Motorcycle description sheet BMWG 310 GS 2023 Adventure in the street

she looks the same as when she started... And that's not entirely untrue. Unchanged design, identical proportions, identical chassis, unchanged provenance - there's nothing to suggest a major update for the G 310 GS. Yet it's been there, in the bowels, since 2021.

its 313 cm3 single-cylinder engine has been adapted to the Euro5 standard, without losing or gaining power - essential if it is to continue its seduction bid in Europe. Alongside this, a number of improvements have been added. Firstly, an anti-dribble clutch, requiring less lever effort and limiting rear-wheel lock-up. Next, an electronic throttle for greater sensitivity. Idle is now assisted on start-up to prevent stalling - a system already adopted by Suzuki with its Low RPM.

the little GS wants to improve quality. It now features full LED lighting (headlights, taillights, indicators) and adjustable brake and clutch levers. The rest of the evolution is cosmetic, with a titanium gray color for certain engine housings, and a new color scheme: a discreet white-gray, a provocative Rallye and a special 40th anniversary color (shared with the entire GS family).

the joy of mimicry. This mini GS faithfully reproduces the maxi's personality. Marked angles, an adventurous profile, styling cues and a highly suspended seat. But that's as far as it goes. The 310 GS looks like it could be lifted with one hand; the R 1250 looks like a behemoth designed to smash through a wall. Of course, a 300 is more delicate, lighter and less used to the rigors of displacement. Still, it doesn't disappoint. It's just that its belly doesn't spill over, as it's powered by the same engine as the roadster.

it's a modest engine, but one that honors the history of the trail bike. This type of bike has always been famous for its monos, its typical motorization. This is the case with the G 310 GS, fitted with a single piston. The technical solutions are classic, with liquid cooling, fuel injection, 4 valves, double ACT and a 6-speed gearbox. What sets this single apart, however, is its inverted cylinder head, with the intake to the front. This configuration has the advantage of moving the center of gravity down, closer to the front wheel. This makes the G-series more responsive.
What will we have on hand to carry off the 310 GS's 169.5 kilos? A respectable 34 hp, which the engine develops at 9,250 rpm. Torque is in line with displacement, peaking at 3 mkg at 7,500 rpm. Power that's right up there with the class, for everyday use, or even weekend adventures. Perfectly suited to the needs of the regions targeted or the A2 license, but inevitably limited for the desires and needs of travelers on the old continent. Most wouldn't need anything more... But desire does. As for top speed, ask no more than a good 140 km/h.

as we've seen, the GS is based on the 310R. But how did it manage to gain 11 kilos? A more protective fork head, specific cladding, a package holder with integrated handles, it weighs a lot.
The trail takes over the engine and most of the roadster's chassis. The tubular steel trellis frame is retouched at the steering column; the column angle is less open and the headroom is greater. With the same concern for stability, the swingarm has been lengthened by 46 mm, bringing the wheelbase to 1,420 mm. The same copy-and-paste approach is applied to the shock absorber and inverted fork. However, to suit trail use, suspension travel has been increased. The forks are 49 mm longer, giving 180 mm of travel, and the rear forks are 40 mm longer, giving 180 mm of travel. This will enable the G 310 GS to overcome a few rough patches, but at the price of a penalty for the sitter: the seat height has risen from 785 mm to 835 mm. You can feel the 5 cm difference for a saddle. In any case, a trail bike is high up.
And it's got a big wheel. The front axle is fitted with a 19-inch rim, a compromise between road (17') and off-road (21'). BM keeps a 17' at the rear, taking care to change the shoes for more versatile rubber. It's a pity spoked wheels aren't included, not even as an option.
No change to the brakes. ABS supervises the crew, with a 300 mm disc at the front with a 4-piston radial caliper by Bybre (a Brembo sub-brand), and another disc at the rear, this time 240 mm with a double-piston caliper.

in addition to the distinctly different seat height, the G 310 GS emphasizes its riding position. A trail bike is one of the most comfortable machines to ride. Sitting in a commanding position, you're ready to go anywhere. The small windscreen and shoulders will break the force of the air much better than the roadster. But it's still limited, a far cry from the performance of a big GS.
Once mounted, the rider will feel more protected by the presence of the trim. The cockpit view is identical to that of the 310 R. A window where everything is digital, from the speedometer to the bar graph, from the fuel gauge to the gear indicator, as well as trips, fuel consumption calculations, clock, etc.

if BMW's smallest trail bike proudly wears the blue-and-white badge, it's because it was designed in Germany, and unhesitatingly draws its inspiration from the GS family in all its glory. Under the propeller, the bike's origins lie in Indian factories. Like the roadster, it is manufactured by TVS Motor Compagny in Bangalore. As a result, it's impossible to claim the Made In Germany label. Big deal... KTM has its Duke models made by Bajaj, and Harley's 500 and 750 Street models were once made in India. In any case, to conquer this market and offer a tight price, economic logic dictates it.
What's the price? It's important for this G 310 GS, and is a key factor in its success in India. Despite the multiplication of models in this displacement bracket, the sauce still has trouble catching on. But there's plenty of fun to be had in the trails. The small court now features this BMW, the Suzuki 250 V-Strom, the KTM 390 Adventure and the Kawasaki Versys-X 300, as well as the Mash 400 Adventure and the Benelli 251 TRK. In short, there's a lot going on, and it's all waiting to entertain our streets. Will the smallest GS also entertain paths, hazelnuts, urban lanes, undergrowth and innuendo?!

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