2018 BMW G 310 GS
FIRST TEST
P92
Bybre makes the
front brake. It's the
same as found on
little sportbikes like
the KTM RC 390.
although you do have to keep that little motor spinning up high
to keep it in the meat of its power. There's not much in terms
of bottom-end torque if you're a gear too high—you need to be
on the boil to keep the motor in its happy zone, especially so
if you decide to hit the freeway. The motor is good for 90 mph
with a tailwind, and will happily sit on 75-80 mph all day—once
you get used to the sound of that piston screaming up and
down the bore just below your crown jewels.
Where this motor shines, though, is not on the freeway
but in twisty, slow speed backroads and, you guessed it, dirt
roads. Anything below 50 mph and the TVS-build motor is hav-
ing a great time, and as there's only 34 horsepower on tap, it's
easy to control while still providing enough go to be fun.
Those taller riders used to bigger ADV bikes will find the
ride position a little cramped but it's nothing a set of bar risers
won't fix. The seat height is reasonably tall at 32.9 inches, so
this is a bike that should fit a huge range of body sizes and if
you find this bike too tall in standard trim, you can knock 0.6
inches off the seat height with the low seat option.
Adventure riders will be happy to see you can take the
San Diego back-road
riding was a cinch
on the 310, with
surprisingly good
grip offered by the
Metzeler tires.
