BMW Motorrad's big plans for India

Here’s a detailed look at the next big thing for BMW in India – a medium capacity motorcycle aimed at the masses. Finally, here are BMW Motorrad’s plans for India.

After endless rounds of speculation, BMW Motorrad has finally revealed its plans for India, including a possible launch schedule for the G 310 R and G 310 GS, which are manufactured by TVS Motors in India. In the lead up to the debut of this 313cc bike manufactured on a separate line at TVS’ Hosur plant, BMW Motorrad will have an initial line-up of 11 imported bikes on sale for Indian buyers. These will include models from its adventure, sports and heritage series. The German brand will also expand its reach in India by then, as it sets up six more dealerships by end-2018 – in addition to the four already in operation this year.

According to company officials, the G 310 R and the G 310 GS will hit showrooms by the second half of 2018. The plan is to strengthen the dealer and service network, and overall presence of the brand in the country before rolling out the motorcycles. The company’s plans also include increasing local sourcing of components to lower the cost of production. TVS’s dedicated assembly line at its Hosur plant is already manufacturing the G 310 R and G 310 GS for international markets. And while the G 310 R has already been launched and is being sold in markets like the US and in Europe, the G 310 GS will soon follow.

Made in India
The first locally made BMW bike to make it to showrooms in India will be the G 310 R, and it has many firsts to its credit. It’s the first modern BMW Motorrad motorcycle under the 500cc engine category. It’s also the first BMW motorcycle to be manufactured entirely outside Europe. The intent behind the creation of the G 310 R was to help BMW Motorrad break into new markets where a sub-500cc engine was a key requirement. BMW officials also strongly stress that the motorcycle will still meet the stringent quality and performance standards of the German brand.

The G 310 R is a naked, street bike, and the G 310 GS will be an adventure bike based on the same platform. The G 310 R’s design and construction is meant to allow both relatively short and tall riders to sit comfortably and find a fairly upright riding posture. The bike’s wet weight (fuel, oil and coolant filled) is expected to hover around the 159kg mark. So, handling and manoeuvrability in city riding conditions should be relatively easy.

Though the India-spec version of the G 310 is yet to be fully disclosed, it’s expected to closely mirror the European-spec bikes. The G 310 R has typical roadster proportions and looks quite sporty. The bike’s 313cc, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine produces 33.6bhp and 28Nm of torque. The engine’s tilt to the rear and the 180-degrees rotated cylinder head also helps lower the centre of gravity for better balance. The low-set aluminium swing arm helps improve stability despite the compact wheelbase of the G 310 R. Additional details on the India-specific G 310 R should be available at the Auto Expo 2018 in February. In the interim, to improve their visibility and brand recognition in India, BMW Motorrad will be participating at the India Bike Week festival being held during the last weekend of November in Goa.