It rained the first half of the day, but after lunch the sun came out, our suits dried out and spirits lifted as we tossed the littlest GS through corner after corner. Photos by Kevin Wing.
We?ve been waiting for more than a year to get our gloved hands on the 2018 BMW G 310 GS, so a little rain wasn?t going to dampen our mood. In fact, as the herd (Flock" Gaggle" Pod") of journalists trooped out to the row of GSs, which were being toweled off in a thoughtful but futile gesture by the BMW staff, we all agreed that it seemed fitting that we?d be testing an ADV bike in less-than-ideal conditions. That is, after all, what they?re for.
We got our first in-person look at the G 310 GS at the press launch of the G 310 R way back in December 2016. The GS shares a lot of components with its roadster sibling, including its comprehensive LCD dash, tubular steel frame with bolt-on rear subframe, 313cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine, die-cast aluminum swingarm, brakes, seat and headlight. Read our First Ride Review of the BMW G 310 R here.
On the sometimes slick Black Canyon Road, which is mostly graded dirt (er, mud), the G 310 GS handled confidently. Its light weight meant a few slips and slides weren’t all that scary.
Because it wears the ?GS? badge, however, ADV-ability expectations run high, and so it received a number of appropriate alterations. The handlebars are wider and angled farther back, it?s fitted with a luggage rack, wind deflector, beak, large...