The eagerly awaited BMW G310R will arrive at showrooms this year. Take a look at the bike that was designed in Germany but will be built in India.
It is BMW’s first small capacity motorcycle. As opposed to what BMW Motorrad usually develops, it seems that the company has played safe with the G310R. It is, after all, a bike for the masses. It will be manufactured in partnership with TVS at the state-of-the-art Hosur TVS plant outside Bengaluru.
The design
Overall, it has a neat design, uncluttered by graphics. It has pronounced tank extensions, a chunky 11-litre fuel tank, minimalistic headlight fairing and rides on five-spoke wheels. This compact street bike also has an upward rising and slim tail fairing. The rear mudguard stretches out over the rear wheel. An angular belly cowl, a large silencer and substantial lightweight alloy is visible. Instrumentation is digital and the switchgear is expected to be easy to operate.
The build
The G310R’s engine is rather unique. Its liquid-cooled cylinder reclines backwards, its head is rotated 180 degrees and positions of inlet and exhaust ports have been switched. This allows most of the engine’s weight, i.e. its gearbox, to be closer to the bikes front wheel and allows it to have a short wheelbase of 1,374mm, without shortening the swingarm.
It has DOHCs housed in a four-valve head and offers fuel injection. With a bore and stroke measuring 80mm x 62mm, this short-stroke BMW engine should be fairly quick-revving. The revs go all the way up to 10,500rpm. The engine produces 34hp at 9,000rpms but that is lower than that produced by the KTM Duke 390. Peak torque churned out is 28.4Nm at 7,500rpm. Smoothness and refinement should be expected from the BMW as a counter-balancer is provided. A top speed of 145kph is claimed with fuel efficiency of 30kpl. This makes it on par with the best in the segment.
The G310R is equipped with a six-speed gearbox and cable-fed clutch. A large radiator ensures that engine performance will remain unaffected as the mercury rises.
The comfort
The TVS-BMW bike features a tubular steel frame with an alloy swingarm at the rear. The front gets 41mm upside-down telescopic suspension and the rear gets an adjustable monoshock. The 17-inch wheels are standard for the front and back, with the rear tyre getting a substantial 150/60 unit. The brakes are hose-controlled and steel-braided. The front gets a 300mm rotor-equipped disc mounted radially with four-piston callipers. The rear gets a 240mm disc with a twin-piston calliper. Twin-channel ABS comes as standard, like it does on every BMW bike.
The G310 offers a comfortable riding position and plusher suspension. These are absent on the ultra-sporty, aggressive KTMs and are likely to become a major point in their rivalry.
The G310 should be the first of a couple of motorcycles built on the same platform. Though late to the scene, TVS and BMW are very much on the right track. Until KTM arrived in India, BMW was Europe’s largest two-wheeler player. Only time will tell if things can change again.
