I’ve been riding for nearly 25 years, motocross (yz’s), trails (DRZ’s & wr’s), track bikes (rgv’s & r6’s) and roadies (gsxr 1000, xjr1300). I’ve been hanging to get into adventure riding, but being all of 160cm tall, everything has literally been out or reach. I’d settled and was about to buy another DRZ to do up but test road the 310gs. I took possession of mine last week. 30mm bar rises, folding mirrors from adventure moto, and the crash bars are on order. I’m planning some big trips in the little machine. It’s fantastic to ride. Thanks Bmw for thinking little for once.
@cjdc1973 I'm planning of doing some long distance riding (8000km) and i was thinking about 310gs but i wasn't sure how it'll handle it. Please let me know your thoughts and experience.
I’ve owned a BMW G 310 GS for about 10 months now. I’ve added a few mods: riser bar, bash plate, Continental TKC 80 tires, engine guard, windshield. This motorcycle is nimble and spirited off-road. The limitations of a 310 cc motorcycle become apparent, however, during interstate riding. While you can cruise at 70 MPH, gusts of wind can make for a precarious ride.
Bought a new G310GS yesterday for my 60th birthday. Picking it up in a couple of days. Buying accessories online. Looking forward to adventure touring.
Speaking of ABS ... I ran into an unexpected light rain and decided to try it out. I was cautious at first but then tried harder and harder to get the ABS to activate on the slippery road conditions. Interestingly, I could not manage to slide either tire or activate the ABS in conditions that I would normally see a result with my other bikes. I am only theorizing now: 1) the brakes aren't grippy enough to activate ABS (kind of sloshy pull front and push rear to engage) 2) the stock tires are awesome on wet roads or 3) the combination of 1 & 2 plus the light weight make the bike less likely to need to worry about the effects of losing traction on paved roads even in wet conditions. There are more options but most of those would make me scared to pull harder on the stops. Any which way, I was pleasantly happy with the result and feel even more confident that this machine was the right choice. Happy riding!
Half the people I go on longer rides with need to downsize to the 310. I get so tired of pushing the 1000 cc's over obstacles and helping pick the bike up. Never understood why anyone wants to lug around on a 5-600 lb bike on tricky back roads and trails.
Great overall review and first impressions of the market changing BMW 310GS. I especially appreciate Amy's well thought out input to the review. Looking forward to the future Rally Raid mods-wait 'till you see what she looks like then! (and performs like). Juan-Nevada City, Ca.
Dear MAD TV, 3 years ago I bought my Tenere after watching your 2009 review of the mighty 660. Now after watching this video I seriously thinking in buying this little BMW. Mostly because I like mountain and forest trails in Chile and this gives you an enormous amount of confidence. I tested the bike today and makes you feel that you can go everywhere safely. Thanks for you review again! 😀
I had an Adventure 1190 a few years back, it just left too much there for my skill off road. It was heavy and cumbersome. I just purchased the g310gs. For me its usually much more fun to use all of a machine than to use part of it and be scared of the rest. Hope I feel the same with it as you guys!!!
Great review guys! Got to ride one today in a mix of trails, dirt roads and asphalt, and have to concede, what a great "little" bike! Good power to weight, handle the trails perfectly, and was great fun drifting the arse out on loose gravel. A very sure-footed bike in all terrains. Perfect 50/50 ADV bike 👍
I was already almost sold on this bike for the type of riding I want to do, but was worried about the cast wheels and ability off road. Not anymore! THANK YOU for this brilliant footage showing just what this bike is capable of. I have a dirtbike for the more gnarly stuff but I wanted a more comfortable road oriented bike that will take me to, and then into the national parks and state forests surrounding me without having to trailer my bike and carry fuel. Just main fire trails really but this shows it will do that and more! And being a shorter female the bigger adventure bikes are just too big for me so I think this will be perfect. The cb500x needs too many mods, you can just ride this one straight into the bush. Plus rally raid are working on a kit too. Hope to buy one soon!
NavyScrubz, did you end up buying the GS310? You're description of intended use pretty well sums up my ideas also. Currently have a CRF Rally. Great bike but it sux on the road stretches... :( This review gave me faith I could take the "little" GS anywhere I currently take the CRF. Cheers
I like this over view of the BMW 310 GS, for a few reasons it not only highlights how good this little guy (the bike) is but how it appeals to guys and girls and if you were looking at something like this as a his and hers kid of combo, throw in a few rally raid updates and well it’s a dinner winner. I am amazed that BMW haven’t actually thought about having a Safari for GS 310 riders and included would be some additional adventure rider training, people would pay for that.
im considering both bikes aswell. i plan to use it mostly on asphalt and highway and hit the adventure routes when its necessary, also intend to keep the bike for long time. thats why i kinda lean towards honda. did test drive both on highway and bmw is simply too vibrant here on german highways, it fails to keep up with traffic and things get really scary. im an inexperienced rider so you should take my advice with a pinch of salt but i think honda is way better on the road. that being said there is also a considerable price difference between them which can be used for equipment etc. but since i plan to keep the bike for a long time i think on the long run it will make up for itself since i wont be having to change the bike that quickly because it feels too slow. advice would be appreciated, as a person who is planning to buy his first ever bike its easy to get lost. @den dimas
Would you say this bike would be good for commuting in very steep, hilly, almost mountainous rural areas, a lot of the back roads are tarmac but gravel, mud from the farms, roadkill potholes and occasional streams running off the hills cover it and it changes daily? Its a much shorter route than the main roads that go around the hills and I would be able to dodge the big wagons etc. Also, what would it be like in winter, on snow or ice for eg? Cheers.
BMW - Broken Motor Works. My GS has been in the shop for over 3 weeks. Leaking oil from the front fork tube and may have a bent shift fork. And let’s not forget the brake recall. Bike has 750 miles on it and no time off-road. Tried to upgrade to the 750 and was told my bike has depreciated by $2300 (in terms of a trade-in).
Just watched with the wife, result, she wants to learn to ride and get this bike so as to join me on my 2015 GSA R1200 when I head out. This bike is entry level and inspires beginners to start the journey which is why BMW introduced it.
Amy and I thought this would be a common occurrence. However we went onto agree the husbands would progressively start sneaking the 310 out the door when they realise how good it is.
Turning fifty, bad knee and shoulders, live a semi off-grid life on a houseboat and most of the access roads to my mooring spots are sand and dirt track. Just about to trade in a road bike for a G 310 GS. I didn't see the point in a KLR650 with physical issues limiting my ability to pick up a fallen bike and as a first dual purpose bike it seemed sensible.
3:30 - The ability for the user to disable the ABS with an ABS button disappeared on later models (2021?) but I've heard that the always-on ABS isn't too bad off road as it can be on larger and heavier bikes. 4:15 - I'm 6'2" (190 cm) and I'm slightly cramped in the legs but not too bad. An inexpensive 30 mm bar riser made for a nearly perfect fit for my upper body. Two and a half years later, I'm still loving my G310GS and look forward to many more adventures (800 mile camping trip coming up this weekend). I'm 62 and have ridden smaller displacement dual sport thumpers intermittently since I was 15. I've never been interested in large bikes and now that I'm getting older I'm even less interested in trying to muscle my way along with a heavy bike. The nimble G310GS is a nearly perfect bike for me. It has much better road manners than my previous dual sports and it easily does more off road than I want to do these days. I wish BMW made an Adventure version of this baby adventure bike, with a 5 gallon fuel tank, large pegs, a proper aluminum bash plate and lower engine protection bars and maybe tubeless spoke wheels and upgraded suspension. All of those issues can now be addressed in the aftermarket except for the larger fuel tank, which is honestly my only negative on the G310GS.
