BMW G 310 R 2019 — Specifications

When Munich decides to tackle emerging markets, it’s not like a cautious U-turn. The BMW G 310 R marks the Bavarian manufacturer’s first serious foray below 500 cm3 in decades, and the least one can say is that the strategy is clear: plant the blue and white flag where millions of new motorcyclists are looking for their first reference motorcycle. Asia, India, Latin America. Markets that KTM has already targeted with its 390 Duke for a few years, and that BMW intends to contest.

Facing the Austrian Duke, the BMW G 310 R plays a different register. The KTM is nervous, aggressive, built for those who want to feel the adrenaline from the first corner. The Bavarian adopts a more poised, more mature posture, without falling into boredom. The technical detail that distinguishes the engine of the G 310 R is worth stopping at: the 313 cm3 single-cylinder engine is tilted backward, the cylinder head inverted compared to conventions, which places the intake on the front and the exhaust on the rear. A very rare arrangement, borrowed from Yamaha YZ motocross bikes. As a result, an optimized center of gravity and controlled thermal behavior. With 80 mm of bore for 62.1 mm of stroke, the dimensions clearly push towards engine speed. The 34 horsepower arrives at 9500 rpm, the torque of 28 Nm peaks at 7500 rpm. We are far from the brute power of the Duke which gives it 10 horsepower, and the 158.8 kg when fully fueled do not improve the sporting equation. But that's not the match BMW is trying to win.

This roadster was born in India, assembled by TVS Motor Company, and that explains both its contained price and its global vocation. Yet, nothing in the list of equipment betrays a misplaced hunt for savings: 41 mm inverted fork, adjustable preload mono-shock, die-cast aluminum swingarm, Bybre four-piston calipers at the front, ABS as standard. The announced top speed of 143 km/h and a consumption of 3.33 liters per 100 km complete the portrait of a sober and well-equipped machine for its segment. The seat height at 785 mm remains accessible, the 11-liter tank is reasonable for urban and suburban use.

In Europe, the BMW G 310 R price of 5090 euros at its launch places it in a commercial turbulence zone. The Yamaha MT-03, the Honda CB 300 R and the KTM 390 Duke occupy exactly the same price territory, with dynamic characteristics often more refined. For an A2 rider looking for seriousness and a premium badge, the general opinion of the BMW G 310 R points to a balanced, reassuring motorcycle, but which does not seek to set the world on fire. It is perfect for those who are just starting out, want to progress without fighting their machine, and appreciate careful finishing. On the BMW G 310 R used market, it retains a correct rating, a sign of positively perceived reliability.

This little roadster redefines nothing, reinvents no code. It simply opens a door that BMW had never really pushed: that of a global mass clientele, less wealthy but numerous, who want to get on a machine worthy of the name without mortgaging their next years. For this public, the blue and white propeller on the tank is worth more than ten extra horsepower.