2017 BMW G 310 R North America Launch

| December 12, 2016

2017 BMW G 310 R North America Launch: Some years ago I was told by then acting BMW Motorrad CEO, Hendrik Von Kuenheim, that the future of motorcycles would be dictated by emerging economies and expanding populations, which in turn would necessitate a focus on small displacement (under 500cc) urban mobility. Coinciding with this reality over the intervening years there has been an unexpected uptick in interest among the general public—quite specifically the hipster movement, who have adopted motorcycles as an item of cool to augment their lifestyle as opposed to being the focus of their lives—which has created an interest in motorcycles reminiscent of the 70s.

2017 BMW G 310 R North America Launch

The players in both scenarios—which tend toward being newbies to motorcycles—will be pleased to know that BMW is getting ready to release a motorcycle that accommodates their respective demographics and needs. The 2017 G 310 R is a small displacement motorcycle that will be produced at an affordable price, designed to provide dependable transportation with a sense of big-bike style and performance.

What makes this interesting is that the G 310 R is essentially an entry-level motorcycle for BMW, a brand long revered for exclusivity that attracted only the most serious riders. The 310 is a major shift in that paradigm, a motorcycle catering directly to new riders, providing sensible transportation with a bend toward sporting spirit, all had for a remarkably affordable base price.

For starters, BMW is able to achieve this engineering dynamic by manufacturing the 310 in India. A perfect example of globalization, BMW has tapped into a cost-effective labor force that is strictly managed and overseen by BMW management. The end result is a surprisingly well-manufactured motorcycle that embodies BMW’s famous reliability and functionality. Despite the emphasis on practicality, BMW engineers and designers imbued the G 310 R with a genuine sense of style and performance. The end result is an attractive, versatile, unintimidating motorcycle that embraces urban mobility and fuel efficiency without robbing the owner of the essence of riding; the fun factor.

2017 BMW G 310 R North America Launch

Recently, BMW held it’s North American launch of the G 310 R, where I got the chance to spend the day flogging the hills above Los Angeles on the new Beemer.

W hen approaching the G 310 R, it looks a lot like its bigger brother, the S 1000 R. The flashy graphics (we rode the white one, there’s also blue and black), upside down gold anodized forks, and upswept pipe lend the pint-sized bike a much more impressive presence.

The engine is an electronically fuel injected 313cc single cylinder platform with four valves and two overhead camshafts. The cylinder is angled with a backward tilted slant that allows the throttle body and intake to be at the front, and the exhaust header at the rear. This configuration helps alleviate heat build-up around the front of the engine and provides a natural straight-line flow of fuel into the combustion process with the exhaust exiting out the back. The single puts out 34 hp at 9,500 rpm, which may seem pathetically meager after a decade of 180+ hp superbikes, but the single provides exceptionally entertaining power due the lithe presence; just 349 lbs. wet.

Given that the power is coming from a 313cc single, response is a bit sluggish directly off the bottom, but as revs are built it quickly picks itself up. The sweet spot of the 310 is between 7,000 and 9,000 rpm, when the engine gets to humming. Despite the small displacement there’s enough low-end grunt to pull the bike along, avoiding a constant dance through the gears to keep moving (the bane of so many small machines).

2017 BMW G 310 R North America Launch

The tubular frame is mated to a long swingarm that grants the 310 stability at freeway speeds as well as providing a planted feel in corners. Traditionally with a bike that weights this little there is a tendency for the chassis to bounce in corners. Not so with the G 310 R. Another trait of the 310 that defies its numbers is the bike’s good manners under extremely hard braking on corner entry and surprisingly intuitive handling that allows the rider to put the bike exactly where intended.

The feathery weight and narrowness of the bars makes the 310 a perfect inner city commuter and around towner. That said, the bike is a hoot to put on the twisties, especially tight second and third gear sections where flicking from side to side is in order. The G 310 R delivers an immense fun factor for newbies and experienced riders alike. Standard two-channel ABS is highly effective, complimented by a single 300mm disc mated to a 4-piston caliper on the front and a single 240mm disc on the rear.

Now the real surprise. BMW, long perceived—justifiably so—as a pricey motorcycle, is set to deliver the 2017 G 310 R for just under $5,000 out-the-door. At this price point a BMW is now within reach of a whole new audience that may have never considered even looking at the brand. In this regard, BMW is making great strides to welcome a whole new customer into their showrooms; the young and the newbie.

The G 310 R is proposed to be in showrooms mid-year 2017.

JEFF BUCHANAN

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