Dear MAD, great review, it is a shame that wire wheels are not a dealer option in Australia, the 310 has a lot going for it for people who want a lighter ADV bike, not necessarily beginners, we are experience in ADV riding off road and don't do jumps on our ADV bikes as we carry out camping equipment for days, weeks, so we don't ride them like WR450's, what we need is lightweight, reliable, good mileage from the standard tank, ABS, comfort, highway speed capable and be able to mount soft panniers. I ride a R1100 GS in some silly off road places with 19/17 sized wheels so it is not necessity for a 21 front.
Good review and Amy clearly knows her stuff. Somewhere there is that elusive 'perfect ' Adventure bike. ..maybe a 450cc....lightweight with a reliable bulletproof engine. The BM is definitely a step in the right direction. Steve
You also get all of the comfort of a 2x4. That KTM is a hard core enduro bike, not an ADV. It's a fine tuned enduro machine, but I don't see it as an ADV bike.
After owning a small BMW for 2 years (the G650 GS) I'm now completely skeptical of anything they bring out of a factory that's not a flagship model, mine worked fine for a few months, then out of the blue, electrical problems after electrical problems. It was fine since it had a 1 year warranty, still a massive pain in the ass though. as soon as the warranty ran out, the ground wire for the entire wiring loom decided to fry itself, £2000 at a dealer to be replaced, then the ECU went £1500, then there was a software issue that up until recently was unfixable and I spent countless weekends at my dealer trying to get them to sort it, but they didn't really seem to care at all, so I sold it and got pretty much nothing for it. That's just my experience with smaller BMWs and the attitude of some dealers with them, If it's not a 1200 it doesn't matter it seems.
Hi, I have the 2014 GS 650 Sertão and it also has that electrics issue with the programing of the injection on the engine. Still it is a good compromise regarding weight-power. I can keep up with the big bikes on twisties (it's all about the rider's skill) and I have a lot of fun with ot (just check my videos!).
I agree that the bike was good when it was working, it was very capable and very fun to ride, but being put in a potentially life threatening situation (engine cutting out while filtering between 2 lorries as the traffic starts moving again, wiring loom catching fire while riding in the rain... Just to put 2 examples out there) it just really put me off BMWs. I think the UK just gets bad batches of bikes from them from time to time, especially the smaller capacity bikes, and since the dealers aren't used to getting their for repairs, they don't know what to do with them. I've moved onto KTM now, and fingers crossed, other than having the rear suspension replaced since the adjustment mechanism had seized from the previous owned and dealer not using it, I've had zero issues, electrical or mechanical.
Can anyone more knowledged than I in Engineering, Engines & Electronic Injection confirm that the programing may face some difficulties? I still like all kind of analog stuff: it always works well until it breaks!! LOL
I agree... I'm a big European bike fan but if I was in the market for a small ADV or DS it would be a Japanese bike. BMW and KTM are great on the performance end - but maintenance and reliability not so much, and if you're actually off-roading the bike then I'd definitely be looking for Japanese reliability.
Yes I definitely agree... and I also agree that the European bikes are designed fundamentally differently to the Japanese bike, the KTM dual sport's especially are fantastic off-road performers. I'd say the same is true of their road bikes and that's what appealed to me (160hp in an ADV bike... that's nuts). I was willing to compromise a bit on reliability (though I've actually not had any 'big' problems with any of my European bikes) to get the rest of the package (amazing motor's, suspension, every state of the art 'keep you from dying of your own stupidity' assist known to man, etc...). However... I've been stuck WAAY BACK in the woods with a dead ride before, and AAA just hung up on me... so for dirt I skew toward the bulletproof reliability of Japanese bikes.
Nice reviw.Fun and on budget to join the 'prestige ' GS family,..switchable abs, dynamic ride,like Lady said 'it all about the confidence..and 310 give some of it,and with some mods and accs,(tweak suspension, bar riser, crush bar,fog light,panniers, GPS mount..etc)it will turn to really adventure,and will catch eye and proud even between the Big brother.. But I'm looking forward for the KLR300,sorry I mean Versys 300X,excellent..wish MAD test it..
This was an awesome review. First time I've seen a reviewer actually fully test the off and on-road capabilities of an adventure bike. Any change you could do a Versys 300x test?
I would love to the Versys 300X I have spoken to a number of people who have ridden them long distances and they were impressed. The revolution to small is well underway.
I bought one of these about 2 months ago and I have clocked up 6k kms on it all ready. So far it has been awesome. Great on fuel, and a good all rounder. My only problem is that there aren't any accessories for it yet, ie bash plate, hand protectors etc. But I'm sure there will be soon.
Bark busters are finally available for this bike. Installed them about a week ago. Still waiting for a larger windscreen etc. Any updates on rally Reid?
Seen a lot of motorcycle videos have to say this is one of the best I've seen.... would've liked to have heard any negatives if there was.... but other than that fantastic.... would love for you guys to do a review of a trip on it..... lov the video keep up the great work...
I watched your G 310GS Rally Raid Level 2 upgrade video first where you guys show us all the trail riding you could not possibly do without the Rally Raid upgrade. But in this, pre-Rally Raid video you're totally satisfied that you can ride any type of trail or highway with the G 310GS as purchased. After seeing this video I really need convincing as to what will justify spending that amount of money on the RR upgrade?
@@MotorcycleAdventureDirtbikeTV Then where did you record this video, if not the Simpson as the terrain looked every bit as nasty, yet no Rally Raid upgrade?
true. from the full video i can surely say that this bike is not "made at a price point" like for eg. a KTM390 which is also made in india. its funny how we dont have it yet but you ozzies already got it ! shiny side up, cheers.
This is the first of a number of vids. With the help of Rally Raid Products, Giant Loop, ADVWorX, Bark Busters we are going to transform these bikes into dirt oriented round the worlders, spoked wheels, bashplate, complete replacement of suspension, ft bars, bar raisers....the list goes on, so stand by.
That's great. But also can you do it in stages. I'm an ex Yamaha dealer from NZ. I am 48 and have done mostly dirt biking. I am planning to do some Adventure riding and have been looking at DR650, DRZ400, KLR650, not interested in bigger adventure bikes. But I'm thinking a smaller bike can be more fun. I really just want to buy a bike fit panniers and bark busters, and bash plate, tires and go. So it would be good if you did an adventure just with minimal add-ons and then compare as you go.
The only problem is according to customers reports BMWs still have reliability issues. But BMW riders are prepared to accept these issues to own a BMW and are more likely to stick with the brand.
I'm a little disappointed that the only realistic options are small 300cc or monster 1200cc sizes when the midsize 500-600cc adventure bike size gets ignored 😒
Unless you are two up a large capacity adventure bike is really a bit of a waste. All a bike has to do is sit on 100 - 120 kph reasonably comfortably and have the ability to take you anywhere you desire without much drama to be an adventure bike or overland bike, all it can take is a fallen tree on a track or a road to spoil a trip and depending of size of that tree can make a big detour. A sub 200kg loaded bike makes man handling the bike in tougher going that bit easier rather than a 300 kg loaded bike. It has been said by many people who do big trips that when they return no one ever wished for a bigger bike, most wanted a lighter bike.
Travis Donald Stanley yeah I am a scrambler owner actually and weekend blasts within a few hours range is exactly what I do. This bike looks very familiar in that sense. Strange how this category was non existent until a few years ago.
These bikes would be spot on for newbies if they had different riding modes and spoked rims like there bigger brothers. Come on BMW Motorrad? Hope your listening?
I agree, a spoke wheeled option, particularly for the US, South Africa, India (when it is eventually released and definitely Australia, would be great.
Great review and nice to see it being put through its paces off road. Just seems people are very slow to come out with accessories. Definitely could do with a bash plate, well a more substantial alloy one. And great to see that fabulous weather as i sit here in the UK in the pouring rain. Cant wait to see more of this bike from you.
