I've come to the conclusion that BMW were well ahead of the game with the X series of Bikes. ( The X Challenge, XMoto and XCountry) although these were all 650cc. At about the same time they were selling the G450X. I think if they were to do something similar now(offer the variants) with a 450 they'd be onto a real winner.
Mate I thought you review on the Moto Marine was fantastic , it’s not all about how good the forage is it’s about HONEST unbiased ( unpaid - by dealer options ) KERP up the great 👍 job . Paul from Australia 🇦🇺
Phew, that's better, Nathan returns. On test rides and TH-cam. I recently rode the five star rated Triumph Tiger Sport 660. Everybody and I mean everybody has given this bike glowing / five star reviews. I knew before I'd even left Fowlers car park that it was not what I was looking for. I rode it for an hour and a half up on the Mendip Hills and certainly found a lot of positives, but it is absolutely not the bike for me. A mate of mine has just bought a GS310. He loves it.
I love my 2019 G310GS. Three years and 6000 trouble free miles. I do my own scheduled maintenance per the BMW schedule and it's been very cheap to keep. I definitely don't baby it. It's fun to ride a slow bike fast! I wish BMW offered a G310GS Adventure version with a 5 gallon fuel tank, tubeless spoke wheels, an aluminum bash plate, engine protection bars, larger and more aggressive pegs, and fully adjustable suspension front and rear. Those upgrades would cost BMW less than $400 and I'd pay $2000 more for that bike. Bike manufacturers, not just BMW, look at their small ADV bikes as beginner bikes. They use them to get new customers on the upgrade path to their mid size and full size ADV bikes. Older riders typically have more discretionary income and are buying smaller bikes because they have trouble handling and lifting larger bikes, but I'd argue that a small ADV bike like the G310GS is better off road for all riders. Unfortunately, the marketing department doesn't want to admit this, so they won't sell full featured lightweight ADV bikes because most people wouldn't buy their more expensive larger bikes as anything other than ADV styled sport touring bikes. That's why smaller ADV bikes are built to a budget and are stripped of premium features. The companies would rather sell someone their first bike, that leads to their second and third. They aren't interested in selling old riders their last bike, so they miss the opportunity to make an R1300GS Adventure profit margin on a G310GS Adventure.
So spot on about what other people think... on the strength of 'reviews' I bought a BMW R1200GS. Everyone raved about it. I could not live with it, at all. After about 6 ride outs, I sold it.
I rented one for 3 weeks in Morocco. I just don't 'get' them at all other than for Charlie and Ewan wanabees syndrome? Unreliable, heavy and hugely overpriced.(for me).
I think the GS will get votes not for Value, off road ability nor the biggest engine. But it can do it all. But I think the looks is what sells it over the others.
I really like the 310gs, it's too soft on the front suspension and the seat is a little soft, but I've always been surprised they haven't sold better than what they have.
Having changed out my CRF300 for the 310GS which has all the Rally Raid upgrades …. I’d say just like the CRF it needs a little love to bring out the best. Untimely it depends on your needs and riding style. Having ridden over 6000 miles on the CRF300 I’d say so far I’m very pleased with the GS, it has character 🎶
Share the sentiments with Arthur below, over lock down your videos definitely helped me Nathan! keep'em up. In terms of the 310 with the rally raid kit added does it then become that ultimate adventure 'unicorn' bike?
I’ve had the old and now the new 310gs. I’m certain bmw has improved the front suspension dive. Has that been your experience too? Do you think they updated the spring or just change the dampening rates or oil?
BTW, big thank you for your channel and the honest, amusing and interesting content. It’s been a must watch for a long while (and the book is a great read )☀️
Agree with others…your videos make me feel like I am talking bikes with a motorcycle buddy…keep it up! As for the BMW, I agree it is a good bike but nothing about it feels like I am riding a BMW. I love that brand as you always know when you are riding one…minus the 310.
Nah, I reckon you won't want to talk to us once you become a screenshot diva.......you'll be looking like a cross between Lewis Hamilton and a rap-star...!!😄. I reckon you'll be staring down at a floor-mounted camera in front of a Rolls Phantom with some homeys around you next....🤣. OK, maybe not! In fact, I'd pay good money to see that and cough my breakfast cuppa over myself!! I'm glad you made this one, mate, as that beemer has always caught my eye. I think it looks great and as a shortage, a lot of off-roaders are just too big for me. But the general poor press has put me off trying one. This vlog may well put me on a test drive. Nice work, ax ever, thanks Nathan. Keep smilin' chap...
