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Mark Hinchliffe·
BMW MotorradBy manufacturerMotorbikes
··2 Comments·2 min read

BMW unveils G310 learner motorcycle

BMW G 310 comic
BMW G 310 R

BMW Motorrad has unveiled its Indian-made G310 learner motorcycle one month after revealing a stunt version in Sao Paolo and a week before its official debut at the EICMA Motorcycle show in Milan.

BMW Concept Stunt G310 stunt bike
BMW Concept Stunt G310 stunt bike

The official BMW Motorrad video above doesn’t have any sound and it’s just a collection of still images.

The liquid-cooled, single-cylinder, DOHC 313cc bike is the product of a collaboration with Indian manufacturer TVS Motor Company and while it was thought to be targeted at the Indian market, it now appears it will be available worldwide.

However, BMW has not yet released prices or an availability schedule.

BMW G310While BMW has 650cc models suitable for learners in Australia and New Zealand, the G310 is their first novice bike for Europe and will compete in the burgeoning sub-500cc market dominated by the Kawasaki Ninja 300.

The bike will have 25kW of power at 9500 revs and maximum torque of 28Nm at 7500rpm which is similar to other bikes of this capacity. However, at 158.5kg, it’s lighter than most.

The light weight, together with the 785mm seat height should make it suitable for a wide range of rider sizes.BMW G310

It has a six-speed gearbox and the official press release says ”it is just as happy winding its way nimbly and flexibly through the narrow streets of a city as it is travelling supremely and powerfully along country roads”.

Styling is similar to the S 1000 R with modern, angular features, striking gold upside-down gold forks and five-spoke black wheels.

It will come with ABS as standard and quite large brake discs (300mm and 240mm) for a lightweight bike.

The G310 also features reasonable rubber for a small bike (110/70 R17 and 150/60 R17).

Despite releasing 101 photos, none shows a close-up of the instrumentation, although it looks like a single pod with a multifunctional screen. 

BMW says the large liquid crystal display includes engine speed, road speed, gear, total kilometres, engine temperature, fuel tank level, remaining range, average fuel consumption, average speed and time.

Optional accessories include a low seat, comfort seat, 29 and 30-litre top boxes, centre stand, LED turn indicators, 12-volt socket and heated grips.

Although the bike is made in Bangalore, India, BMW says staff were specially selected and trained by TVS for production and assembly. Extra training was supplied by workers from the BMW Motorrad plant in Berlin-Spandau.

“All in all, production of the new BMW G 310 R is subject to the same quality criteria that apply to production at the BMW Motorrad plant in Berlin-Spandau,” BMW says.

 

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Mark Hinchliffe
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2 Comments

  1. This story ties in perfectly with your earlier one “Are world motorbike sales in a slump?”.

    I believe India has quite restrictive restrictions on importing larger and foreign made bikes into the country so building a smaller capacity bike over there is the only way to break into their (huuuuuge) market. Plus the rest of SE Asia is next door.

    If they can keep the price down to Royal Enfield levels in India I would not be surprised to see this model become BMW’s largest selling one in just a few years.

  2. I am from India, India does not have any restrictions on foreign made large bikes, in-fact bikes larger than 800cc do not even require homologation from the Manufacturer. All major bike manufacturers have set up dealerships here. Ducati, Kawasaki, Honda, Suzuki, Triumph, Harley, indian, aprilia, benelli, MV Agusta etc sell their big bikes here. KTM is half-owned by an Indian company and has local factory too along with Harley and Kawasaki factory. Honda, Suzuki, Vespa etc do have factories but they make only 150cc and below bikes here and rest are imported from Thailand. Then you have local companies like Bajaj, TVS, Hero, Royal Enfield who make all their bikes here.

    One big reason for local factories is very heavy import duty/tax of around 100% which means big bikes cost double the amount, at the same time locally produced mid-size bikes like KTM 390 cost half of whats it costs in Europe. There is an increasing market demand of big bikes but still the enthusiast market is concentrated in 200 to 500cc, that is why all the global companies are developing bikes in the 200 to 500c to garner maximum sales.

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