Travis Donald Stanley Thanks for reply Not got GS 310 but thinking of trading my R nine T for one ( Have another road bike ) so really interested to so what will be available. Have contacted them direct to see if they will let me know what they have in the pipeline but was hoping maybe BWM would have more adventure spec coming out
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Have to say I really enjoyed this review. Some of the trails you took the bike down were pretty tight I don't think the bigger GS's would have threaded through. The 650/700/800 perhaps. Looks a nice piece of kit and sometimes less is more. I owned an F650GS and after modifying it quite a bit it was a really good bike, Hyperpro fork springs, smaller front sprocket, bark busters, crash bars, comfort seat to replace the plank it came with, and BMW panniers for touring spot on. Excellent review though.
Is there any truth to the rumor that this bike will see a laced wheel option in the future for a $500 upcharge? I'm hesitant with this bike because I could see BMW releasing an ADV package later with all the goodies I wish this bike had.
Your comment @ 12:05 To paraphrase: You prefer to not read up on a bike prior to doing a review. I believe this approach does not only you a disservice but your readers/video watchers as well. It's a benefit to know the bikes capabilities and experiment with those capabilities whilst "Reviewing" further enhancing your riding experience be it positive or negative. Example: Canceling ABS (on the fly as opposed to a stand still). This is critical information to know to enhance the initial riding experience. As for initially not knowing there was a 6th gear......well we'll just give you a mulligan for that one and move on. That being said, I gave you thumbs up for the video. Loved your Himalayas video and I'm also subscribed. Keep up the the exceptional work.
There are stacks of reviews that give you what you want, just listen to them. Anyone can recite details from promo material or magazine articles. Considering I've been riding 40 years and reviewing bikes bikes for years I'm happy with my approach.
Your experience sir is a given. That being said, there is no substitute for preparation and understanding your equipment prior to mounting. .....and yes, you can teach and "old dog" new tricks. Keep on producing those great videos.
Hi guys, me and my partner are setting up for an Oz lap on our 4x4 truck. We are planning to carry a bike on the back. Looking for something by light and playful. This looks like the way to go. We are planning to adventure up to 100 km on the bike once we park our truck. We weigh 65 & 75 kg, the question is would this bike be suitable for both of us? we are planning to do what you guys exactly did in this video riding bush etc
You can't just talk about a raw figure of weight. The key issue is where the weight is located. Here is a classic example. I asked my wife to pull both my KTM690 and the Beemer off the stand to a vertical position and asked her what was heavier. Here reply the Kato 690 by a mile. The reality the Kato is considerably lighter! On the Beemer the weight is low and centralised and makes a HUGE difference.
I think that the Benelli Trk 502 and the Kawasaki 300 offers more and they have a two cylinder engine. More than this, the italian has "real" suspensions and was not designed as an "entry" to whatever "level".
Travis Donald Stanley I didn't realize the 310 gs was so much cheaper than the 250 rally. My problem with the 250 rally is the seat height. I don't understand why these manufacturers are introducing entry level/lighter adventure bikes with such high seats. I personally have no problems with a high seat because of you height, but trying to find a capable bike for my girlfriend to ride is near impossible and she is average height. I have to consider lowering links raising the forks in the triple clamps and lower seats so which throw off the original geometry.
250 Rally Is basically the same price. With ABS, the Rally is six grand. The little beemer is also six grand. I don't know where he's getting that BMW price from. Let's face it, out the door, you'll be paying almost seven grand for these bikes. I'd love to see a shootout with the Honda, BMW and the Kawi Versys 300. As for the seat height, It's to keep the ground clearance. If you need a lower seat, you will get lower ground clearance. See the Kawi Versys 300.
I owned the CRF 250L Rally for a while. It had a lot of upgrades including an Öhlins rear shock, Dobeck EJK, Koubalink lowering link to get the height down, and an FMF silencer and power bomb header pipe. It truly was an off-road worthy bike. However, it was not great on the road for anything other than short excursions. It pretty much was a dirt bike (albeit a heavy one) with some on-road characteristics. I sold it to buy a true dirt bike and am now looking to get a small adventure bike as well. I’m intrigued by the BMW G310 GS, the KTM 390 Adventure and the Kawasaki Versys X-300. All seem to have their pros and cons. It looks like the BMW requires more upgrades to bring it up to where the KTM is stock for off-road based on the MAD videos I have watched of both. Anybody else have experience with these three bikes? I do plan to ride trails that are more aggressive than just forest service roads but want something smooth enough on the road to make it enjoyable to get to the trails.
Great trend to make smaller, far less expensive intro bikes to attract new riders to the sport. Ideal for people who live in areas that are fairly close to off road trails etc.
Waiting for its sales in India.. will be my first adventure bike. With my previous experience of 150cc road bike modified to Rally-raid competition, this should be a blast to ride straight out of the showroom and wear the widest grin every time I ride it. Come on #BMW start the sales in #India soon! :)
If BMW had just made something like the Honda Rally they would have made a great bike. This is made in India like the small KTM’s so I’m hoping for quality control. If this bike just had spoke rims and a better windscreen it would be very hard to beat for the money.
Informative review and nice to see another entry into the light/mid-weight ADV arena. Just watched "blancolirio" post a walk-through at RR headquarters in the UK. Shows John has a RR set-up for the 310 GS similar to the CB500X so it's a proper ADV rig. Always appreciate your reviews and pleasant to have a woman's perspective.
John is literally up at 5am fabricating these parts and we are communicating almost daily. We have to fit them all and test before the APC Rally commencing in early March. Great to see ADVworx join the project to build the bikes and Bark Busters and Giant Loop also come on board. I love doing these projects. It's infectious being around 'can do' creative, driven people.
Really enjoyed the video you did with John on his Rally Raid prepared CB500X. Shows he's the real deal and prepared to go out on a hardcore route and rely on his own kit!
Hey Guys, brilliant video I'm looking forward to get my hands on this gorgeous BMW, but I would like you to help me with clearing a confusion for me, Which of the 2 that is BMW G310GS or the KTM Duke390 is better performance bikes and real value for money if my choice of ride is city and long distance traveling.
Hey.. I like the bike and even consider buying it.. But I'd have loved you to talk about the things you don't like in it (I'm sure there are), cause it looks a little bit like an ad right now!
Matt - topping out the forks? You forgot that. It's a well sorted road oriented dual purpose and it did well. Have a look at all my reviews. I'm pretty generous to all manufacturers because most do a reasonable job. But if something gets up my nose I talk about it.
Motorcycle Adventure Dirtbike TV Touché! I missed that one! It's true that criticizing new bikes is getting harder and harder though! Or is stuffing them with all these electronics actually killing them? But I'll leave that question to someone ready to write the 1000 pages essay about it.. By the way.. keep up with the videos, always a pleasure to see one pop up!
I take issue with the labels that are used to classify and market motorcycles, especially off-road motorcycles. Let’s start with the term “entry level.” Your goal as a consumer is to have fun, and that is true regardless of your riding skill or level of experience. There is nothing that you can do, at all, I mean zero that you can do, off-road, on a large adventure bike that you cannot do with greater ease - and more fun - on a smaller, lighter off-road motorcycle. You might look cooler (in your imagination) as you ride your GS 1250 to the trailhead. You might experience the exhilaration of mind-bending torque as you accelerate past a semi on the interstate, but, once you get to the trail, you are at a disadvantage in relation to a proper duel sport motorcycle. The label “entry level” vaguely implies that if only you had the confidence or physical attributes to ride a behemoth off-road, you would be better off. It isn’t true.
Ah... Scot.....entry level in terms of price. For me a very positive term that provides accessibility to the sport. There is nothing in this review, or other reviews on this channel on small capacity bikes that implies anything other than that.
Would be interesting to see you compare 310 to Versys X and your RR CBx over the same tracks mate. Perhaps Himalayan to make a full set. Are you planning to do SWM SuperDual review at some point? thnx for doing this, really enjoy watching your vids!