I think there are few ‘bad’ bikes out there these days but these bikes seem to have distinct strengths and weaknesses. Where strengths align with someone priorities they’ll think it a good bike, in reality it’s a good bike *for them*. The Enfield grunts and chugs along which works well off road, the bmw / KTM are more spirited and probably better on then off road. For me personally the key to the BMW is that it just doesn’t sound great going about it’s business. Doesn’t make it poor just that I’d prioritise a bike that is a bit more of a pleasure to the ear and most others in the group are imho.
Quote of the day " don't expect them to go all fancy"! The last vid was superb in terms of production quality, but the bottom line is I (and I think your other subscribers) simply value your down to earth opinion on stuff. Fancy/not fancy - I don't care, just keep posting please
I bought my 310GS after watching an old review you did with bike social (maybe 🤔) It’s not a bike you love because it’s not flattering but it’s a bike you just like. I use mine daily to work which is mostly rural roads, picks up speed well enough, I don’t find the vibration too bad at all. Yes the front end dives a little and I don’t think the brakes are brilliant but you soon get used to it. I paid £3200 for mine on a 19 plate and it’s an absolute bargain. I really like the way it looks, it’s comfy and i think it’s pretty cool having a baby GS. A bigger screen makes it a lot more enjoyable and I also have Oxford heated grips and the barkbuster hand guards. Very much enjoying it, did consider swapping it for a triumph sport 660 but not sure it’s a too different bike so going to keep my GS for a bit longer, have an R7 coming in July so see if I want to keep both 🤔
I really need to find a way to add one of these to the garage my version of off-road after 38 yrs of riding is along some nice dirt roads. This is a perfect bike for me and I will figure a way to bring one home
Good little burst of info/opinion as always. Would a 450 single in the GS help, do you think? Not sure where it sits in the A2 power table, to be honest
It's a good point; the 310 has 34bhp but doesn't feel meaningfully any quicker than the Himalayan or CRF300 (24bhp and 27bhp) and gets blown out the water for power by the 43bhp 390 KTM. Maybe if they'd have gone for something closer to a 400cc it would tempted a bit more interest and given it a bit more mid range to boot. It revs to 10k rpm so does need stretching out a bit.
Awesome as always Nathan an I think a mix of videos work really well. Love these informal chats as well. Something you don't see to often on youtube. The GS sounds an interesting one sort of under the radar a bit for a BM I think was one that didn't even enter my mind Interesting option to the F800GS I used to have. If it'd come with spoke wheels out of the box n maybe made even lighter it would have been a bit more of a better seller. Do see a few on the road near me near me saw one flying past me the other day.
Cheers Norton. They're actually a really like bike to handle in the flesh. No weight to them at all. The spoked wheels would have made a huge difference to the bike's showroom appeal no doubt. The Rally Raid kit transforms it aesthetically and how it rides.
@@nathanthepostman Thats interesting Nathan ill have to check that out, once my bust shoulder is better I'll have to get down an book a day at some point :)
And now they’ve fixed the stalling issue on the BM it makes it more rideable at slower speeds. The Rally Raid kit is awesome and when the used price point is low enough, it would make sense to buy one and install the Rally Raid upgrade.
@@adaptableadventurerider It’s what I’ve done except my starter donor bike is a 90’s Kawasaki KLE 500, which was a pretty decent dual sport bike in the day. Very underrated, currently being modified with more modern components.
It's around about £5900 here in the UK. The KTM is about the same. The CRF300 Rally is £6400, the Himalayan is £4700. They generally do some good discounts though and you can get some really good value second hand ones.
I’d be looking out for a decent used one and install the Rally Raid kit for the GS. It’s likely to be an older model so still has the stalling problem, but probably not a dealbreaker.
In Finland G310 6500€ (camping offer), Honda CB500X and CRF300Rally 9500+€, KTM 390adventure 9300€ and so on... So the g310 is really only sensible option.
I watched your last video,double checked who uploaded it,thought it was an official Royal Enfield video at first. All your content is very enjoyable 👍🏻👌🏻🙏🏻
I like your ‘crappy’ videos. They are honest and from the heart.
I for one find " crap" videos refreshing, and nothing makes more sense than talking to yourself. Carry on!
Keep the camera chats coming. The hi quality stuff was excellent but we also like the down to earth turdy ( to coin a phrase) stuff.
I like the looks of the 310 best of these bikes. As I've said before, it's a shame it isn't 100cc bigger. Or even 150cc.
I like the channel as it is.
I've come to the conclusion that BMW were well ahead of the game with the X series of Bikes. ( The X Challenge, XMoto and XCountry) although these were all 650cc.
At about the same time they were selling the G450X. I think if they were to do something similar now(offer the variants) with a 450 they'd be onto a real winner.
@@ed.barker7069 Good points.
Mate I thought you review on the Moto Marine was fantastic , it’s not all about how good the forage is it’s about HONEST unbiased ( unpaid - by dealer options ) KERP up the great 👍 job . Paul from Australia 🇦🇺
I 'like' your videos, honest, simple and true.
