvring.
The Interceptor 650 uses a lot of metal in its construction and less plastic parts while the G310 GS uses more plastic parts in its construction. Both the motorcycles get pretty basic equipment list while the G310 GS features digital instrument cluster the Interceptor gets an analogue one.
Powertrain and fuel efficiency
The RE Interceptor 650 is powered by a newly developed 649 cc parallel twin oil cooled, 4 stroke engine which is capable of producing about 37.7 ps of peak power and 52 Nm of torque. The engine is paired to a 6-speed gearbox. The BMW G310GS, on the other hand, is powered by a smaller 313 cc, 4 strokes liquid cooled unit which is capable of producing about 34.5 ps of peak power and 27.9 Nm of torque. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a 6-speed gearbox.
Now if we compare both these motorcycles then there is no doubt in the fact that the Interceptor 650 is the powerful one compared to the BMW G310R. The former motorcycle also gets 2 cylinders while its rival gets only one.
We are not exactly sure of the fuel efficiency figures of these motorcycles at this moment but the G310 GS promises to deliver an overall fuel efficiency figures in between the range of 30-35 km while the Interceptor 650 is expected to return a fuel efficiency figures of 22 to 28 km which is quite acceptable figures for a 600+ cc twin cylinder motor.
| Model | Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 | BMW G310 GS |
| Engine Displacement | 648 cc | 313 cc |
| Engine Type | Oil cooled four stroke | Liquid cooled four stroke |
| Number of Cylinders | 2 | 1 |
| Valves Per Cylinder | 4 | 4 |
| Max Power | 47.7 PS @7100 rpm | 34.5 PS @9500 rpm |
| Max Torque | 52.0 Nm @4000 rpm | 27.9 Nm @7500 rpm |
| Gearbox | 6 | 6 |
| Fuel Capacity | 13.7 Litres | 11 Litres |
SUSPENSION AND HANDLING
There is no doubt in the fact that the G310 GS is one of the finest handling machines of its segment. The motorcycle has been fitted with a 41 mm telescopic front suspension and directly mounted spring strut monoshock at the rear. The Interceptor 650, on the other hand, uses the same 41 mm telescopic front suspension and gas charged twin shocks at the rear.
However, the G310 GS has more travel towards the front which also means that it will be able to soak up more bumps than the Interceptor 650 for sure. Both the motorcycle uses disc brake at front and rear wheels for stopping power and also gets ABS as standard. The Interceptor might be a retro-styled motorcycle but it gets plenty of modern rider aid like slipper clutch which is missing in the G310 GS.
Lastly, the Interceptor 650 uses slightly bigger 320 mm disc at the front while the G310 GS uses a 300 mm discs. Both the motorcycles use 240 mm single disc setup at the rear.
| Model | Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 | BMW G310 GS |
| Front Brake Type | 320 mm | 300 mm |
| Rear Brake Type | 240 mm | 240 mm |
| Suspension Front | 41 mm telescopic suspension | 41 mm telescopic suspension |
| Suspension Rear | Gas charged twin shocks | Directly-mounted spring strut Monoshock |
Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 VS BMW G310 GS Prices
The BMW G310 GS is priced at Rs. 299000 (ex-showroom, Delhi) while the Interceptor 650 has not been launched yet in India. Some of the reports state that the Interceptor will actually be a sub 3 Lakh rupee offering and will be the cheapest twin cylinder motorcycle of India.
Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 VS BMW G310 GS Comparison verdict
There is no doubt in the fact that the both this motorcycles are meant for long distance touring. The G310 GS although has more suspension travel which will help it overcome obstacles when things get serious beyond the tarmac. The Interceptor 650, on the other hand, is built for the highways and the owner can munch up some serious kilometres on the motorcycle without any fatigue.
If we compare both these motorcycles in terms of their appearance and styling then the Interceptor will attract those who love old school motorcycles while the G310 GS will attract mostly the youngsters with its much more modern styling.
If we talk about performance then there is no doubt that the Interceptor 650 with its twin cylinder engine definitely is way more powerful than the G310 GS. However, it will return much less fuel efficiency figures compared to its rival.
If we talk about the pricing then the RE Interceptor 650 will be a sub 3 lakh rupee motorcycles while the G310 GS is quite pricey keeping the fact that it is only a single cylinder offering from BMW.