Well if you consider getting bikes from mfg should not be a problem and we value your opinion. Perhaps not side-by-side? I watched a few of your reviews and the part I like that you are talking bike for what it is not for what you think it should and then blaming it for not living up to your expectations.
Motorcycle Adventure Dirtbike TV I guess BMW was waiting for market to be ready. They are in the process of setting up their motorrad dealership across major cities.
A very slick marketing campaign is going on with this bike. Pay attention to the words "entry level" that is used in every review of this bike on the web. Entry level is a period of time that everybody goes through when something is new and exciting for the first time. It seems like that is all you need at the moment. Then an hour later you realize that what seemed to be enough is now not enough and it is boring and your stuck with it. BMW will sell a lot of these because it is a very good looking bike and the price is low. But it is what it is which is a beginner bike.
That's frog shit mate. It's entry level because it is just like the offering from Kawasaki, Yamaha, Suzuki and soon KTM as well as many other brands. ...it's entry level. The lowest price point into dual sport. Next you'll be telling me that people haven't walked on the moon.
Siclmn Cyclerider- Mate, I know a few very experienced ADV riders currently riding the GS310. This was their choice after coming off many years riding the big, heavy ADV bikes. They're having a ball, going into places they wouldn't consider taking the 1100's etc. Sorry to tell you, but your comment is simply nonsense.
I’m a dirt bike rider wanting to get into ADV riding. I really have NO desire to ride a 500+ lb monstrous bike that I can’t pick up without help if I tip it over on a trail. Your comments about entry-level being some sort of short-lived fad are off-base and just plain wrong. We don’t need more expensive, two-wheeled armored tanks to take us on adventures. We need easy to manage, reliable and fun bikes that are less intimidating. I think we will only see this segment continue to grow. Thanks for the reviews MAD!
if you want to ride dirt and off-road close trails, single cylinder 250cc to 450cc is most fun and practical. if you wanna explore america on open interstate highways, you'll need at least 1000cc to have fun -- most vehicles drive at least 75-80 mph in most states like wyoming, Idaho, utah, etc. the single cylinder 250cc to 800cc bikes are just not fun to ride at 80 mph for hours on end. driving like that will probably wear out the small single cylinder bikes quickly. i don't think a 250cc single cylinder or twin can reach 80mph anyway. the large 1000cc to 1800cc bikes, on the other hand, are built for wide open highways, and are most enjoyable and practical on american highways.
Growing up in the 80's all we had were 100 to 350cc bike's...enduro's before someone added adventure to it. Any thoughts of riding 1200cc's was considered stupid. Its way past time we get back to that because really in the single trac that's all you need. I don't know where all this standing nonsense came from though. Sit going downhill and stand going up and flat track it everywhere else worked for decades and still does. Must have to stand all the time to control the big bikes...unnecessary of you have the right sized bike
I agree with you on the first bit, although the big twins are lovely to ride but not my cup of tea for big adventure. I still have my ktm690 that is a great combination of reasonable lightness and agility with decent legs. I too came from the time when good endure riders always sat down. However I've got to say standing has been a good thing for the rough stuff.
Motorcycle Adventure Dirtbike TV Yes but a lot of standing when theyre on sand is pointless. I see a lot of falling down....too slow and now you're too heavy....need to flat track through that.
It's OK to believe in Unicorns. The are many things that saves this bike. Great riding dynamics, long travel suspension, a great little engine and for the most part good finish, apart from pressed metal rear brake and other odds and ends. And......finally the price!
Hands down the best review seen to date.
I’ve been riding for nearly 25 years, motocross (yz’s), trails (DRZ’s & wr’s), track bikes (rgv’s & r6’s) and roadies (gsxr 1000, xjr1300).
I’ve been hanging to get into adventure riding, but being all of 160cm tall, everything has literally been out or reach. I’d settled and was about to buy another DRZ to do up but test road the 310gs.
I took possession of mine last week. 30mm bar rises, folding mirrors from adventure moto, and the crash bars are on order.
I’m planning some big trips in the little machine. It’s fantastic to ride.
Thanks Bmw for thinking little for once.
Looking forward to what you think. Please get back and tell us your thoughts.
@cjdc1973 I'm planning of doing some long distance riding (8000km) and i was thinking about 310gs but i wasn't sure how it'll handle it. Please let me know your thoughts and experience.
I’ve owned a BMW G 310 GS for about 10 months now. I’ve added a few mods: riser bar, bash plate, Continental TKC 80 tires, engine guard, windshield. This motorcycle is nimble and spirited off-road. The limitations of a 310 cc motorcycle become apparent, however, during interstate riding. While you can cruise at 70 MPH, gusts of wind can make for a precarious ride.
Bought a new G310GS yesterday for my 60th birthday. Picking it up in a couple of days. Buying accessories online. Looking forward to adventure touring.
Great bike
Speaking of ABS ... I ran into an unexpected light rain and decided to try it out. I was cautious at first but then tried harder and harder to get the ABS to activate on the slippery road conditions. Interestingly, I could not manage to slide either tire or activate the ABS in conditions that I would normally see a result with my other bikes. I am only theorizing now: 1) the brakes aren't grippy enough to activate ABS (kind of sloshy pull front and push rear to engage) 2) the stock tires are awesome on wet roads or 3) the combination of 1 & 2 plus the light weight make the bike less likely to need to worry about the effects of losing traction on paved roads even in wet conditions. There are more options but most of those would make me scared to pull harder on the stops. Any which way, I was pleasantly happy with the result and feel even more confident that this machine was the right choice.
Happy riding!
Half the people I go on longer rides with need to downsize to the 310. I get so tired of pushing the 1000 cc's over obstacles and helping pick the bike up. Never understood why anyone wants to lug around on a 5-600 lb bike on tricky back roads and trails.
People are slowly waking up
Great overall review and first impressions of the market changing BMW 310GS.
I especially appreciate Amy's well thought out input to the review.
Looking forward to the future Rally Raid mods-wait 'till you see what she looks like then! (and performs like).
Juan-Nevada City, Ca.
Mods now complete. Shake down ride tomorrow.
Best review on this bike so far.
Dear MAD TV, 3 years ago I bought my Tenere after watching your 2009 review of the mighty 660. Now after watching this video I seriously thinking in buying this little BMW. Mostly because I like mountain and forest trails in Chile and this gives you an enormous amount of confidence. I tested the bike today and makes you feel that you can go everywhere safely. Thanks for you review again! 😀
THANK YOU, VERY MUCH, FOR THIS GREAT DEMO/REVIEW!!!! I'M SOON GOING TO UPGRADE MY BIKE WITH A FEW MODS FROM RALLY RAID (UK). GO BMW G310GS!!
I had an Adventure 1190 a few years back, it just left too much there for my skill off road. It was heavy and cumbersome.
I just purchased the g310gs. For me its usually much more fun to use all of a machine than to use part of it and be scared of the rest.
Hope I feel the same with it as you guys!!!
Great little bikes! Great Video! For a manufacturer this is gold!
Great review guys! Got to ride one today in a mix of trails, dirt roads and asphalt, and have to concede, what a great "little" bike! Good power to weight, handle the trails perfectly, and was great fun drifting the arse out on loose gravel. A very sure-footed bike in all terrains. Perfect 50/50 ADV bike 👍
I agree, it's a cracking bike for the price.
i love tha fact that you are using REAL measurements. Kilometers, liters, centimeters and meters -> THANK YOU
hahaha @fetusEU
I was already almost sold on this bike for the type of riding I want to do, but was worried about the cast wheels and ability off road. Not anymore! THANK YOU for this brilliant footage showing just what this bike is capable of. I have a dirtbike for the more gnarly stuff but I wanted a more comfortable road oriented bike that will take me to, and then into the national parks and state forests surrounding me without having to trailer my bike and carry fuel. Just main fire trails really but this shows it will do that and more! And being a shorter female the bigger adventure bikes are just too big for me so I think this will be perfect. The cb500x needs too many mods, you can just ride this one straight into the bush. Plus rally raid are working on a kit too. Hope to buy one soon!