Just like Dorothy's.
Keep up the great work.
Grumps.
Phew, that's better, Nathan returns. On test rides and TH-cam. I recently rode the five star rated Triumph Tiger Sport 660. Everybody and I mean everybody has given this bike glowing / five star reviews. I knew before I'd even left Fowlers car park that it was not what I was looking for. I rode it for an hour and a half up on the Mendip Hills and certainly found a lot of positives, but it is absolutely not the bike for me. A mate of mine has just bought a GS310. He loves it.
I love my 2019 G310GS. Three years and 6000 trouble free miles. I do my own scheduled maintenance per the BMW schedule and it's been very cheap to keep. I definitely don't baby it. It's fun to ride a slow bike fast!
I wish BMW offered a G310GS Adventure version with a 5 gallon fuel tank, tubeless spoke wheels, an aluminum bash plate, engine protection bars, larger and more aggressive pegs, and fully adjustable suspension front and rear. Those upgrades would cost BMW less than $400 and I'd pay $2000 more for that bike.
Bike manufacturers, not just BMW, look at their small ADV bikes as beginner bikes. They use them to get new customers on the upgrade path to their mid size and full size ADV bikes. Older riders typically have more discretionary income and are buying smaller bikes because they have trouble handling and lifting larger bikes, but I'd argue that a small ADV bike like the G310GS is better off road for all riders. Unfortunately, the marketing department doesn't want to admit this, so they won't sell full featured lightweight ADV bikes because most people wouldn't buy their more expensive larger bikes as anything other than ADV styled sport touring bikes. That's why smaller ADV bikes are built to a budget and are stripped of premium features. The companies would rather sell someone their first bike, that leads to their second and third. They aren't interested in selling old riders their last bike, so they miss the opportunity to make an R1300GS Adventure profit margin on a G310GS Adventure.
So spot on about what other people think... on the strength of 'reviews' I bought a BMW R1200GS. Everyone raved about it. I could not live with it, at all. After about 6 ride outs, I sold it.
I rented one for 3 weeks in Morocco.
I just don't 'get' them at all other than for Charlie and Ewan wanabees syndrome?
Unreliable, heavy and hugely overpriced.(for me).
I rode the GS and absolutely disliked it so I totally understand what you are talking about.
Please don't go all Film Production arty farty and add bloody annoying, intrusive 'music' scores to your videos Nathan.👍🍻
I think the GS will get votes not for Value, off road ability nor the biggest engine. But it can do it all. But I think the looks is what sells it over the others.
I really like the 310gs, it's too soft on the front suspension and the seat is a little soft, but I've always been surprised they haven't sold better than what they have.
Having changed out my CRF300 for the 310GS which has all the Rally Raid upgrades …. I’d say just like the CRF it needs a little love to bring out the best. Untimely it depends on your needs and riding style. Having ridden over 6000 miles on the CRF300 I’d say so far I’m very pleased with the GS, it has character 🎶
Share the sentiments with Arthur below, over lock down your videos definitely helped me Nathan! keep'em up. In terms of the 310 with the rally raid kit added does it then become that ultimate adventure 'unicorn' bike?
I’ve had the old and now the new 310gs. I’m certain bmw has improved the front suspension dive. Has that been your experience too? Do you think they updated the spring or just change the dampening rates or oil?
BTW, big thank you for your channel and the honest, amusing and interesting content. It’s been a must watch for a long while (and the book is a great read )☀️
Agree with others…your videos make me feel like I am talking bikes with a motorcycle buddy…keep it up!
As for the BMW, I agree it is a good bike but nothing about it feels like I am riding a BMW. I love that brand as you always know when you are riding one…minus the 310.
Nah, I reckon you won't want to talk to us once you become a screenshot diva.......you'll be looking like a cross between Lewis Hamilton and a rap-star...!!😄. I reckon you'll be staring down at a floor-mounted camera in front of a Rolls Phantom with some homeys around you next....🤣. OK, maybe not! In fact, I'd pay good money to see that and cough my breakfast cuppa over myself!! I'm glad you made this one, mate, as that beemer has always caught my eye. I think it looks great and as a shortage, a lot of off-roaders are just too big for me. But the general poor press has put me off trying one. This vlog may well put me on a test drive. Nice work, ax ever, thanks Nathan. Keep smilin' chap...
I think there are few ‘bad’ bikes out there these days but these bikes seem to have distinct strengths and weaknesses. Where strengths align with someone priorities they’ll think it a good bike, in reality it’s a good bike *for them*. The Enfield grunts and chugs along which works well off road, the bmw / KTM are more spirited and probably better on then off road.
