Hey everyone!
New to the forum!
I'm sure this has been asked a bunch so forgive me for asking a duplicate question.*
I am looking for my first bike to commute to and from work. My commute is about 20 minutes on a country "highway". More specifically, route 1 just north of Richmond, VA area so it's about 20 min at about 45-55 mph. Between the R and the GS, which one should I be considering, and why? I've ridden the R and loved it and I've sat on the GS a bunch and find it very comfortable. I'm finding it hard to decide because I'm not sure about the differences between the two riding experiences especially*because they have the same engine and transmission.*Any guidance*that y'all can provide would be*much appreciated! If I'm being honest, I like the looks of the R but if the GS is better for what I need, then I'm open to suggestions.
I honestly don't plan on taking it off road at all but I would need to either carry a backpack or throw a backpack into some sort of luggage. Can't you as a rack to the r?
I got the R but that was before I knew there was also a GS. In hindsight I would have preferred the GS because it seems more comfortable and is a bit more substantial (looking at least). Either one should be fine, get the one you feel more comfortable on after test riding both. Good luck with your decision!
Thanks for the insight, y'all! I'll have to see if I can take a GS out for a spin before I can make my decision. I appreciate that BMW allows test rides where I'm from, unlike the Japanese brands. I completely understand why they don't but It's hard for me to drop several grand on something that I've only sat on in a dealership.
I do have to say that aside from stalling it a bunch (that throttle/clutch is tricky when starting from a complete stop), I loved the r! I took it out after getting my endorsement for my first experience on the road and it was so easy to ride! I even went and rode an Indian scout the next day and liked the G310R better. I know they're completely different bikes but I liked the weight and ease of riding the R much more than I liked the added power of the Indian especially for my first bike.
Yep, you'll get used to the clutch throttle play. I'm now on my unrestricted licence and still love the R, I'm in no hurry to upgrade and have had the bike for over two years. Touch wood, apart from a flat tyre, nothing has gone wrong with the bike.
I’ve ridden both, the R is a little more fun but not so comfortable for me anyway, back and knees sore after an hour (I’m not 21 anymore). More than happy with my GS.
But, if I'm being honest, the GS doesn't speak to me the way the R does. I'm more of a sport-bike fan over the ADV touring style but with my back, I need a more upright riding position. That being said, if the GS will be better for my back, I'm not opposed to that either.
One thought on the R vs. the GS - if you'e commuting, you will sit a bit more upright on the GS - this gives you better visibility from both aspects - you will be more easily seen by others and you will be able to see your surroundings better. Not huge amounts, but an edge.
As has been noted, though, buy the one that makes you smile.
Side note regarding rack - the GS rack will bolt right on the to the R - exact fit.
If you get the R, head on over to ADVRider.com and hit the G310GS forum - lots of dirt riders - some of whom may be willing to swap their rack for your grab handles. Quite a few have done this.
Both the Black and the motorsport colours are great, if you get the motorsport colour get your seat covered in red like the RnineT gs!
In terms of easy on your back, even the R has a very upright position, I've been riding the last 2 days with a sore back (slept funny), but have had no problems from the bike
Have a look at cycle-ergo.com, dial both bikes in for your height, it will give you a rough idea of the slight posture difference between them. They’re both good bikes. Enjoy!
I would say, look at all your options. If this is your 1st bike and plan on doing any sort of highway riding in the future, I would look at something bigger with a little more room to grow. I had a Yamaha WR250R for my 1st bike and loved it! I had it for 4 yrs but once I hit the highway a lot, I moved on to the FZ07, but I always like the BMWs and then I bought a 310GS because I wanted to do some trail riding, and thought that it being a little bigger than my 250, it would be better on the highway,(and it way a little)but the 310GS screamed louder on the highway them my 250 did. Then the stator failed At around 2600miles and it was in the shop for more than 4 months. BMW bought it back and I moved on to the 750GS. I always wanted a GS and after having a bigger bike, I found the 310 to be underpowered. I loved the bike, but when your going 55 and up a hill, you will need to downshift to keep the power going. My point is, I would have kept my 1st bike longer if it was more capable. I don’t know what your budget is, but if you could go bigger, I would! My 2 cents
welcome to our forum.
Hope all the answers above have helped you.
enjoy riding either the R or the GS
They are both great (I prefer the R because of the seat height).
Decide what you intend to do with it. For me, the choice was easy...I sat on both and the GS felt great while the R was really cramped. Plus, I knew I was going to take it on long trips through multiple countries and wanted the GS for rough roads and being able to stand up on the pegs.
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BMW G310 R/GS Forum
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