Photo: motorbeam.com
We are definitely part of the huge crowd which is eagerly waiting to see what bikes the BMW-TVS partnership will produce in the small-displacement category. We know that the Bavarian and the Indian manufacturers are working really hard to have several new bikes ready, most likely for the Intermot or EICMA shows in the last quarter of 2015, but so far the progress of this whole thing remains a well-kept secret.
One of the BMW Motorrad officials we spoke with at EICMA 2014 confirmed the plans for tapping the small-displacement markets with new models, but no firm terms have been mentioned, leaving the matter open to all sorts of speculations. If anything we know that BMW is not eyeing bikes larger than 500cc, as the main objective of the TVS deal is to attract more young customers with cheap, A2-compliant bikes.
We suspect that BMW will battle at the upper limit of the A2 license regulation, and this means bikes whose power is less than 47 horsepower. Now, thins could in turn lead to engine sizes anywhere in the 300-400cc range, with a focus on fuel efficiency, as well.
Now, visordown got their hands on what appear to be scans of shipping papers for some parts BMW Motorrad allegedly sent to India. They mention a BMW-TVS bike codenamed K03, with exhaust and frame prototypes, plus a complete bike including its engine, for R&D purposes as “test sample for styl”, which might be short for styling or other design-related things.
In the absence of more info, we can only hope our guessing game is right and we’ll get to see at least one bike with a peak power closing in to the 47 hp limit, giving KTM and Yamaha a run for the money. That is, because competition is a good thing which leads to progress…
A 300-400cc class is possible
Rumors have it that the new BMW models which will be in the 300cc zone are also sustained by the development of the segment in other manufacturers’ line-ups. A lot of makers have ditched the quarter-liter bikes in favor of the 300cc-class ones, at least for the European and North American markets, so it’s rather hard to believe that BMW will go lower.We suspect that BMW will battle at the upper limit of the A2 license regulation, and this means bikes whose power is less than 47 horsepower. Now, thins could in turn lead to engine sizes anywhere in the 300-400cc range, with a focus on fuel efficiency, as well.
Now, visordown got their hands on what appear to be scans of shipping papers for some parts BMW Motorrad allegedly sent to India. They mention a BMW-TVS bike codenamed K03, with exhaust and frame prototypes, plus a complete bike including its engine, for R&D purposes as “test sample for styl”, which might be short for styling or other design-related things.
In the absence of more info, we can only hope our guessing game is right and we’ll get to see at least one bike with a peak power closing in to the 47 hp limit, giving KTM and Yamaha a run for the money. That is, because competition is a good thing which leads to progress…
Google News