For me personally the key to the BMW is that it just doesn’t sound great going about it’s business. Doesn’t make it poor just that I’d prioritise a bike that is a bit more of a pleasure to the ear and most others in the group are imho.
Quote of the day " don't expect them to go all fancy"! The last vid was superb in terms of production quality, but the bottom line is I (and I think your other subscribers) simply value your down to earth opinion on stuff. Fancy/not fancy - I don't care, just keep posting please
I bought my 310GS after watching an old review you did with bike social (maybe 🤔)
It’s not a bike you love because it’s not flattering but it’s a bike you just like. I use mine daily to work which is mostly rural roads, picks up speed well enough, I don’t find the vibration too bad at all. Yes the front end dives a little and I don’t think the brakes are brilliant but you soon get used to it. I paid £3200 for mine on a 19 plate and it’s an absolute bargain. I really like the way it looks, it’s comfy and i think it’s pretty cool having a baby GS. A bigger screen makes it a lot more enjoyable and I also have Oxford heated grips and the barkbuster hand guards. Very much enjoying it, did consider swapping it for a triumph sport 660 but not sure it’s a too different bike so going to keep my GS for a bit longer, have an R7 coming in July so see if I want to keep both 🤔
I really need to find a way to add one of these to the garage my version of off-road after 38 yrs of riding is along some nice dirt roads. This is a perfect bike for me and I will figure a way to bring one home
Yes, the review video was great.
However, these simple updates are also great for quick info.
keep up the rambling Nathan thats what makes your vids great Cheers Glenn.
Personally, I think the BMW looks great - I've never ridden one though. I loved the Himalayan.
loving the high tech 'scoreboard'! :D😄
What is it like for leg room compared to the Himalayan?.... Looking at buying one or the other, I'm 5ft 11 ... 32" Inside leg.... Thanks 👍
It's exactly the same bar maybe the odd mm. Taller folk might be better now there's not the engine guards to bump their knees on
Ye'h! I also like your videos.
Good little burst of info/opinion as always. Would a 450 single in the GS help, do you think? Not sure where it sits in the A2 power table, to be honest
It's a good point; the 310 has 34bhp but doesn't feel meaningfully any quicker than the Himalayan or CRF300 (24bhp and 27bhp) and gets blown out the water for power by the 43bhp 390 KTM. Maybe if they'd have gone for something closer to a 400cc it would tempted a bit more interest and given it a bit more mid range to boot. It revs to 10k rpm so does need stretching out a bit.
@@nathanthepostman Guess there main market was India, not sure if they have sold well there.
Awesome as always Nathan an I think a mix of videos work really well. Love these informal chats as well. Something you don't see to often on youtube.
The GS sounds an interesting one sort of under the radar a bit for a BM I think was one that didn't even enter my mind Interesting option to the F800GS I used to have. If it'd come with spoke wheels out of the box n maybe made even lighter it would have been a bit more of a better seller. Do see a few on the road near me near me saw one flying past me the other day.
Cheers Norton. They're actually a really like bike to handle in the flesh. No weight to them at all. The spoked wheels would have made a huge difference to the bike's showroom appeal no doubt. The Rally Raid kit transforms it aesthetically and how it rides.
@@nathanthepostman Thats interesting Nathan ill have to check that out, once my bust shoulder is better I'll have to get down an book a day at some point :)
And now they’ve fixed the stalling issue on the BM it makes it more rideable at slower speeds. The Rally Raid kit is awesome and when the used price point is low enough, it would make sense to buy one and install the Rally Raid upgrade.
@@peakrider4886 oh yep definitely I'm pretty torn between the GS n the Himmy both gonna be good for my needs for the trip to Iceland/Norway :)
@@adaptableadventurerider It’s what I’ve done except my starter donor bike is a 90’s Kawasaki KLE 500, which was a pretty decent dual sport bike in the day. Very underrated, currently being modified with more modern components.
BMW looks great. Is it relatively expensive? Question from a layman.
It's around about £5900 here in the UK. The KTM is about the same. The CRF300 Rally is £6400, the Himalayan is £4700. They generally do some good discounts though and you can get some really good value second hand ones.
I’d be looking out for a decent used one and install the Rally Raid kit for the GS. It’s likely to be an older model so still has the stalling problem, but probably not a dealbreaker.
For me in Hungary the 310 GS has been the cheapest among them, it was easily available for a test ride, felt good, so I went for it.
The CRF300 is getting expensive for what it is. For me it’s a trail bike costing road bike money. A used 250 is a better option
In Finland G310 6500€ (camping offer), Honda CB500X and CRF300Rally 9500+€, KTM 390adventure 9300€ and so on... So the g310 is really only sensible option.
I watched your last video,double checked who uploaded it,thought it was an official Royal Enfield video at first.
All your content is very enjoyable 👍🏻👌🏻🙏🏻