2017 BMW G310R delivers goods
Entry-level motorcycle looks great and can also handle the commute
Novice riders shouldn’t have to break the bank when making their first bike purchase, especially after having already spent on rider training and riding gear, while also having to deal with impending insurance costs. With a low price of $5,250 and an insurance-friendly engine displacement, the 2017 BMW G310R can certainly help keep costs down. But even if you’re not a novice, BMW’s first foray into the entry-level category offers full-sized appeal.
Swing a leg over the G310R and you’ll notice that it is a proper, full-sized motorcycle, and not a 2/3-scale entry-level machine. Its wide gas tank rises high between your knees and makes the bike feel substantial, though seat height is modest at 785 mm, allowing an easy reach to the ground.
Riders taller than six feet will want the optional 815-mm comfort seat, and a lower 760-mm seat is also available. A rectangular digital instrument cluster displays speed, rpm, gear position, time, fuel level, trip meter, and fuel economy.
What really gives the bike away as a smaller-displacement machine is its subdued compressor-like exhaust note, and its light weight (at 158.5 kilograms it undercuts the lightweight Honda CB300F by 2.5 kg), which you realize as soon as you lift it off the side stand.
The 313-cc liquid-cooled single claims 34 hp and 20.7 poundfeet of peak torque, and launches the bike effortlessly from a stop. Clutch effort is ultra light, and you row quickly through its six closely spaced gears as you accelerate up to speed. In fact, the engine feels powerful enough to pull taller gearing — by about 65 km/h you’re in sixth.
Despite similar output to the CB300F, the G310R feels stronger at lower revs and pulls harder up top, though it doesn’t match the larger KTM 390 single in pulling power. The counterbalanced engine is mostly smooth, producing a buzzing vibration at about 110 km/h that smooths out a bit at higher speeds, and there’s plenty of reserve passing power on the highway.
The engine boasts a few high-tech features, including a rearward-tilted cylinder, and a reversed cylinder head design that has the intake at front and the exhaust system routed out the rear. This was done to move the engine forward in the frame for a forward weight bias, while also allowing for an unusually long swingarm, which facilitates weight transfer when braking into and accelerating out of turns.
This translates into exceptionally good handling. The G310R is stable at speed, while exhibiting light, neutral steering on twisty roads. You can dive into corners hard on the brakes without upsetting the chassis, and its light weight allows it to flow effortlessly through a series of bends.
The suspension is designed to handle a wide range of road surfaces, and is a great setup for a daily commuter, offering plush enough compliance to deal with potholes and frost heaves, while providing enough control to handle quick turning transitions without getting too much out of shape.
Riding aggressively, however, does reveal the bike’s limitations. While suspension compliance is smooth and surprisingly refined for an entry-level bike, it is too soft for an advanced sporting pace and wallows at the rear through high-speed sweepers. The plush setup works fine for everyday use, but adjustable rebound damping would be appreciated for an elevated pace, at least in the rear (only rear preload is adjustable). The suspension is probably ideally suited for a rider of about 160 lb (I’m 220 lb with riding gear on).
Brembo’s Indian subsidiary, Bybre, provides the braking components. The brake lever needs a firm squeeze but offers very acceptable stopping power, while the pedal feels a bit numb. ABS is standard.
Despite its low price, BMW didn’t cheap out on the G310R. It is manufactured in India by Indian bike maker TVS Motor Company, but it was developed entirely in Munich by BMW. It is based on the global G310 platform, from which other models will spin off, such as the upcoming G310GS adventure bike.
Sure, there are no frills on the base bike — heated grips are optional, as are saddlebags, a top case, a 12-volt outlet, and even a centre stand — but its performance is above par, as is build quality, at least upon first glance. It also comes with a class-exclusive three-year warranty.
You might think affordability is the BMW G310R’s most redeeming feature but it is not, though its price does put it in the lower end among other beginner bikes such as the Honda CB300F ($5,099), the KTM 390 Duke ($5,799), the Yamaha R3 ($5,799), and the Kawasaki Ninja 300 ($5,899).
This entry-level motorcycle looks great, and it can handle weekend romps on twisty roads in the company of larger bikes as easily as it can handle the daily commute. The low price is just a bonus.