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Is this
what we should be riding?
BMW G 310 GS
(Guy 'Guido' Allen, December 11,
2024)
A mate's
bike coming up for sale led us to ponder whether we
have it all wrong when it comes to adventure tourers
While big heavy adventure tourers seem to selling like
the proverbial hotcakes, have we actually got this wrong?
We reckon there's an argument to made for something at the
opposite end of the scale that that is far lighter and
more nimble, like this used BMW G 310 GS.
What led to this
question was a mate telling me his low-mile, up-spec
and near-mint condition 2019 BMW G
310 GS was up for sale. Listed at $5500
(US$3500, GB£2800), it seems to offer a lot bang for
the buck.
There's no doubt big
adventure tourers are amazing long distance mounts and
offer good pillion-carrying ability. But do we need
one?
For solo riding, we're
talking about something that can easily be 70-plus
kilos (150-plus pounds) lighter and had for a fraction
of the purchase cost.
On the face of it, the
big problem with the whole proposition is the small
310cc engine – will it manage highway work? The
consensus among the assorted road tests, including one
very long-term effort in the UK (which we list below)
is yes. Top speed is around 145km/h (90mph) and a
steady 110km/h (70mph) is well within the machine's
grasp without raising the proverbial sweat. Sure, it's
revving, but that is what it's designed to do.
With just 11lt of fuel
on board, surely range is an issue? Well, maybe not,
as owner groups report approximately 29km/lt
consumption as being normal – so a 300km (180 mile)
range is in reach.
While it's light, it
actually feels more like a full-size motorcycle when
you're in the saddle. It also runs long-travel
suspension with big wheel sizes (19-inch front and 17
rear), plus it has ABS braking.
What's it missing? Maybe
heated grips. You can retro fit an Oxford set
for a couple of hundred dollars.
There are other niceties
missing, such as power shifter, rider modes,
sophisticated suspension adjustment, cruise control
and so-on. For some folk, that could be seen as a
distinct advantage...
So, back to the original
question: should we be looking for something lighter
and more simple? You have to admit it has a certain
appeal...
***
Quite a lot has been written about this model over time.
Bennetts in
the UK did an ultra-thorough long-term test on a
2018 model which ended up as a tick or approval.
UK Motor
Cycle News has an overview of the series.
Ed's note: as a 2019
model, this one falls into a sweet spot of still
having switchable ABS, plus the upgraded sidestand
mount design.
SPECS:
2019 BMW G 310 GS
ENGINE:
TYPE: Liquid-cooled, four-valves-per-cylinder, single
CAPACITY: 313cc
BORE & STROKE: 80 x 82.1mm
COMPRESSION RATIO: 10.6:1
FUEL SYSTEM: EFI
TRANSMISSION:
TYPE: Six-speed, constant-mesh,
FINAL DRIVE: chain
CHASSIS & RUNNING GEAR:
FRAME TYPE: tubular steel
FRONT SUSPENSION: 41mm fork, nil adjustment
REAR SUSPENSION: monoshock, preload adjustment
FRONT BRAKE: 300mm disc with four-piston caliper
REAR BRAKE: 240mm disc with single-piston caliper
DIMENSIONS & CAPACITIES:
WET WEIGHT: 184kg
SEAT HEIGHT: 835mm
WHEELBASE: 1420mm
FUEL CAPACITY: 11lt
TYRES:
FRONT: 110/80-R19
REAR: 150/70-R17
PERFORMANCE:
POWER: 25kW (33hp) @ 9500rpm
TORQUE: 28Nm @ 7500rpm
NEW PRICE (2025): circa Au$10,000 (US$6400, GB£5000)
-------------------------------------------------
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