BMW to launch new bikes at Auto Expo 2018

BMW Motorrad will launch its new middleweight adventure motorcycles, the F 750 GS and the F 850 GS, at the Auto Expo 2018. These two bikes will take BMW Motorrad’s total to 15 offerings in the country, most of which will likely be displayed at their stand as well. Other models on display will be the G 310 R and the G 310 GS, both of which have been launched internationally and are expected to make their way to India this year.

BMW F 750 GS, F 850 GS

The BMW F 750 GS and the F 850 GS were unveiled at the EICMA motorcycle show last year in Italy. These new models feature sharper styling, new technology, a monocoque frame and a bigger 853cc engine – an upgrade to their 798cc predecessors, the F 700 GS and F 800 GS. The new 853cc parallel-twin engine is tuned to make different power figures in both bikes – 77hp and 83Nm of torque in the F750, and 85hp and 92Nm of torque in the F850. BMW suggests that the engine’s new 270-degree firing order makes it produce a ‘powerful’ sound. Another big change comes in the form of a new monocoque frame with new suspension geometry and fuel tank position, which has moved from the previous under-seat position to a conventional location behind the bars. The F 750 GS and F 850 GS get a new fork (an upside-down 43mm one in the case of the F 850 and a 41mm telescopic unit for the F 750). Rear suspension duties are handled by an aluminium double-sided swing-arm and a monoshock. BMW’s electronic suspension adjustment (ESA) is optional. Both come with ABS, ASC, and ‘Rain’ and ‘Road’ riding modes, as standard. Other optional equipment includes full-LED lighting and a multi-functional instrument cluster. Both bikes will come to India via the CBU route but they will be the most affordable bikes in the German manufacturer’s current line-up for India and should be priced competitively against the Triumph Tiger 800 range.

BMW G 310 R

BMW has played it safe with the styling of the G 310 R and stayed away from the slight quirkiness that can be seen on its bigger displacement models. The G 310 R will come armed with a 313cc, single-cylinder engine with twin-overhead camshafts that puts down 33.6hp and 28Nm of torque, and weighs 158kg. Like the TVS Apache RR 310, the G 310 R will come with a reversed-cylinder design that slopes towards the rear wheel, instead of the conventional engine layout. This would allow for a more compact motorcycle with more evenly distributed weight and a lower centre of gravity. The upside of this layout is that it creates space for a longer rear swing-arm, while keeping the wheelbase relatively short to make it a more manoeuvrable motorcycle. The G 310 R is expected to hit the market sometime in the fourth quarter of this year and is expected to be priced between Rs 2.25-2.4 lakh (ex-showroom).

BMW G 310 GS

BMW took the wraps off the adventure-touring version of the naked G 310 R at EICMA 2016. Like its naked sibling, the G 310 GS has been developed by BMW Motorrad in Germany and built at TVS' plant in Hosur, India. The baby GS inherits its family styling with the stubby front beak, radiator shrouds, headlamp cowl and tank design. It gets a tubular steel frame, and five-spoke alloy wheels. It is powered by a 313cc, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine, with four valves and a reversed DOHC cylinder head. It gets a six-speed manual transmission that will be tweaked to suit its adventure-touring nature. The engine will churn out 34hp of power and 28Nm of torque.

It gets an upside-down 41mm fork, which has 49mm more travel than the G 310 R’s. However, it is non-adjustable, while the rear monoshock does boast an adjustable preload. ABS will come as standard on this 169.5kg bike, as well as a decently-equipped LCD dash. In addition to all this, it will also have a host of official accessories to choose from, including 12-volt power sockets, heated grips, two seat-height options (820mm and 850mm), luggage kits, a centre stand, satellite navigation and smartphone solutions. The G 310 GS, like the G 310 R, is also expected to hit the Indian market in the fourth quarter of this year and will be expected to be priced from Rs 2.6-2.8 lakh (ex-showroom).

BMW K 1600 B, R nine T Racer and more

BMW Motorrad’s most recent launches in India, the K 1600 B and R nineT Racer, are expected to be present at the company’s stand. Along with these two bikes, we can expect the German marque to display most of its Indian offerings, which includes the S 1000 RR, S 1000 R, S 1000 XR, R 1200 R, R 1200 RS, R nineT, R nineT Scrambler, R 1200 GS, R 1200 GS Adventure, R 1200 RT and the K 1600 GTL.