I
n recent years we’ve seen manufacturers
introduce increasingly complex and heavyweight
large- capacity motorcycles aimed at ‘Adventure
Touring’ riders. While these can prove very
capable all- terrain machines in the right hands,
they are more often expensive and physically
intimidating for the less experienced rider; and rarely an
ideal choice for anyone who may wish to venture further
off-road, away from groomed gravel roads and trails.
Indeed, BMW themselves manufacture what most
riders will consider to
be the very epitome of
the technically heavy-
weight approach to all-
terrain motorcycling:
the legendary R1200GS
- so it is refreshing
to see that even they
now realise that not
everyone needs a huge
motorcycle to have a
big adventure.
Off-road riders will
tell you that light[er]
weight and compact
dimensions are the
key to tackling more
challenging
terrain
with confidence, and
the new BMW G310GS is a positive baby in comparison to
more traditional large capacity multi-cylinder adventure
motorcycles.
We spoke to John Mitchinson of Rally Raid Products,
the UK engineering and manufacturer of high quality
Rally and Adventure upgrades for a widening range of
popular off-road and all-road motorcycles - including the
KTM 690 Enduro and more recently the Honda CB500X -
why he feels the new 310cc single-cylinder BMW is such
an exciting proposition for more adventurous riders.
A COMPROMISE, BUT NOT COMPROMISED
“In recent years we’ve seen an increase in demand from
our customers for bike/s that fulfil a more rounded and
general-purpose role”, explains Mitchinson.
“That is not to say that off-road performance isn't still
a priority for the owners of our bikes, but more that they
want a genuine ALL-terrain machine, something that
works equally well both on and off road - a compromise if
you like, but one which is not compromised.”
“In 2014 we felt the
new Honda CB500X was
the perfect platform for
this kind of Adventure
bike - the compact
twin cylinder engine
and other physical
attributes we perfect
for solo or light two-
up/ with luggage long
distance riding," he
went on.
"However, we did
have to spend a lot of
time
re-engineering
the very road-biased
running
gear
(17”
wheels and suspension)
to bestow the bike with
what we considered ‘proper’ off-road ability.”
“We were also aware that while the CB is still physically
smaller and lighter than all those larger- capacity twin-
cylinder adventure bikes out there, it is still in the region
of 200Kg fully fuelled, and for shorter and smaller riders,
can potentially still be a bit of handful in more technical
riding environments.”
“This is where we feel the new BMW G310GS fits so well
in to our range (which already includes the Honda Africa
TRAVERSE 80