2018 BMW G 310 GS
FIRST TEST
P88
taller seat (a low seat height is available), the obvious body-
work updates, tires, enduro footpegs, wider handlebars
and switchable two-channel ABS—a feature many bikes
twice the capacity and twice the MSRP don't have.
The 310 is the only single-cylinder GS in a lineup now six
bikes strong, but it's not the first. That honor goes to the F
650 GS, which later morphed into the G 650 GS and was
discontinued last year. So, the little 310 has a special place
in the BMW team, as it's over half the capacity of the next
bike in the lineup—the F 700 GS.
Inside that hard-working lump of alloy sits a single piston
capable of revving to 10,000 rpm, and if you've ever had
a single cylinder engine revving that hard you'll know it's a
gnarly sound. BMW claims 34 horsepower at 9500 rpm and
21 lb-ft of torque at 7500 rpm for the little 313cc Indian motor,
coupled to a six-speed gearbox. Those numbers aren't go-
ing to set your pants on fire but they are only hauling a bike
weighing a claimed 374 pounds fully fueled, ready to go.
Build quality is
very good on the
little BMW.
Lady in red:
Choose one of
the base colors
and it's a few
hundred bucks
cheaper than the
Motorrad paint
scheme.