Road test! BMW’s baby GS

By Réhann Coetzee

 

Although we got to ride the BMW G310 GS over a variety of road surfaces at its national launch in February, I was keen to test ride it “at home”. I am quite interested in the refreshed sector of the motorcycling market where BMW, Kawasaki and Honda have adventure bikes in 250-300cc engine sizes.

It is a segment that hasn’t had great interest from buyers or manufacturers for some time and most of the bikes in this segment are bought as delivery vehicles.

But Honda launched its 250 Rally and Kawasaki launched a 300cc Versys, followed by BMW with the G310 GS.

While the Honda and Kawasaki both have 21-inch front wheels, the BMW has a 19-inch front wheel. So that would show how the manufacturer feels about their babies being true adventure bikes. But BMW has been at great pains to explain that the new GS

is not an adventure bike. Like I said in my launch report, although it only has 25kW, I still don’t understand why BMW is sticking to that narrative.

Unlike the road-going version, the G310 R, the GS is actually quite a high bike. The seat is as high as the 800 GS’s and higher than the 700 GS’s. But the 310 GS’s suspension gives way, as it was not designed for riders of my size (and weight).

The GS has the same 313cc single-cylinder as its roadster sibling. The positioning is strange to the market, though. The engine is canted backwards, so the intake sits at the front of the bike and the exhaust at the back. I suppose that should make it more efficient, as it will breathe cleaner and colder air rushing straight at the bike. Although, on the flip side, the air filter would have to work much harder if you’re riding on dirt and choking in someone’s dust.

It is a modern engine with two cams and four valves and the power and torque spread through the rev range works really well.

I recently also rode Kawasaki’s Versys-X 300, which has a twin-cylinder engine that loves revving. I was very impressed by it and a colleague and I wondered if we would still be as impressed with the GS’s engine after riding the Kawasaki in anger.

Well, I can say that I am still as impressed with the BMW engine. I think its torque delivery is more tractable than the Kawasaki’s. And a rider who weighs as much as I do would appreciate that. On the highway I managed a cruising speed of 130km/h and faster without much effort. And that would make it a better commuter – and longer-distance bike.

I still think the seating position is very comfortable and that the ergonomics are good. The instrument cluster is not as flashy as some other bikes’, but it works well. Switchgear is familiar BMW and the ABS can be turned off for when you venture on dirt.

Some people may have been surprised to hear that the G310 R and GS are not built in Germany, but in India by the well-known TVS. But after a second look at the bike, build quality still seems as you would expect from the German manufacturer.

This time I didn’t ride the little GS on dirt. I rode it around Johannesburg on what could be descried as typical commuter routes. And it did really well. Although typical commuter traffic is not really a place where you need 80kW of power, the GS did really well with its 25kW.

The seating position is very comfortable. The seat is big enough to move around on if needed and there is enough room to fit a topbox or strap a bag on the back if you don’t want to carry a backpack.

The 11-litre fuel tank should give a huge tank range and it will make sense on a lot of levels to buy one of these to commute with.

For a whisker under R80 000 you will get a proper BMW, although with a little less flash. But a very capable bike that can be used for work and play.

Technically speaking: BMW G310 GS

Engine: 313cc, single, DOHC, four valves per cylinder

Power: 25kW @ 9 500rpm / 28Nm @ 7 500rpm
Gearbox: 6-speed, chain

Fuel tank: 11 litres

Seat height: 835mm

Tyres: 110/80/19 front, 150/70/17 rear

Brakes: 300mm single disk front, 240mm single disk rear

Weight: 169,5kg (wet)

Price: R79 950