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367 Posts
With 2052 miles on the odometer there are zero regrets buying the G310R vs a larger displacement bike. Coming from a history of larger bikes I wasn't exactly sure what I was getting into with the 310. But I jumped in because my main purpose was city use.
It certainly performs that city duty exactly as one would hope. It zips through city streets and arterials with gearing laid out in a way that matches the common US speed zones (35mph, 45, 55) quite well. The 2021 fly by wire throttle has eliminated the stall issues on earlier models and the adjustable clutch lever allows you to set up for very smooth starts. Shifting is clunky on a cold start, and butter smooth thereafter. Acceleration is Goldilocks -- plenty strong but not a beast that's gonna get you in trouble with minor throttle error. Braking is smooth and strong, and that's without so far ever getting into the ABS. The weight/dimensions of the bike allow it to handle very well around both traffic and the twisties.
Looks wise - the fit and finish - I most commonly hear something like "no way!" when I tell folks this bike cost me ~$5K brand new. The no way comment is almost always followed by a full walk around the bike while shaking their head incredulously.
The big surprise for me has been how much better it handles the highway than what I expected. This 310 cruises at 65-75mph while the revs are high-6k to low-7k range. With a redline of 10k, that's a very comfortable pace for this engine. I haven't put in continuous rides of more than an hour at that speed yet, but watching the engine temps over an hour's ride, I'm confident the bike could stand far more hours (days) at that pace than my butt ever could. I'll be looking for a cafe, hotel, or campsite long before this bike asks to stop. I would never go out and buy this bike with the intended primary purpose of touring. However, owning this bike for primarily city purposes, I also would not hesitate to take the 310 on occasional trips of any distance.
If you're going to commute to work daily (as I do) and then take a handful of extended tours each year, this seems like the better bike to own vs a big, heavy alternative. If my bike sat in the garage waiting for only weekend and vacation travel, I might lean to the larger touring or ADV bikes.
Presently, I am one stoked commuter that loves the G310R. If the dealer offered me 100% of my purchase price back in trade for a move up to a larger BMW, I would politely decline. This is exactly the nimble, capable, lightweight bike I wanted.
Lastly, no flex here, but I can comfortably afford any production BMW. Spending $5k for me is similar to spending $25k -- it's enough money that I don't toss it around aimlessly, but also neither amount is going to damage the balance in my savings. I am not loving the G310R due to a lack of choices. I genuinely prefer this motorcycle over the larger, heavier options. I share this financial aspect not as a brag, but to reassure anyone out there who is tempted to stretch their own budget for "more" bike. There's situations and uses where a larger displacement bike would be a plus, but I can't see where the typical rider "needs" more than the 310's offer.
It certainly performs that city duty exactly as one would hope. It zips through city streets and arterials with gearing laid out in a way that matches the common US speed zones (35mph, 45, 55) quite well. The 2021 fly by wire throttle has eliminated the stall issues on earlier models and the adjustable clutch lever allows you to set up for very smooth starts. Shifting is clunky on a cold start, and butter smooth thereafter. Acceleration is Goldilocks -- plenty strong but not a beast that's gonna get you in trouble with minor throttle error. Braking is smooth and strong, and that's without so far ever getting into the ABS. The weight/dimensions of the bike allow it to handle very well around both traffic and the twisties.
Looks wise - the fit and finish - I most commonly hear something like "no way!" when I tell folks this bike cost me ~$5K brand new. The no way comment is almost always followed by a full walk around the bike while shaking their head incredulously.
The big surprise for me has been how much better it handles the highway than what I expected. This 310 cruises at 65-75mph while the revs are high-6k to low-7k range. With a redline of 10k, that's a very comfortable pace for this engine. I haven't put in continuous rides of more than an hour at that speed yet, but watching the engine temps over an hour's ride, I'm confident the bike could stand far more hours (days) at that pace than my butt ever could. I'll be looking for a cafe, hotel, or campsite long before this bike asks to stop. I would never go out and buy this bike with the intended primary purpose of touring. However, owning this bike for primarily city purposes, I also would not hesitate to take the 310 on occasional trips of any distance.
If you're going to commute to work daily (as I do) and then take a handful of extended tours each year, this seems like the better bike to own vs a big, heavy alternative. If my bike sat in the garage waiting for only weekend and vacation travel, I might lean to the larger touring or ADV bikes.
Presently, I am one stoked commuter that loves the G310R. If the dealer offered me 100% of my purchase price back in trade for a move up to a larger BMW, I would politely decline. This is exactly the nimble, capable, lightweight bike I wanted.
Lastly, no flex here, but I can comfortably afford any production BMW. Spending $5k for me is similar to spending $25k -- it's enough money that I don't toss it around aimlessly, but also neither amount is going to damage the balance in my savings. I am not loving the G310R due to a lack of choices. I genuinely prefer this motorcycle over the larger, heavier options. I share this financial aspect not as a brag, but to reassure anyone out there who is tempted to stretch their own budget for "more" bike. There's situations and uses where a larger displacement bike would be a plus, but I can't see where the typical rider "needs" more than the 310's offer.