NavyScrubz, did you end up buying the GS310? You're description of intended use pretty well sums up my ideas also. Currently have a CRF Rally. Great bike but it sux on the road stretches... :( This review gave me faith I could take the "little" GS anywhere I currently take the CRF. Cheers
I like this over view of the BMW 310 GS, for a few reasons it not only highlights how good this little guy (the bike) is but how it appeals to guys and girls and if you were looking at something like this as a his and hers kid of combo, throw in a few rally raid updates and well it’s a dinner winner. I am amazed that BMW haven’t actually thought about having a Safari for GS 310 riders and included would be some additional adventure rider training, people would pay for that.
I think it is a cracker of a bike.
How would you compare this with honda cb500x? I remember that you made about that bike and it was a good review as well
My initial response of the base model with no modification is that it's better.
im considering both bikes aswell. i plan to use it mostly on asphalt and highway and hit the adventure routes when its necessary, also intend to keep the bike for long time. thats why i kinda lean towards honda. did test drive both on highway and bmw is simply too vibrant here on german highways, it fails to keep up with traffic and things get really scary. im an inexperienced rider so you should take my advice with a pinch of salt but i think honda is way better on the road. that being said there is also a considerable price difference between them which can be used for equipment etc. but since i plan to keep the bike for a long time i think on the long run it will make up for itself since i wont be having to change the bike that quickly because it feels too slow.
advice would be appreciated, as a person who is planning to buy his first ever bike its easy to get lost.
@den dimas
honda better as travel bike, subj good for city, and around.
Would you say this bike would be good for commuting in very steep, hilly, almost mountainous rural areas, a lot of the back roads are tarmac but gravel, mud from the farms, roadkill potholes and occasional streams running off the hills cover it and it changes daily? Its a much shorter route than the main roads that go around the hills and I would be able to dodge the big wagons etc. Also, what would it be like in winter, on snow or ice for eg?
Cheers.
I think it would be OK for that type of stuff. I am familar with that type ot riding as I've done it in the Himalayas.
@@MotorcycleAdventureDirtbikeTV Thanks, not quite Hymalas, lol, more Pennine region, England. Thanks for the reply.
Nice bike and a good addition to the review team 👍🏽
We have bought this bike and in the coming months we will be doing significant modifications to them.
Motorcycle Adventure Dirtbike TV like what?
just wait and see but spoked wheels, new suspension
Been tossing up options for my first bike for weeks. This has my name on it cant wait :)
BMW - Broken Motor Works. My GS has been in the shop for over 3 weeks. Leaking oil from the front fork tube and may have a bent shift fork. And let’s not forget the brake recall. Bike has 750 miles on it and no time off-road. Tried to upgrade to the 750 and was told my bike has depreciated by $2300 (in terms of a trade-in).
Just watched with the wife, result, she wants to learn to ride and get this bike so as to join me on my 2015 GSA R1200 when I head out. This bike is entry level and inspires beginners to start the journey which is why BMW introduced it.
Amy and I thought this would be a common occurrence. However we went onto agree the husbands would progressively start sneaking the 310 out the door when they realise how good it is.
Turning fifty, bad knee and shoulders, live a semi off-grid life on a houseboat and most of the access roads to my mooring spots are sand and dirt track. Just about to trade in a road bike for a G 310 GS. I didn't see the point in a KLR650 with physical issues limiting my ability to pick up a fallen bike and as a first dual purpose bike it seemed sensible.
Yep. Sounds good to me.
Great Review thanks Guys, picked up my G310GS and I love it.
Cant wait to get mine next month! Great review and video. Thank you.
Have fun!
The bike doesn't actually look small. It's a full size but light weight which makes it more fun on single track.
3:30 - The ability for the user to disable the ABS with an ABS button disappeared on later models (2021?) but I've heard that the always-on ABS isn't too bad off road as it can be on larger and heavier bikes.
4:15 - I'm 6'2" (190 cm) and I'm slightly cramped in the legs but not too bad. An inexpensive 30 mm bar riser made for a nearly perfect fit for my upper body.
Two and a half years later, I'm still loving my G310GS and look forward to many more adventures (800 mile camping trip coming up this weekend). I'm 62 and have ridden smaller displacement dual sport thumpers intermittently since I was 15. I've never been interested in large bikes and now that I'm getting older I'm even less interested in trying to muscle my way along with a heavy bike. The nimble G310GS is a nearly perfect bike for me. It has much better road manners than my previous dual sports and it easily does more off road than I want to do these days. I wish BMW made an Adventure version of this baby adventure bike, with a 5 gallon fuel tank, large pegs, a proper aluminum bash plate and lower engine protection bars and maybe tubeless spoke wheels and upgraded suspension. All of those issues can now be addressed in the aftermarket except for the larger fuel tank, which is honestly my only negative on the G310GS.
A review on the 2023 will be out this Sunday
@@MotorcycleAdventureDirtbikeTV - SWEEEET! Thank you!
Great REVIEW VERY HONEST IN ALL ASPECTS : I WILL DEFINATLY BE GETTING ONE .Thanks
Dear MAD, great review, it is a shame that wire wheels are not a dealer option in Australia, the 310 has a lot going for it for people who want a lighter ADV bike, not necessarily beginners, we are experience in ADV riding off road and don't do jumps on our ADV bikes as we carry out camping equipment for days, weeks, so we don't ride them like WR450's, what we need is lightweight, reliable, good mileage from the standard tank, ABS, comfort, highway speed capable and be able to mount soft panniers.
I ride a R1100 GS in some silly off road places with 19/17 sized wheels so it is not necessity for a 21 front.
Good review and Amy clearly knows her stuff. Somewhere there is that elusive 'perfect ' Adventure bike. ..maybe a 450cc....lightweight with a reliable bulletproof engine. The BM is definitely a step in the right direction. Steve
Maybe.....a Kato 390. Is it a Unicorn is it going to happen :)
CCM GP450 Adventure seems to be that bike to me. Shame about the cost...
You also get all of the comfort of a 2x4. That KTM is a hard core enduro bike, not an ADV. It's a fine tuned enduro machine, but I don't see it as an ADV bike.
Am excited to get this bike as my touring machine for South East Asia. Let's see 🤘
After owning a small BMW for 2 years (the G650 GS) I'm now completely skeptical of anything they bring out of a factory that's not a flagship model, mine worked fine for a few months, then out of the blue, electrical problems after electrical problems. It was fine since it had a 1 year warranty, still a massive pain in the ass though. as soon as the warranty ran out, the ground wire for the entire wiring loom decided to fry itself, £2000 at a dealer to be replaced, then the ECU went £1500, then there was a software issue that up until recently was unfixable and I spent countless weekends at my dealer trying to get them to sort it, but they didn't really seem to care at all, so I sold it and got pretty much nothing for it.
That's just my experience with smaller BMWs and the attitude of some dealers with them, If it's not a 1200 it doesn't matter it seems.
Hi, I have the 2014 GS 650 Sertão and it also has that electrics issue with the programing of the injection on the engine. Still it is a good compromise regarding weight-power. I can keep up with the big bikes on twisties (it's all about the rider's skill) and I have a lot of fun with ot (just check my videos!).
I agree that the bike was good when it was working, it was very capable and very fun to ride, but being put in a potentially life threatening situation (engine cutting out while filtering between 2 lorries as the traffic starts moving again, wiring loom catching fire while riding in the rain... Just to put 2 examples out there) it just really put me off BMWs. I think the UK just gets bad batches of bikes from them from time to time, especially the smaller capacity bikes, and since the dealers aren't used to getting their for repairs, they don't know what to do with them. I've moved onto KTM now, and fingers crossed, other than having the rear suspension replaced since the adjustment mechanism had seized from the previous owned and dealer not using it, I've had zero issues, electrical or mechanical.
