Increasingly strict European emission standards have taken out many models. The latest to join them are the BMW G 310 R and GS. BMW has confirmed to MOTORRAD that these models will not receive the required updates to comply with Euro 5+ emissions and will instead be discontinued in Europe. The F 450 will take the place of BMW’s entry-level motorcycle, conveniently rated at 48 horsepower, the maximum allowed for a European A2 license. Perhaps this is why BMW has been working on a F 450 GS, which will replace its smaller sibling.

While the MOTORRAD article is understandably European-focused, let’s take a look at the global picture. This does not mean the end of the G 310 as we know it. The R and GS versions will continue to be available in other parts of the world, as well as the G 310 RR, which isn’t sold in Europe. Production partner TVS will continue to build it in India and export it to non-Euro 5+ countries. This isn’t the end of BMW’s single-cylinder motorcycle for all global markets.

Or is it? Not in a bad way, but perhaps as an opportunity for the G 310 to evolve. We previously reported on a new 300 single that TVS has developed on its own. This 35 horsepower, 21 lb-ft engine beats BMW’s numbers, as well as the Kawasaki KLX300, Honda CRF300L, and Yamaha WR250R. While it has not yet appeared in a production motorcycle, why would TVS develop it this far if production was not its goal? Perhaps this engine has a future in the next version of the BMW G 310, tuned to meet Euro 5+ and bound for worldwide distribution. The current model has been in production since 2016, and may be due for an extensive overhaul. Perhaps, rather than updating the existing engine for just another year or two of production, BMW and TVS may be putting their efforts toward a new and improved model. Kawasaki temporarily discontinued the KLR650 for emission reasons and came back strong with the third-generation model, so this can be a successful strategy. We’ll have to see what BMW has up its sleeve. In the meantime, this could be a good time to score a deal on the current BMW G 310.