[mtwashington]

I've gone on 2.5 hours rides, and I find that over about 65mph it sounds a little strained, but that hasn't stopped me from maintaining 75mph for a while. The coolant temp stays around 190F, which I think is OK.

 

[Viktor]

I regularly ride mine on NJ and NYC highways (NJ Turnpike, I-95, Garden State Parkway, Henry Hudson Highway etc). I typically ride 55-65, faster in short bursts for passing. vibration and wind above 65 is uncomfortable for me. Needless to say, at such speeds, I'm one of the slower ones on the highway.


I've also taken longer trips (200 to 400 miles one way) but i take these in 2-3 hour stretches with a long rest in between. For example, for one weekend trip to Letchworth State Park and Watkins Glen (great destinations by the way), I rode around 2 hours (starting from Jersey City area) on Friday night, rested for the night, and continued the rest of the way for another two hours the next morning. I try to avoid riding more than 3 hours in one stretch because by then I'm already feeling some fatigue.

 

[Tripod]

If you are running the OEM “windshield” (such as it is) then I can see where wind would be a problem. I installed a Ztechnik touring windscreen & it makes a world of difference. I regularly cruise at 75-80 mph & do not find vibration to be an issue. JMHO...

 

[B1011r]

I ride 2 hours every day. 1 hr to work 1hr from work. 70-85 mph all the way. Zero vibration even sometimes 5th gear at 70mph and no vibration. Not sure why everyone says there is vibration. It screams and sounds like it might explode at any moment but I don't have any vibration. I cant say enough good things about this bike. It does everything ok. I wouldn't recommend it for touring but it is a great little bike to rip around the crazy streets of NJ.

 

[Viktor]

Hey Tripod, I think you're referring to the GS with the windscreen, I have the R without any windscreen at all. I'm sure it will be a lot better with it but havent gotten around to getting one.

B1011r, the handlebar vibration on my bike is such that everything is a blur on the side mirrors if I run at 65+ (Edit: might be because i am always on sixth at this speed? perhaps if i go to fifth then it will rev higher but less vibration. I will try this). And it causes my hands to go tingly perhaps after half an hour of riding like that, so it does cause discomfort. Perhaps this is normal and I just need to get used to this level of buzz?

Anyway, do you expect the handlebar vibes to be roughly the same for the r and gs at the same highwat speed?

I originally wanted the GS but got the R mainly due to the seat height (can flat foot, have to be on tiptoe in GS, only matters to me as a beginner)

 

[Tactical_r3dn3ck]

I have a 25 mile drive one way to work and take interstates. The speed limit is 70mph for a few of those miles but mostly 65mph. If you go 65 mph you get run flat over even in the slow lane. I regularly ride 80-90mph it’s at 3am though. Longest ride to date is 2.5 hours and was at 80 mph most of the way or faster. It’s definitely capable of highway riding. I’ve pegged out the bike a few times with the speedometer showing 103mph but I know it’s probably off a mile or two per hour.

 

[Serrated]

I have a 25 mile drive one way to work and take interstates. The speed limit is 70mph for a few of those miles but mostly 65mph. If you go 65 mph you get run flat over even in the slow lane. I regularly ride 80-90mph it’s at 3am though. Longest ride to date is 2.5 hours and was at 80 mph most of the way or faster. It’s definitely capable of highway riding. I’ve pegged out the bike a few times with the speedometer showing 103mph but I know it’s probably off a mile or two per hour.

The R seems to be much faster than the GS, by approximately 15 MPH. Can that difference be solely attributed to CoD differences, or is there some other difference at stake?

 

[Tripod]

A vivid imagination perhaps?! 😉

 

[gregtixa]

The R seems to be much faster than the GS, by approximately 15 MPH. Can that difference be solely attributed to CoD differences, or is there some other difference at stake?

I reached 99 MPH on my GS...

 

[Serrated]

I reached 99 MPH on my GS...

OK, so the 89 MPH top speed published by BMW for the 310GS must be conservative.

 

[Michael Yakimenko]

For a long distance

Have a 310R, mostly time cruise 75-90 km/h (46-55 mph). But when I travel, I''m avoid toll roads, autobans... Just usual simple roads. After change tires, I can even ride grave roads, for offroad, just remove fuse... So all of this makes long trips very funny! Only one thing, I like ride like this. Easy, even slowly. At once I've travel 1082 km for 2 days. From Krakow to Masurian Lake, with avoiding toll roads and autobans. It was not difficult, it was nice.

Next year plan trip to balkans. So if you expect fast rides, fast overtakes, etc... maybe this wrong bike))) For me it's even better than big GS, cause I don't like big and have motors anymore. Small, light-weight, it's all what I need.

 

[rodfernandezmas]

Hi, I reached 85 MPH at 3000 MASL.
Rod.

 

[GravyLoops]

Longest trip I have taken so far on the GS was 180 miles in September.
Providence, RI to Greenpoint, Brooklyn.
The bike did everything I wanted and handled the traffic perfectly. When I crossed the NY state line the drizzle was thick and the roads were very wet and eventually it was full on rain. Cars gave me plenty of space, which really made the experience relatively care-free. I think they felt bad for me.

I have not really had the opportunity to find my top speed but I know I have hit over 80 mph at some point.
I'm not a speed demon and am more of a laid back kind of rider.....
I do plan to take a track day at some point next year.

 

[Old and Slow]

In high wind the bike blows around more than a 650 pound machine. One criteria in my choice was Interstate travel only when absolutely necessary,. It does well on 295, but I don't. I commuted in Atlanta for years and have followed a native New Yorker in his city with no problem, but fun riding is two lanes around 60 or even less. Curvy roads-tighter is better-are great and this machine does this well. Max one day total is probably less than 400 miles and this is only when leaving the flat lands and heading north for the mountains.

 

[Ligkonakos]

Longest trip I have taken so far on the GS was 180 miles in September.
Providence, RI to Greenpoint, Brooklyn.
The bike did everything I wanted and handled the traffic perfectly. When I crossed the NY state line the drizzle was thick and the roads were very wet and eventually it was full on rain. Cars gave me plenty of space, which really made the experience relatively care-free. I think they felt bad for me.

So true on so many levels, there will be times where drivers won't let me overtake them on clear days, but on rainy days I swear everyone is riding too far on the right to be a coincidence. That, or they think I'm a cop from their rear mirror; I mean who else would be riding a bike on a downpour?

 

[cortezrudy004]

My 310 seems to like 75-80mph on the CA freeways.

Hows the bike been so far riding at those speeds. I have a 40 mile (20,20) comute to work and was wondering if this will be ok.

 

[JerryG]

This thread is over four years old. You'd be better off starting a new thread. That said, your 310 will be fine commuting. I ran mine over 7,000 miles going from North Carolina to Missouri to Nova Scotia and back to North Carolina.

 

[ARBOLMANO]

Zombie threads. But a 40 mile RT commute Childs play on the 310. Even if 80+mph interstate road. It’s a race derived engine. Biggest hassle is you’ll need to refuel every other day. If you have traffic in commute the 310 is a supreme lane splitter. Will it be as sweet as a Goldwing? No. But IMHO way more fun. What’s baffling is a Wing gets better/same fuel economy! Invest in A 5 gallon gas can and you can avoid filling station trip mid week. Highly advise a onesy motorcycle suit.

 

[Groeneveld]

I recently switched to 17 tooth front sprocket and now highway riding is much more comfortable. 75 mph in 6th at about 7000 rpm. Very stable and can go all day.