The Bavarian Challenger

We ride the much awaited BMW G310 R in Australia!

- Sundeep Gajjar

BMW Motorrad has been going all guns blazing in almost every segment of motorcycling. But there was something missing. That final piece in the jigsaw puzzle was the introduction of the BMW G310 R. An entry level motorcycle for developed markets, which would see the young ‘uns jump straight out of their prams and onto the saddle of the 310.

The icing on the cake for us Indians is that the BMW G310 R is built in India by TVS Motor! BMW and TVS had announced their partnership in April 2013. It’s been four years since and we should soon have this bike on Indian roads as well. BMW states that the bike has completely been designed by the German manufacturer, but the production is done by TVS. This allows the bike to be manufactured at a much lower price than if it were in Europe. In fact it is the first BMW to be produced outside Germany.

Testimony to the manner in which the Indian motorcycle market has grown in leaps and bounds. Add to it the fact that it is far from being unsaturated compared to the developed world.

Before we get carried away about this fact we should remember that Indonesia makes bikes like Yamaha MT 03, Thailand bikes like Kawasaki Z300 and Honda CB 300F and CB500F for developed markets like the USA! While these two countries were probably chosen to reduce the cost of manufacturing, none of them have what India has. Millions of young testosterone laden ready to be bikers from the strongest middle class in the world AND a country so vast, diverse and beautiful, ready to be explored on two wheels!