After much anticipation by Malaysian BMW Motorrad fans, the 2017 BMW G 310 R, the brand’s first offering in the small-displacement motorcycle market in over 60 years, is to be launched in Malaysia this coming weekend at a price of RM26,900, including GST.

Developed in conjunction with BMW Motorrad’s Indian manufacturing partner, TVS, this entry into the mass-market class is BMW’s attempt to get into the lucrative Asian market for sub-400 cc bikes which are popular due to low price and maintenance.


The G 310 R comes with a 313 cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine fed by EFI that puts out a claimed 34 hp at 9,500 rpm and 28 Nm of torque at 7,500 rpm. A unique take on the G 310 R is its reversed cylinder orientation that has the intake facing forward, letting the engine be tilted a little further backward to place weight over the rear wheel, while giving the exhaust a straight path to the rear.

Power gets to the ground via a six-speed multi-disc wet clutch transmission, which allows for a 0-100 km/h time of just 7.85 seconds. The adjustable rear wheel suspension comes with up to 10 levels of preload adjustment. Inside the cockpit is a fully digital instrument cluster that also displays, aside from various other functions, the current gear selected.


Bybre, Brembo’s cost-conscious brand option, does the braking with a four-piston caliper and single 300 mm disc in front, while the rear disc is a 240 mm diameter unit, and two-channel ABS is standard. Rolling on 17-inch wheels, the G 310 R is designed to accommodate the new rider, with a seat height of 785 mm, allowing almost all to get their feet down.

Wet weight for the G 310 R is aid to be 158 kg, and fuel is carried in an 11-litre tank. No word from BMW Motorrad Malaysia as to what colour options will be available for the 2017 BMW G 310 R, but from its website, three colour options are offered in Europe – Cosmic Black, Strato Blue Metallic and Pearl White Metallic Motorsport.