BMW G 310 R 2017 — Specifications

When Munich decides to pursue A2 licenses on its own terms, it results in the BMW G 310 R. A 313 cm3 roadster that marks a clear break in the Bavarian brand's strategy: never before had a two-wheeled vehicle bearing the blue and white emblem targeted such a low displacement, or such a wide geography. The Stunt G 310 concept paved the way at shows, the production version confirms the ambition. This BMW G 310 R motorcycle is not intended to seduce the seasoned globetrotter who orders their GS between mountain passes. It targets an entire generation of young riders in Europe, and especially the emerging markets of Asia where volumes are colossal.

Facing it, the KTM 390 Duke appears as a natural rival. The two share the same DNA on paper: four-stroke single-cylinder engine with injection, accessible roadster segment, price around €5,000. But the temperament differs profoundly. The Austrian bike is nervous, provocative, it seeks a fight at every traffic light. The BMW G 310 R plays a different score, more composed, more structured. Its engine deserves closer examination: tilted rearward with the cylinder head inverted, intake is on the front side and exhaust on the rear side, a rare principle explored by only a few Yamaha crossers. With 80 mm of bore for 61.1 mm of stroke, this 313 cm3 is designed to rev. It peaks at 34 horsepower at 9,500 rpm and delivers 28 Nm of torque at 7,500 rpm. It's honest, without being lightning-fast, and the KTM retains here an advantage of about ten horsepower.

The chassis tells the same story of applied seriousness. Steel tubular frame, cast aluminum swingarm, 41 mm diameter inverted fork, preload-adjustable monoshock. ABS is standard, the front calipers are signed Bybre, a direct subsidiary of Brembo. At 158.8 kg fully fueled for a 785 mm seat height, the 2017 BMW G 310 R is accessible without being light, especially compared to its Austrian rival which weighs a dozen kilos less. The announced top speed is around 143 km/h, the actual consumption stabilizes at 3.3 liters per 100 km, which makes the 11-liter tank relatively autonomous in daily use.

What is questioned about this machine is its place of manufacture. The BMW G 310 R comes from the workshops of TVS Motor Company in India, an industrial partnership that allows to compress costs without sacrificing equipment level. At launch, the BMW G 310 R price was set at €5,083, which is below the traditional mid-size displacements of the brand, but above a Kawasaki Z300. It is a difficult balance to maintain on the European market, where the premium badge must justify the extra cost compared to technically more aggressive competitors. On the other hand, for a rider looking for a used BMW G 310 R a few years after its release, the depreciation is interesting and the equipment/price ratio becomes frankly convincing.

For a young rider looking for a first serious roadster, the BMW G 310 R offers a clear proposition: quality components, accessible ergonomics, fuel consumption sobriety and the symbolic value of a historic manufacturer. It does not claim absolute thrills, it does not replace a track machine. What it does, however, is reassure without boring, progress without punishing. Subsequent versions, from the 2018 BMW G 310 R to recent evolutions, have refined this positioning without betraying it. This is perhaps its greatest quality: knowing exactly what it is.