BMW has finally unveiled the G 310 R, a motorcycle affordable to the masses. The smallest-capacity motorcycle on offer by BMW Motorrad, the G 310 R is a compact street bike. A neatly styled motorcycle, the G 310 R features sleek, uncluttered body panels, pronounced extensions on the large and chunky fuel tank and a racy “R” badge. The rear is characterised by a slim, upward-rising tail fairing, substantially outstretched mudguard and a large silencer. Below the engine bay is an angular belly cowl, and plenty of lightweight alloy is visible all over the bike.
Bearing witness to its German roots, the G 310 R features a unique engine. The liquid-cooled cylinder of the engine is has been reclined backwards and the head rotated 180-degrees, interchanging the positions of the inlet and exhaust ports. What this set-up does is move most of the weight of the engine and gearbox closer to the front wheel, allowing the bike to have a shorter wheelbase without shortening its swing-arm.
The four-valve head plays host to dual overhead camshafts and a fuel injection system. The short stroke BMW engine is said to be quick-revving in character, revving up to 10,500rpm and making 33.6bhp at 9,000rpm. The provision of a counter-balancer is expected to deliver high levels of smoothness and refinement. Peak torque of 2.9kgm kicks in at 7,500 rpm. BMW claims a top speed of 145kph. The engine is mated to a six-speed gearbox and a cable-fed clutch.
The bike’s frame is made of tubular steel, with an alloy swing-arm at the rear. The suspension set-up consists of upside-down telescopic fork at the front and an adjustable monoshock at the rear. 17-inch wheels are standard on the front and the rear, stopped by brakes that are steel-braided-hose controlled. The front gets a 300mm rotor-equipped radial-mounted disc, bitten by four-piston callipers, while the rear gets a 240mm disc clamped on by two-piston callipers. A twin-channel ABS system comes standard with the bike.
The G 310 R has been designed to compete with the popular Duke from KTM. With a riding position that is more comfortable and a suspension that is plusher than that on the aggressive Dukes, the G 310 R seems to be all set to take the incumbent Austrian head on.