2017 BMW G 310 R
FIRST RIDE
P84
bonus of a cooler, straighter charge
going to the airbox. An extra benefit
was that for Euro 4 you need a short
length for the exhaust pipe, which
this layout permits. It's also nice
for BMW to do something different
when we are new to this sector, and
can find a proper solution which is
also individual."
The G 310 R engine is thus
positioned further forward than
is conventional in its tubular steel
chassis with a bolt-on subframe for
the seat, a cast aluminum swingarm
and 17-inch five-spoke cast alumi-
num wheels at each end, shod with
Michelin rubber made in Thailand,
the front a 110/70 tire, the rear a 150/60.
This offers a 54-inch wheelbase, with a
non-adjustable 41mm upside down fork
sourced from Kayaba's factory in China,
set at a 25.1° rake with 4.7 inches of
trail. This offers a rangy 5.5 inches
of front wheel travel that's welcome
in coping with rough road surfaces,
coupled with the 5.2 inches of wheel
travel from the direct-action KYB
cantilever rear monoshock, also
non-adjustable. The single 300mm
front brake disc is gripped by a
radially mounted four-piston ByBre
(Brembo's Indian subsidiary) caliper
via steel hoses, with a floating twin-
piston caliper grabbing the 240mm
rear disc. Continental ABS is fitted as
standard. The dual seat is stepped
for the passenger, but even so
there's no room beneath it to house
an anti-theft locking device of any kind.
The G 310 R's only major components
sourced from European suppliers are the
F1-style finger-type cam-followers shared
Like the shock, the
41mm KYB fork is
non-adjustable, but
BMW found a good
setting for daily
riding.
Hardly looks entry level, does it?