Can anyone more knowledged than I in Engineering, Engines & Electronic Injection confirm that the programing may face some difficulties?
I still like all kind of analog stuff: it always works well until it breaks!! LOL
I agree... I'm a big European bike fan but if I was in the market for a small ADV or DS it would be a Japanese bike. BMW and KTM are great on the performance end - but maintenance and reliability not so much, and if you're actually off-roading the bike then I'd definitely be looking for Japanese reliability.
Yes I definitely agree... and I also agree that the European bikes are designed fundamentally differently to the Japanese bike, the KTM dual sport's especially are fantastic off-road performers. I'd say the same is true of their road bikes and that's what appealed to me (160hp in an ADV bike... that's nuts). I was willing to compromise a bit on reliability (though I've actually not had any 'big' problems with any of my European bikes) to get the rest of the package (amazing motor's, suspension, every state of the art 'keep you from dying of your own stupidity' assist known to man, etc...). However... I've been stuck WAAY BACK in the woods with a dead ride before, and AAA just hung up on me... so for dirt I skew toward the bulletproof reliability of Japanese bikes.
Nice reviw.Fun and on budget to join the 'prestige ' GS family,..switchable abs, dynamic ride,like Lady said 'it all about the confidence..and 310 give some of it,and with some mods and accs,(tweak suspension, bar riser, crush bar,fog light,panniers, GPS mount..etc)it will turn to really adventure,and will catch eye and proud even between the Big brother..
But I'm looking forward for the KLR300,sorry I mean Versys 300X,excellent..wish MAD test it..
Would be interesting to do a versys 300 and Honda cb500x alongside the 310 to give a comparison
Very strongly agree, there's a lot of competition in this market space.
This was an awesome review. First time I've seen a reviewer actually fully test the off and on-road capabilities of an adventure bike. Any change you could do a Versys 300x test?
I would love to the Versys 300X I have spoken to a number of people who have ridden them long distances and they were impressed. The revolution to small is well underway.
Nice review.. loved the trail..
I bought one of these about 2 months ago and I have clocked up 6k kms on it all ready. So far it has been awesome. Great on fuel, and a good all rounder. My only problem is that there aren't any accessories for it yet, ie bash plate, hand protectors etc. But I'm sure there will be soon.
Accessories are coming. Rally Raid Products are currently making them.
Bark busters are finally available for this bike. Installed them about a week ago. Still waiting for a larger windscreen etc. Any updates on rally Reid?
Seen a lot of motorcycle videos have to say this is one of the best I've seen.... would've liked to have heard any negatives if there was.... but other than that fantastic.... would love for you guys to do a review of a trip on it..... lov the video keep up the great work...
I watched your G 310GS Rally Raid Level 2 upgrade video first where you guys show us all the trail riding you could not possibly do without the Rally Raid upgrade. But in this, pre-Rally Raid video you're totally satisfied that you can ride any type of trail or highway with the G 310GS as purchased. After seeing this video I really need convincing as to what will justify spending that amount of money on the RR upgrade?
Bashplate, suspension, wheels. You wouldn't ride a standard one across the Simpson.
@@MotorcycleAdventureDirtbikeTV Then where did you record this video, if not the Simpson as the terrain looked every bit as nasty, yet no Rally Raid upgrade?
@@brianwhite1189 Forests west of Morisset. That place is a walk in the park in comparison to the big desert ride.
Exceptional video, thanks for bringing it out. 🙏
rally raid apparently would not do a 21 inch front wheel on it. i wonder why. is it because it's always going to be more road biased?
For this size bike and its limitations I think it's not a deal breaker.
true. from the full video i can surely say that this bike is not "made at a price point" like for eg. a KTM390 which is also made in india. its funny how we dont have it yet but you ozzies already got it ! shiny side up, cheers.
I'd be interested to see some coverage of Aimee on her adventures with the GS.
This is the first of a number of vids. With the help of Rally Raid Products, Giant Loop, ADVWorX, Bark Busters we are going to transform these bikes into dirt oriented round the worlders, spoked wheels, bashplate, complete replacement of suspension, ft bars, bar raisers....the list goes on, so stand by.
That's great. But also can you do it in stages. I'm an ex Yamaha dealer from NZ. I am 48 and have done mostly dirt biking. I am planning to do some Adventure riding and have been looking at DR650, DRZ400, KLR650, not interested in bigger adventure bikes. But I'm thinking a smaller bike can be more fun. I really just want to buy a bike fit panniers and bark busters, and bash plate, tires and go. So it would be good if you did an adventure just with minimal add-ons and then compare as you go.
The only problem is according to customers reports BMWs still have reliability issues. But BMW riders are prepared to accept these issues to own a BMW and are more likely to stick with the brand.
Peter C puts me off as a future consumer though. Too bad because I think this is a beautiful looking bike with great capability.
I like the idea of small capacity bikes. They are fun. Problem is they always have small frame, so not an option for someone tall.
There's a tall option for this bike
Good review. Thanks for posting.
I'm a little disappointed that the only realistic options are small 300cc or monster 1200cc sizes when the midsize 500-600cc adventure bike size gets ignored 😒
Yeah, I agree. Depending on what country you are in there's a couple of options but they're not world beaters.
Honda CB500x could be and option.
Unless you are two up a large capacity adventure bike is really a bit of a waste.
All a bike has to do is sit on 100 - 120 kph reasonably comfortably and have the ability to take you anywhere you desire without much drama to be an adventure bike or overland bike, all it can take is a fallen tree on a track or a road to spoil a trip and depending of size of that tree can make a big detour.
A sub 200kg loaded bike makes man handling the bike in tougher going that bit easier rather than a 300 kg loaded bike.
It has been said by many people who do big trips that when they return no one ever wished for a bigger bike, most wanted a lighter bike.
Not that I disagree, but if you venture out of town a lot, fuel capacity can be a big deal.
Travis Donald Stanley yeah I am a scrambler owner actually and weekend blasts within a few hours range is exactly what I do. This bike looks very familiar in that sense. Strange how this category was non existent until a few years ago.
true..
Easy enough fix to latch a 4 gal tank to a rack.
These bikes would be spot on for newbies if they had different riding modes and spoked rims like there bigger brothers. Come on BMW Motorrad? Hope your listening?
I agree, a spoke wheeled option, particularly for the US, South Africa, India (when it is eventually released and definitely Australia, would be great.
Great review and nice to see it being put through its paces off road. Just seems people are very slow to come out with accessories. Definitely could do with a bash plate, well a more substantial alloy one. And great to see that fabulous weather as i sit here in the UK in the pouring rain. Cant wait to see more of this bike from you.
In later videos you will discover this is a project bike and we are making it dirt oriented with parts from Rally Raid Products.
Travis Donald Stanley Thanks for reply Not got GS 310 but thinking of trading my R nine T for one ( Have another road bike ) so really interested to so what will be available. Have contacted them direct to see if they will let me know what they have in the pipeline but was hoping maybe BWM would have more adventure spec coming out
Click on this link to find the best full length motorcycle adventure movies that will get you motivated.
th-cam.com/play/PLkM9-Vs7Ynzi55gvgbVg2Xcy_rp0vqA_R.html
Thank you for the detailed review. How about the fuel consumption ?
Have to say I really enjoyed this review. Some of the trails you took the bike down were pretty tight I don't think the bigger GS's would have threaded through. The 650/700/800 perhaps. Looks a nice piece of kit and sometimes less is more. I owned an F650GS and after modifying it quite a bit it was a really good bike, Hyperpro fork springs, smaller front sprocket, bark busters, crash bars, comfort seat to replace the plank it came with, and BMW panniers for touring spot on. Excellent review though.
