BMW G 310 RR Confirmed

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This recent teaser image shows that the new BMW G 310 RR is definitely on its way. But to the US? (BMW Motorrad/)

Ever since BMW first took the covers off the G 310 R roadster back in 2015, as a new entry-level single to be made in partnership with Indian manufacturing giant TVS, there have been rumors that a fully faired “RR” derivative would join the range. It might be seven years later but that’s finally coming to fruition—BMW has already opened the order books for the bike in India and plans a full unveiling very soon.

The Indian TVS Apache RR 310 and the BMW G 310 RR are almost identical. (TVS/)

The company hasn’t exactly tried to stamp out rumors of a G 310 RR. Back in 2018, a carbon-clad track bike carrying the G 310 RR name was shown at the BMW Motorrad Days event in Japan, and the same year TVS launched its own sportbike based on the G 310 R’s chassis and engine in the form of the Apache RR 310. And from the look of BMW’s initial teaser images, the real G 310 RR is going to be identical to the Apache RR 310 but with the addition of BMW branding and “M” motorsport colors very similar to the company’s M 1000 RR superbike.

Much of the new BMW G 310 RR is based on the G 310 R. (BMW Motorrad/)

At the moment, BMW India has revealed a shadowy silhouette of the bike against a red background, as well as a brief video showing the taillight and a close-up of the left-hand-side fairing lower and front wheel, but even from those images it’s clear that the styling is unchanged from the Apache. The suspension and ByBre brakes also appear identical, which should come as little surprise given the TVS Apache RR 310 rolls off the same production lines that build BMW’s G 310 R and G 310 GS machines. The similarities mean we can look to the official Apache specifications to get a clue as to the BMW’s technical details.

This silhouette image of the G 310 RR shows that the bike is production ready. (BMW Motorrad/)

Under the fairing, which is claimed to be inspired by sharks, the tubular steel frame is identical to that of the G 310 R and carries the same single-cylinder engine. While most single-cylinder engines have their cylinders mounted vertically or tilted forward, with the intake at the rear and exhaust at the front, BMW flips it around. The DOHC 312cc engine’s cylinder is pitched backward in the frame, with the cylinder head spun 180 degrees from the norm to put the intake at the front and exhaust ports at the back. It’s not the first bike to use this layout—Honda’s NSF250R Moto3 racebike follows the same pattern, as does Yamaha’s YZ450F MXer—but BMW certainly hasn’t followed the herd. Behind that engine, the Apache RR 310/BMW G 310 RR has the same swingarm as the G 310 R and even uses the same exhaust and wheels. The Apache also has the same changes that the G 310 R got for 2021, including a slipper clutch.

Also in the teaser material is this image of the RR’s taillight. (BMW Motorrad/)

What really makes it stand apart is the bodywork. The fairing, headlight, tail, and tank are all unique to the Apache, and appear to be borrowed for the BMW-branded version. The instruments are in a modern, full-color, 5-inch TFT display with a multifunction control on the left handlebar to operate it. From there, you get access to four riding modes as well as the inevitable smartphone connectivity. There’s an app too (because in 2022, there’s an app for everything), to give access to smartphone-powered turn-by-turn navigation on the dash.

The BMW G 310 RR’s dash is expected to be almost identical to the Apache RR 310’s pictured here. (TVS/)

Performance is much the same as the G 310 R, with a claimed 33.5 hp at 9,700 rpm and 20 pound-feet of torque at 7,700 rpm. In Urban and Rain modes, those figures drop to 25.5 hp and 18.4 pound-feet. Top speed is a claimed 99.4 mph in Sport and Track modes and drops to 77.7 mph in Urban and Rain, with a claimed zero-to-62 mph time of 7.2 seconds and the ability to hit 30 mph in a whisker over two seconds. There’s no indication that the BMW G 310 RR’s performance will be any different from the TVS Apache version.

At the moment, BMW’s focus has been on the Indian market, where there’s strong demand for smaller sportbikes and where the G-series machines are manufactured (therefore avoiding steep tariffs). However, it’s unlikely that the G 310 RR will be an India-only model: all the mechanical components are already approved for sale elsewhere, including the US, so if there’s demand for G 310 RR internationally, there’s no barrier to offering it in other markets.

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