Topic: BMW announces the G310R small displacement bike

[dkaz]

I'm listing prices without year end discounts to compare apples to apples. But yea I was so tempted to pick up a CB 300F for $3699 or CBR 300R with ABS $3899.

The R3 is really nice but it's too sport bike for me with the low handle bars. Great for weekend rips on the twisties but not for my commutes. I prefer the CB 300F riding position, but the problem I found is that it makes your body act like a wind sail which is not a problem when you have the engine power to overcome that extra resistance like the XSR900 and SV650, but the CB 300F had to be pushed. Mind you, I'm going to be riding at highway speeds like 5% of the time and as a commuter it can't be beat. I'm curious as to how the G310R which weighs the same and has a bit more power compares.

[dkaz]

My riding instructor just ordered a blue G310R $6400 all fees taxes included.

[wing]

Did you get a bike yet? 

I like my Honda but I think I would rather the 390 Duke as it would last longer in terms of keeping one excited with the power.  But it's nearly double the price. 

[dkaz]

Did you get a bike yet? 

I like my Honda but I think I would rather the 390 Duke as it would last longer in terms of keeping one excited with the power.  But it's nearly double the price.

Not yet but we are taking possession of our townhouse next month and I can start bike shopping then.

So I am looking at:

Honda CB300F
Honda CBR300R with ABS
BMW G310R
Kawasaki Versys-X 300
Yamaha R3-ABS
BMW G310GS (coming this fall)

Honda is the most boring power wise but when they ramp up their clearance deals March-April, those would be attractive to me. I do kinda want to wait for the BMW G310GS which is an ADV format version of the G310R for only $5,990. I liked the Kawasaki until I found out the BMW was coming this fall. I loved the Yamaha R3 when I rode it except for the lack of ABS last year, but the inclusion of ABS has put it back on my list although the price is high. The KTM just isn't on my radar anymore at this point unfortunately.

[wing]

The BMW is the coolest I think.  But may come with BMW maintenance and parts costs, not sure. Although you probably end up, upgrading or changing bikes before it comes to needing anything.

You can also buy a used CB300F pretty easily on Kijiji, usually with very low KM as people buy them to get their license and then flip them, but maybe less options where you are.

[dkaz]

The BMW is the coolest I think.  But may come with BMW maintenance and parts costs, not sure. Although you probably end up, upgrading or changing bikes before it comes to needing anything.

You can also buy a used CB300F pretty easily on Kijiji, usually with very low KM as people buy them to get their license and then flip them, but maybe less options where you are.

It is the coolest, plus it'd be the only brand new BMW I'd ever buy in my life. I'd probably only care about major service cost as I'd do my own oil change otherwise and bring it in for valve inspections.

I'd consider used but my main problem is that people ask way too much for their used bikes that I may as well buy new. Honda's going to discount remaining 2016 300s up to $1,000 even $1,300 off in the next month or two meaning CB 300F and CBR 300R with ABS as little as $3,899 like last year. The only used CBR 300R I'm considering is a guy selling his 2015 with ABS and 7,000km for $3,200.

[rrocket]

What about the 2017 Honda CRF250L Rally?  Or is that over budget?

[dkaz]

What about the 2017 Honda CRF250L Rally?  Or is that over budget?

That's on the upper end of my budget along with the similarly priced Versys-X 300 but still on budget. The dealbreaker is no ABS in Canada while it's available as an option in the USA which is stupid, seeing how we get the CB300F with ABS standard here but not in the USA. My next bike must have ABS, no ifs ands or buts.

[rrocket]

What about the 2017 Honda CRF250L Rally?  Or is that over budget?

That's on the upper end of my budget along with the similarly priced Versys-X 300 but still on budget. The dealbreaker is no ABS in Canada while it's available as an option in the USA which is stupid, seeing how we get the CB300F with ABS standard here but not in the USA. My next bike must have ABS, no ifs ands or buts.

I read the opposite...that they were only selling the ABS model in Canada.   

[wing]

It's odd in 2017 not to offer abs but lots of bikes seem to not...   

I paid 3700 for my cb300f .    I do hear you on asking prices thin some people are dumb.   I don't expect more than $3k for mine if you want it when I'm done with it haha

[Triple Bob]

What about the 2017 Honda CRF250L Rally?  Or is that over budget?

I really like that bike! But I think I've decided my next bike will be not insured for the road, so purely dirt or track.

[dkaz]

I read the opposite...that they were only selling the ABS model in Canada.   

Unfortunately no, confirmed from Honda Motorcycles Canada themselves when I asked. See screen grab attached.

For the less than 5% of the time I'm actually going to go on forest service roads, I'd prefer a street biased ADV bike or save my money and just get a pure street bike and tone down my offroad ambitions to the well maintained unpaved roads.

Old stock 2015 CBR 500R with ABS for $5499 is quite tempting...