When it comes to motorcycles, BMW is known for making some of the most outstanding machines in their respective segments. When it comes to the world of adventure riding, the BMW R 1250 GS is the default choice for even the most extreme rides, even if it is riding across the world. If you want an apex predator, the BMW S 1000 RR is in a class of its own. When it came out in 2009, it redefined the superbike. The BMW S 1000 RR was so ahead of its time that it basically bullied the entire sports bike segment to pull their socks up. It was made a bit more road-friendly in the form of the BMW S 1000 R.
But if we look at all motorcycles made by BMW, then for the off-road focused ‘GS’ series, there is a smaller G 310 GS available. If we look at the ‘R’ series of street-naked motorcycles then there is a smaller G 310 R that you can buy.
However, the ‘RR’ series does not have any small capacity offering. There is only the mad S 1000 RR and the very mad M 1000 RR. But that is all set to change.
The BMW 310 RR Is Finally Coming
BMW Motorrad India has released a teaser for their upcoming motorcycle which gives a look at the rear section of the upcoming motorcycle. We get to see that it gets a rather swanky LED tail lamp design and below it are the letters ‘RR’.
But the story that this image tells is a lot bigger. The tail lamp design and the entire rear section are identical to a motorcycle that is already sold in India. It is made by a company called TVS Motor Company and the motorcycle they make with the same tail section is called TVS Apache RR 310 pictured at the top.
The BMW And TVS Partnership Making It Happen
This is not the first time that BMW and TVS Motor Company, or TVS in short, have come together to make a motorcycle. TVS is based out of the city of Chennai in Tamil Nadu, India, and is the third-largest motorcycle maker in the country. They are known to make small-capacity motorcycles that focus on being sportier than the competition. The company exports to over 60 countries and had a revenue of $2.6 billion in 2018-19. You get the idea, TVS is big.
Recently, though, TVS has been making a massive push towards making bigger, faster bikes. They even acquired the iconic Norton Motorcycles and saved them extinction. And it is this push to be faster and better that resulted in TVS partnering with BMW in April 2013.
The result of this partnership has been three motorcycles, two of which are the BMW G 310 R and the BMW G 310 GS – both of which are manufactured by TVS at their manufacturing plant in Tamil Nadu, and exported globally. And this is the point in this story where it all connects – the third motorcycle that resulted from this partnership is the TVS Apache RR 310.
You may have noticed that we have been using the pictures of the TVS Apache RR 310 in this story and the reason is simple – this is the new BMW 310 RR. With the teaser, showing the exact same tail unit as the one on TVS RR 310, it is all but confirmed that it will be the same motorcycle but with a different badge, and BMW's signature colors.
And that is not a bad thing at all. The TVS Apache RR 310 has been proven to be a very potent motorcycle that makes for a great riding experience in the city and can be fun on the racetrack too. The Apache comes with Michelin Road 5 Tyres, rebound-adjustable mono shock at the back, a Trellis frame, clip-on handlebars, twin LED headlamps, 300mm front disc brakes with ABS on the rear 240mm disc brake as well, 3 riding modes, a 5-inch digital instrument cluster with smartphone connectivity and can be opted with fully-adjustable, upside-down KYB front forks. It comes with a 312.2cc, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder motor that makes 34 horsepower and 20 pound-feet of torque, and weighs in at 383 pounds.
We expect the new BMW to have identical specifications and the same design too. But with a different livery and the BMW badge on it. The exciting bit is that we already know that this is a capable yet friendly BMW that is coming. And finally, the legendary S 1000 RR will have a little brother that people can now learn on and adapt to, before stepping up to the big league. July 15 is when we get to see the new BMW in all its glory, and we cannot wait!
Source: BMW Motorrad, TVS Motor Company