TVS Motors, an engineering powerhouse from the South of India, has always made reliable and fuss free motorcycles. Its rich road racing heritage meant that many motorcycles that TVS launched had technology honed at the race track. Think slipper clutch: Straight from the race track. Lap timer? Straight from the race track. Why, TVS famously marketed the Apache line-up with ‘what we race is what you ride’.
What many won’t know is that TVS Racing – the two wheeler giant’s racing arm – has been one of India’s foremost teams at dirt racing, lighting up motocross circuits across the country. Since 1982. Let it sink in!
So, it has been a bit of a surprise that this decision took so long. What decision? Well, to get into the ‘SUV’ space of the motorcycle world so to speak. In other words, Adventure Motorcycles. The wait is nearly over. Come 2025, TVS Motors will get into the ADV class with a 300cc motorcycle, reports BikeWale.
What could it be?
No prizes for guessing – a motorcycle that’s derived out of the BMW G310 GS. It’s natural considering the fact that TVS Motors has been building small capacity 312 cc motorcycles – the G310 R and the G310 GS for BMW Motorrad – for sale across the planet.
The 300cc ADV bike from TVS Motors is expected to take aim at the likes of the Yezdi Adventure and the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 in price terms. Given the fact that it will be built at TVS Motors’ Hosur factory with plenty of localization – a price point that bisects the Yezdi Adventure and the Himalayan is more or less a given.
How much?
So, where does that leave us? At about the Rs. 2.5 lakh mark given the fact the Yezdi Adventure starts at Rs. 2.16 lakh and the Himalayan 450 at Rs. 2.85 lakh. All prices, ex-showroom. The BMW G310 GS – considering the Propeller badge on the tank and the consequent price premium attracts, sits at a hefty – for its engine capacity – 3.3 lakh.
TVS Motors – with the Apache 310 RR – closely mirrored the equipment level on the more expensive BMW Motorrad 310s, but was much more affordable.
Features?
In equipment terms, the new ADV motorcycle from TVS Motors is expected to have long travel USD suspension up front, with some degree of adjustability too. At the rear, a monoshock unit with adjustability for preload is likely.
A largish fuel tank, with about 14-16 liters of capacity, a tall seating position, stronger frame to handle the rigours of off roading, wide handlebars, a fully digital instrument cluster, split seats, plenty of luggage mounting points, and probably even a cooling function for the seats (remember the Peltier effect seat on the Apache RTR 310) is likely.
The motorcycle is expected to get the best of technology that TVS has to offer, for it will be the most expensive bike from the TVS stable. Cornering ABS, traction control, wheelie control and even a bi-directional quick shifter could be the goodies that the TVS Adventure motorcycle could offer.
Engine?
All in all, expect TVS Motors to come out with all guns blazing given how hotly competitive the ADV segment is becoming. Remember, there’s a new KTM Adventure 390 just around the corner. As for the engine, the 312cc, liquid cooled DOHC single from the Apache RR 310 is likely to make it to the TVS ADV 300, with revised gearing for a fatter torque curve at the low and mid rpms.
Now, for some predictions, bold as they may seem!
It’s about time that we say goodbye to the BMW G 310 GS, a motorcycle that’s a lot more popular than its roadster sibling simply because SUV-loving India can’t have enough of ADV motorcycles. Cut to 2024, the motorcycle feels long in the tooth. The competition has moved on. Heck, even the Himalayan, which started out with a torquey but low powered 411cc air cooled engine, now sports a 450cc liquid cooled motor that really goes like stink.
Morever, the tripartite of G 310s – the R, the GS and the RR – have not really appealed to international buyers. Sales have been tepid (a little over 1.5 lakh units sold in 10 years with nearly half of them coming from India). Most buyers in markets abroad have been complaining that 34 Bhp – plenty in Indian conditions – makes these bikes too slow for most international markets.
The writing is on the wall. TVS Motors – bringing a 300cc ADV motorcycle of its own – and BMW Motorrad – bringing in the F 450 GS – means that there will be little wriggle room for the likes of the G 310 GS. Stuck between a wall and a hard place!
Remember, it’s not just a adventure bike that will be powered by the new 450cc, liquid cooled twin that BMW Motorrad debuted at EICMA 2024. There will be a supersport machine and a roadster – designed to take on the likes of the Aprilia RS 457 and the recently unveiled Tuono 457.
And guess what, TVS Motors will also be manufacturing all these motorcycles including the F 450 GS right here in India, for the world. Of course, the F 450 GS will also be sold in India, and is expected to sit at the 4.5 lakh rupee mark.
Given the fact that’s it’s a twin cylinder motorcycle making about 48 Bhp, it will compete with the likes of the CF Moto 450 globally, and the Aprilia Tuareg 457 as and when that bike is launched.
When’s it coming?
In India though, the F 450 GS will have no competition at the time of launch, which is likely to be the second half of next year. The second half of next year is also when TVS Motors is expected to launch the 300cc ADV machine.
So, it just makes sense for BMW Motorrad to dump the G 310 GS entirely and focus on selling the F 450 GS – which many say should have been the original ‘Baby GS’. BMW Motorrad – at EICMA – was quite vocal about the F 450 GS being a scaled down version of the flagship R 1300 GS, down to the styling and paint scheme, even.
So, in that sense, premium-isation is in order, and serving up the F 450 GS as the entry level motorcycle in the BMW Motorrad range is quite likely.
With BMW Motorrad moving higher up the value chain, and TVS Motors sitting at the lower end of the spectrum with the 310s – the Apache RTR, the Apache RR and the new ADV bike – both brands will be able to carve out their respective niches.
With the 450 twins, BMW Motorrad will finally have a powerful range of naked, faired and adventure motorcycles that can hold their own against brands such as KTM, CF Moto, Kawasaki, Yamaha, Aprilia and Husqvarna.