Thks for review.
if only they brought out a gs500 twin with spoke wheels and better suspension and weighed under 200kg wet, I'd buy one
yeah that would be great
nice bike, would be nice in a 600
It really was a shame when bmw got rid of their 650 singles.
Is there any truth to the rumor that this bike will see a laced wheel option in the future for a $500 upcharge? I'm hesitant with this bike because I could see BMW releasing an ADV package later with all the goodies I wish this bike had.
Just keep watching this channel for a big surprise and more.
Looks like a nice little unit Dave..
I wasn't expecting it to be that good on the trails.
Your comment @ 12:05 To paraphrase: You prefer to not read up on a bike prior to doing a review. I believe this approach does not only you a disservice but your readers/video watchers as well. It's a benefit to know the bikes capabilities and experiment with those capabilities whilst "Reviewing" further enhancing your riding experience be it positive or negative. Example: Canceling ABS (on the fly as opposed to a stand still). This is critical information to know to enhance the initial riding experience. As for initially not knowing there was a 6th gear......well we'll just give you a mulligan for that one and move on.
That being said, I gave you thumbs up for the video. Loved your Himalayas video and I'm also subscribed. Keep up the the exceptional work.
There are stacks of reviews that give you what you want, just listen to them. Anyone can recite details from promo material or magazine articles. Considering I've been riding 40 years and reviewing bikes bikes for years I'm happy with my approach.
Your experience sir is a given. That being said, there is no substitute for preparation and understanding your equipment prior to mounting. .....and yes, you can teach and "old dog" new tricks.
Keep on producing those great videos.
how was vibration level on highway?
kinda like my klr650
thanks
I didn't notice any vibration.
Some vibration after 5000 rpm. Nothing disturbing though. Excellent cruising at 90-100 kmph.
How did you slide the back tire the 22 and 23 models don't give you a way to shut off abs ?
2018 model has switchable ABS
Moto linda é confortavelll essa 310gs leve agil ... super top ea melhor da categoria ...
Nice Video. Just a question... how does it fare on river crossings ?
How to fix noice from engine head, please advise
Would you do a World Tour (from London to Sydney) witz thus bike or not
Yes it could do it......with some modification.
Motorcycle Adventure Dirtbike TV for example what would you gernerally Change to make it a Good Adventure bike for long Trips
Travis Donald Stanley nur Why spoke Wheels i mean where is the difference
Travis Donald Stanley okey Thanks for The answers
In order of importance
1. Bark Busters, Bashplate, luggage racks. all done!
i think she's taller than you! ha. Great video, nicely done!
I'm certainly wider!
You and me both!
Hi guys, me and my partner are setting up for an Oz lap on our 4x4 truck. We are planning to carry a bike on the back. Looking for something by light and playful. This looks like the way to go. We are planning to adventure up to 100 km on the bike once we park our truck. We weigh 65 & 75 kg, the question is would this bike be suitable for both of us? we are planning to do what you guys exactly did in this video riding bush etc
also consider the Yammy wr250R
Really? No cons? For once this review seems a bit on the biased side.
Maybe surprised how nice it was at first glance ,long term for niggles ?
Ah topping out the forks?????never done that before !!! Now let me see is that a con?
Cons in my opinion
cast wheels
very short suspension
170kg is quite heavy for a 310cc bike with 34hp
one more Con is that its has a BMW badge. So every aftermarket part will have a "bmw pricetag"
You can't just talk about a raw figure of weight. The key issue is where the weight is located. Here is a classic example. I asked my wife to pull both my KTM690 and the Beemer off the stand to a vertical position and asked her what was heavier. Here reply the Kato 690 by a mile. The reality the Kato is considerably lighter! On the Beemer the weight is low and centralised and makes a HUGE difference.
I think that the Benelli Trk 502 and the Kawasaki 300 offers more and they have a two cylinder engine. More than this, the italian has "real" suspensions and was not designed as an "entry" to whatever "level".
It's great to see the end of the market being populated with some great bikes.
Benelli? That chinese company?
Nah not interested
I'd love to see you guys review the crf 250 rally and contrast it to this bike. It's a very interesting segment these little adventure bikes.
I agree. I just have too much on at present.
Travis Donald Stanley I didn't realize the 310 gs was so much cheaper than the 250 rally. My problem with the 250 rally is the seat height. I don't understand why these manufacturers are introducing entry level/lighter adventure bikes with such high seats. I personally have no problems with a high seat because of you height, but trying to find a capable bike for my girlfriend to ride is near impossible and she is average height. I have to consider lowering links raising the forks in the triple clamps and lower seats so which throw off the original geometry.
250 Rally Is basically the same price. With ABS, the Rally is six grand. The little beemer is also six grand. I don't know where he's getting that BMW price from. Let's face it, out the door, you'll be paying almost seven grand for these bikes. I'd love to see a shootout with the Honda, BMW and the Kawi Versys 300.
As for the seat height, It's to keep the ground clearance. If you need a lower seat, you will get lower ground clearance. See the Kawi Versys 300.
I owned the CRF 250L Rally for a while. It had a lot of upgrades including an Öhlins rear shock, Dobeck EJK, Koubalink lowering link to get the height down, and an FMF silencer and power bomb header pipe. It truly was an off-road worthy bike. However, it was not great on the road for anything other than short excursions. It pretty much was a dirt bike (albeit a heavy one) with some on-road characteristics. I sold it to buy a true dirt bike and am now looking to get a small adventure bike as well. I’m intrigued by the BMW G310 GS, the KTM 390 Adventure and the Kawasaki Versys X-300. All seem to have their pros and cons. It looks like the BMW requires more upgrades to bring it up to where the KTM is stock for off-road based on the MAD videos I have watched of both. Anybody else have experience with these three bikes? I do plan to ride trails that are more aggressive than just forest service roads but want something smooth enough on the road to make it enjoyable to get to the trails.
Can you explain why/how you went through a pipe
turned into it and rode down it and kept our head down and keep to the bottom of the pipe or things get tricky.
Great trend to make smaller, far less expensive intro bikes to attract new riders to the sport. Ideal for people who live in areas that are fairly close to off road trails etc.
8:45 she talks about doing 115 on the highway. Would that be kph or mph?
115 kph!
Women aren’t the only ones who need smaller bikes to help them inspire confidence in handling an adventure bike.
Beautiful bike
Too much bla bla bla this time mate. We get it. What about the problem areas or design flaws etc. you make it sound like bike made in heaven.
Waiting for its sales in India.. will be my first adventure bike. With my previous experience of 150cc road bike modified to Rally-raid competition, this should be a blast to ride straight out of the showroom and wear the widest grin every time I ride it. Come on #BMW start the sales in #India soon! :)
best video "review" of g310gs
If BMW had just made something like the Honda Rally they would have made a great bike.
This is made in India like the small KTM’s so I’m hoping for quality control. If this bike just had spoke rims and a better windscreen it would be very hard to beat for the money.
After attaching panniers, will the bike support pillion riding ?
The proper spoked wheels, centrestand option and the extra cylinder would have me swaying toward the Versys 300. Enjoyed the review tho
The Versys is a great bike
Travis Donald Stanley Don't get me wrong I do kind of like it. I guess the biggest selling point will be those badges on the panels
Hi, when you say it is better than the CB500x do you mean the CB with the rally raid upgrade? Great review as always
We are Rally raiding the Beemer and my view is it will be better.
Impressive bike, surprised by BMW!
Yeah I was surprised at how good it was.
Thank you for this excellent review, it is appreciated. You mentioned adding panniers to the bike, are they available yet?
Kind regards
Mark
I think so, go to the Rally Raid Products site.
