THE NEWEST MODEL IN THE BMW Motorrad lineup, the G 310 R, continues that tradition and marks BMW’s first road- ster in the sub-500cc class. It also marks an important step toward Motorrad’s ambi- tious goal of annual worldwide sales of 200,000 motorcycles by 2020. Developed in Munich and produced in India through a partnership with the TVS Motor Company, the G 310 R carried the burden of high expectations before the first bike rolled off the assembly line. It seemed fitting, given the importance of
the bike to the world market, that BMW Motorrad chose the Los Angeles neighbor- hood of Hollywood to introduce the bike to the world press. Just a block from Holly- wood’s Walk of Fame, the G 310 R was unveiled and ready to roll down the black tarmac of Hollywood Boulevard and up the twisting canyon roads that lay beyond. Upon initial inspection, the little roadster
looks impressive with headlight and chis- eled fairing, muscular-looking tank, gold upside-down forks and brake calipers, and lattice-like molding of the aluminum swing
70 BMW OWNERS NEWS February 2017
arm. With the large “R” decals on either side of the bodywork, it doesn’t take ances-
try.com to see a family resemblance to the S 1000 R. Detailed touches like the high-gloss embossing and roundels on the motor, fuel tank and instrument panel are typical BMW and remove any thoughts that this bike isn’t worthy to wear the roundel. Up front, braking is controlled by a single
300mm disk using a four-piston caliper. The front fork uses a progressively wound spring allowing 5.1 inches of travel. In the back, a two-piston caliper squeezes a 240mm disk while the single shock offers 5.5 inches of travel. The G 310 R’s instrument cluster offers a
large liquid crystal display detailing MPH, RPM, odometer, engine temperature, fuel level, time/date, remaining fuel range, fuel consumption and average speed. The centerpiece of the G 310 R is its newly
developed, fuel-injected 313cc liquid- cooled, single-cylinder engine that pro- duces 34 horsepower and 21 foot-pounds of torque tied to a six-speed transmission which delivers power to the rear wheel via
chain drive. The unique feature of the four valve, DOHC motor is its reverse cylinder design using a backward-tilted cylinder and head rotated 180 degrees, positioning the intake in the front and the exhaust in the rear. The design allowed engineers to create a straighter airflow through the engine to maximize performance. According to BMW, the backward-angled cylinder also helps keep the bike’s center of gravity lower and shifted forward to allow for a longer swing arm in the 310’s relatively short wheelbase. Like all BMWs, the G310 R comes equipped with ABS as standard equipment. Seeing 45 identical motorcycles lined up
in perfect German precision along Selma Avenue was a beautiful thing. As we mounted the bikes, another journalist lik- ened the long line of 310s all dressed in white with Motorsport color highlights to piano keys. I had to agree and with a turn of a key and the push of the starter button, they all came to life, not with a familiar boxer motor’s shake and rumble or the tur- bine-like rev of the S 1000 power plant, but
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