2018 BMW G310R
CW FIRST RIDE
SINGULARLY SENSATIONAL
Don Canet
CHARACTERS
BMW HAS BEEN ON THE GAS IN RECENT years, producing exciting new product across several categories. One area yet to be addressed—in fact, historically never addressed—has been that of a truly affordable entry-level platform. With a scheduled summer arrival in stateside dealers, the early-release 2018 G310R looks set to fit the budget and fuel the aspirations of a broad worldwide audience.
The lightweight, nimble-handling, attractively styled G310R will naturally appeal to novice riders. Having a firsthand look at its superb build quality along with spending a day in the saddle, I’m pleased to report that the fun-to-ride nature of BMW’s single-cylinder sport naked isn’t lost on this seasoned enthusiast.
In development for more than five years, the G3ioRhas been highly anticipated since first appearing in public at the Milan Show in late 2015. Not only does the G310R represent BMW’s first foray into sub-soocc streetbike production, of greater significance is that this is the first model to ever be manufactured outside of Germany. Designed and developed in Munich by BMW Motorrad, production is handled by TVS Motor Company, a BMW partner located in Bangalore, India. “There were some delays that were expectable, but we wanted to have it perfect before putting it on the market,” Project Manager Jorg Schuller says. “It took time to bring the two worlds together. With two different cultural backgrounds, while each is very professional, this needs time.”
The result? A bike meeting BMW’s standard for quality that belies its $4,750 price tag. Taking a quick walk around the G310R at the press launch showed that refinement is visually evident in clean welds on the tubular-steel frame, quality castings, precise fit of every plastic body panel, and extensive use of Allen-head fasteners. Same for the view from the saddle: A full-feature LCD dash including bar graph tachometer, gear indicator, shift light, trip computer functions, and more
SPECS
2018 BMW G310R
BASE PRICE: $4750 ENGINE: Liquid cooled single DISPLACEMENT: 313cc SEAT HEIGHT: 30.9 in FUEL CAPACITY: 2.9 gal. CLAIMED CURB WEIGHT: 349 lb.
greet the rider. Handlebar switchgear is top-notch, the grips and bar end weights would be at home on an SioooR, and an inset BMW logo atop the bar mount and radial dimpled steering stem nut cap the upscale presentation.
All well and good, but how do the powertrain and chassis fare? We set out on a 120-mile test loop through the Hollywood Hills tracing the Mulholland Highway to the coast with a photo stop at the famed Rock Store and a seaside lunch in Malibu to find out. Stop-and-go traffic escaping the city provided ample opportunity to experience the G3ioR’s novicefriendly 30.9-inch seat height and ease
at which its 313CC, liquid-cooled, fourvalve single moves us away from traffic lights. Clutch pull is light with linear engagement that, combined with a hint of throttle, provides consistent, smooth, stall-free leaves from stops. Maintaining revs between 3,000 and 6,000 rpm provides ample torque and low vibration for a relaxed run up through the lightshifting, short-throw six-speed gearbox.
A subtle hit in delivery can be felt at 6,000 rpm with power continuing to build linearly to the 10,600-rpm rev limiter. The claimed peak output of 34 hp at 9,500 rpm proved easily capable of keeping up with fast-lane Hollywood Freeway flow. In top gear, engine revs align with indicated mph: 7,000 rpm equates to 70 mph. Engine vibration finds a sweet spot at 55 mph, with vibes felt through the frame, saddle, and grips moderately increasing beyond 6,000 rpm. The bike is narrow, so splaying your knees and heels slightly to avoid direct contact helps isolate the rider from the engine’s pulse.
Chassis stability on the freeway was steadfastly impressive, lending the G310R a confidence-bolstering sense of being larger than its dimensions would suggest. The engine’s unique configuration with its rear-canted cylinder and aft-facing exhaust port allowed a more forward placement in the frame and increased swingarm length for an optimized 50/50 weight distribution. Threading twisties in the Santa Monica Mountains at a spirited pace aboard the lithe 349-pound thumper revealed abundant cornering clearance and decent grip from its Michelin Pilot Street radials. Steering is neutral and telepathically light in effort. The KYB suspension soaked up rough patches
while having enough spring and damping control to keep the chassis settled when aggressively flicking through side-to-side transitions or hammering the brakes.
ABS comes standard on the G310R and worked very well on the damp roads encountered during the morning hours of our ride. The single 300mm rotor/radial mount four-pot caliper combination up front requires a fairly firm application at the lever to invoke the ABS on a dry surface. Strangely, the lever is positioned quite far from the bar and has no adjustment provision to accommodate smaller hands.
Upon return to the host hotel, I noted the dash displayed a 62-mpg average. Considering all the stop-and-go riding and general horseplay involved, squeaking 200-plus miles out of the 2.9-gallon tank would seem a reasonable expectation.
When BMW stepped outside its firmly established touring/adventure box and produced the S1000RR, it captured a category. Based on our first hands-on encounter with the Bavarian Motor Works’ latest venture into uncharted territory, don’t be surprised if history repeats. CUM