Informative review and nice to see another entry into the light/mid-weight ADV arena. Just watched "blancolirio" post a walk-through at RR headquarters in the UK. Shows John has a RR set-up for the 310 GS similar to the CB500X so it's a proper ADV rig. Always appreciate your reviews and pleasant to have a woman's perspective.
John is literally up at 5am fabricating these parts and we are communicating almost daily. We have to fit them all and test before the APC Rally commencing in early March. Great to see ADVworx join the project to build the bikes and Bark Busters and Giant Loop also come on board. I love doing these projects. It's infectious being around 'can do' creative, driven people.
Really enjoyed the video you did with John on his Rally Raid prepared CB500X. Shows he's the real deal and prepared to go out on a hardcore route and rely on his own kit!
Hey Guys, brilliant video I'm looking forward to get my hands on this gorgeous BMW, but I would like you to help me with clearing a confusion for me, Which of the 2 that is BMW G310GS or the KTM Duke390 is better performance bikes and real value for money if my choice of ride is city and long distance traveling.
The Duke is a great bike but certainly no long distance traveller.
Ashish Tiwari , choose the Benelli Trk 502. No doubts.
Hey.. I like the bike and even consider buying it.. But I'd have loved you to talk about the things you don't like in it (I'm sure there are), cause it looks a little bit like an ad right now!
Matt - topping out the forks? You forgot that. It's a well sorted road oriented dual purpose and it did well. Have a look at all my reviews. I'm pretty generous to all manufacturers because most do a reasonable job. But if something gets up my nose I talk about it.
Matt Carbonel oh it's not an ad then...
Motorcycle Adventure Dirtbike TV Touché! I missed that one! It's true that criticizing new bikes is getting harder and harder though! Or is stuffing them with all these electronics actually killing them? But I'll leave that question to someone ready to write the 1000 pages essay about it..
By the way.. keep up with the videos, always a pleasure to see one pop up!
Bike on left has already broken brake and clutch levers broken?
Thats a very good reason why we are fitting Bark Busters. They were already broken before we got the bike.
Motorcycle Adventure Dirtbike TV thanks for answer. Really like all of your videos. Cheers
I take issue with the labels that are used to classify and market motorcycles, especially off-road motorcycles. Let’s start with the term “entry level.” Your goal as a consumer is to have fun, and that is true regardless of your riding skill or level of experience. There is nothing that you can do, at all, I mean zero that you can do, off-road, on a large adventure bike that you cannot do with greater ease - and more fun - on a smaller, lighter off-road motorcycle. You might look cooler (in your imagination) as you ride your GS 1250 to the trailhead. You might experience the exhilaration of mind-bending torque as you accelerate past a semi on the interstate, but, once you get to the trail, you are at a disadvantage in relation to a proper duel sport motorcycle. The label “entry level” vaguely implies that if only you had the confidence or physical attributes to ride a behemoth off-road, you would be better off. It isn’t true.
Ah... Scot.....entry level in terms of price. For me a very positive term that provides accessibility to the sport. There is nothing in this review, or other reviews on this channel on small capacity bikes that implies anything other than that.
Cheques in the post, Danke from Bavaria.
Would be interesting to see you compare 310 to Versys X and your RR CBx over the same tracks mate. Perhaps Himalayan to make a full set.
Are you planning to do SWM SuperDual review at some point? thnx for doing this, really enjoy watching your vids!
I would love to and have considered it but I am a one man band and just don't have the time.
Well if you consider getting bikes from mfg should not be a problem and we value your opinion. Perhaps not side-by-side?
I watched a few of your reviews and the part I like that you are talking bike for what it is not for what you think it should and then blaming it for not living up to your expectations.
How tall are you sir?
Around 8-9 months to go, I'm buying BMW G310 GS
In which country? India?
Motorcycle Adventure Dirtbike TV yep. 🇮🇳
Why so long, the factory is in India!
Motorcycle Adventure Dirtbike TV I guess BMW was waiting for market to be ready. They are in the process of setting up their motorrad dealership across major cities.
This bike may be a better alternative than the new Honda 300L Rally. It definitely looks better.
Not sure. For dirt oriented adventure I'd choose the 300. Although the Beemer 310 is a great bike.
A very slick marketing campaign is going on with this bike. Pay attention to the words "entry level" that is used in every review of this bike on the web. Entry level is a period of time that everybody goes through when something is new and exciting for the first time. It seems like that is all you need at the moment. Then an hour later you realize that what seemed to be enough is now not enough and it is boring and your stuck with it. BMW will sell a lot of these because it is a very good looking bike and the price is low. But it is what it is which is a beginner bike.
That's frog shit mate. It's entry level because it is just like the offering from Kawasaki, Yamaha, Suzuki and soon KTM as well as many other brands. ...it's entry level. The lowest price point into dual sport. Next you'll be telling me that people haven't walked on the moon.
Siclmn Cyclerider- Mate, I know a few very experienced ADV riders currently riding the GS310. This was their choice after coming off many years riding the big, heavy ADV bikes. They're having a ball, going into places they wouldn't consider taking the 1100's etc. Sorry to tell you, but your comment is simply nonsense.
I’m a dirt bike rider wanting to get into ADV riding. I really have NO desire to ride a 500+ lb monstrous bike that I can’t pick up without help if I tip it over on a trail. Your comments about entry-level being some sort of short-lived fad are off-base and just plain wrong. We don’t need more expensive, two-wheeled armored tanks to take us on adventures. We need easy to manage, reliable and fun bikes that are less intimidating. I think we will only see this segment continue to grow. Thanks for the reviews MAD!
What was the economy then?
didn't do it
The bike is for 1st time or tourers from countries like India, where speed is not too much of a concern.
It would be fantastic in India
Motorcycle Adventure Dirtbike TV hope to see you back here, hit the north eastern states this time, you will love it.
We are doing exactly that after this years monsoon.
Motorcycle Adventure Dirtbike TV Meghalaya is the perfect monsoon destination
if you want to ride dirt and off-road close trails, single cylinder 250cc to 450cc is most fun and practical. if you wanna explore america on open interstate highways, you'll need at least 1000cc to have fun -- most vehicles drive at least 75-80 mph in most states like wyoming, Idaho, utah, etc. the single cylinder 250cc to 800cc bikes are just not fun to ride at 80 mph for hours on end. driving like that will probably wear out the small single cylinder bikes quickly. i don't think a 250cc single cylinder or twin can reach 80mph anyway. the large 1000cc to 1800cc bikes, on the other hand, are built for wide open highways, and are most enjoyable and practical on american highways.
Growing up in the 80's all we had were 100 to 350cc bike's...enduro's before someone added adventure to it. Any thoughts of riding 1200cc's was considered stupid. Its way past time we get back to that because really in the single trac that's all you need. I don't know where all this standing nonsense came from though. Sit going downhill and stand going up and flat track it everywhere else worked for decades and still does. Must have to stand all the time to control the big bikes...unnecessary of you have the right sized bike
I agree with you on the first bit, although the big twins are lovely to ride but not my cup of tea for big adventure. I still have my ktm690 that is a great combination of reasonable lightness and agility with decent legs. I too came from the time when good endure riders always sat down. However I've got to say standing has been a good thing for the rough stuff.
Motorcycle Adventure Dirtbike TV Yes but a lot of standing when theyre on sand is pointless. I see a lot of falling down....too slow and now you're too heavy....need to flat track through that.
Wow, seems like a great bike.
Ride by wire no, traction ctrl no, maps no, slipper clutch no. This is a 1980 bike (only abs saved the situation). Waiting for 390 ktm...
It's OK to believe in Unicorns. The are many things that saves this bike. Great riding dynamics, long travel suspension, a great little engine and for the most part good finish, apart from pressed metal rear brake and other odds and ends. And......finally the price!
Motorcycle Adventure Dirtbike TV ...yes, as a guzzi of mid 60 😂