It ’ s this attention to detail and capability , and not falling into the trap of lessening quality for price that most impressed me about BMW ’ s minimised roadster . Smaller it may be , but it is certainly not lesser . It is exactly the level of delivery that you would expect from an R9T , S1000RR or a 1250GS , impeccable .
LITTLE WORKHORSE However , nothing is perfect , I found the dash a little hard to read in its black and white , and my eyes could make out nothing except the speed readout when travelling . Perhaps the eyes of a 16-year-old would be fine , but I don ’ t wear reading glasses on the bike ... for obvious reasons . And there are plenty of displays out there that I can read well without spectacles . It could be better .
Design wise the bike is attractive to the eye , beautifully ergonomic and comfortable to ride for quite long periods . The airbox under the seat , however , obviously missed the designers ’ eye , as it is a square black box that hangs down flat and hard . It looks rudimentary and rude in comparison to the slick finish everywhere else . All-in-all this is a great riding , fun , high revving little workhorse , that is delivered in exceptional finish and workmanship and is most certainly worth the extra buck that the brand commands . It has earned the right , unlike others , whose laurels could be considered a little bum-crushed right now . But the G310R is a pretty commuter , beautifully finished , it ’ s a fun weekender , and an eco-friendly , zippy , well-balanced , safe ride , with surprising spirited ability in a compact package , and , in todays fractious world , that ’ s a winning combo for any thinking rider .
KIWI RIDER 73