The first fruit of BMW’s tie-in with Indian giant TVS is the new G310 R and it’s far from the usual cheap-and-cheerful fare in this class. Instead we get a radical reverse-head single with a rearward canted cylinder that shows brazen confidence from BMW’s first modern entry to the sub-500cc market.
While the G310 is the first small-capacity BMW since the C1 scooter, it’s not a toe-in-the-water exercise. BMW hopes to nearly double its production capacity over the next five years, topping the 200,000 bikes-per-year mark, and much of that growth will come from the G310 R and its derivatives. Built by TVS in India, it will be exported to Europe and South America as well as targeting the huge Asian and Indian markets.
Its heart is a new 313cc DOHC single that stands out from its opposition thanks to its reverse-cylinder layout. That means the intake is on the front of the engine and the exhaust is at the rear, opposite to the usual layout, and the cylinder itself is tilted backwards rather than forwards. The advantage of the layout – which is shared with Yamaha’s YZ250F and YZ450F motocrossers and Honda’s Moto3 race bike – is that the crankshaft and gearbox are mounted further forwards than on a conventional design, allowing for a longer swingarm without extending the wheelbase.
Oversquare, with an 80mm bore and 62.1mm stroke, the engine makes a claimed 34bhp at 9500rpm, which should be enough to make the G310 R feel fairly lively thanks to its low 158.5kg weight. It’s fuel-injected of course, with a 42mm throttle body and a catalytic converter to meet Euro4 emissions standards. The power goes through a six-speed transmission and a chain final drive.
It’s bolted to a steel tubular chassis with upside-down forks and a single radial front brake calliper, with ABS as standard in all markets. Despite being built in India, the bike was developed and designed in Germany by BMW, and the firm is aiming for a high-end feel – the generous suspension spec and components like the intricately cast aluminium swingarm move it a step ahead of the usual budget bike fare.
A multi-function digital instrument display gives all the information you could need, including fuel level and trip computer functions like average speed, fuel consumption and remaining range.
The seat is a low 785mm from the ground and there’s an optional lower version, while other bolt-on accessories include a 30-litre top-box, centre stand, heated grips and a 12v accessory socket.
Price will be crucial – the 300cc class is a tough battle ground with plenty of competition. Like its rivals – KTM’s Duke 390, Honda’s CB300F, Kawasaki’s Z300 and a host of similar machines from smaller brands – you can expect the naked G310 R to spawn further derivatives in the near future, with an adventure model and a faired, sports version believed to be high on the priority list.
