BMW's learner's bike unveiled

BMW Motorrad has delivered on its pledge to unveil a sub 500cc bike in 2015 that will fall under the Learner Approved Motorcycle Scheme (LAMS) in Australia.

It's called the G 310 R, and it should go on sale in Australia by the third quarter of 2016. The bike has a low 785mm seat height and powered by a newly developed 313cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine (bore and stroke of 80mm x 62.1mm) with four valves and two overhead camshafts together with electronic fuel injection. The six-speed engine is tilted backwards with the cylinder head turned by 180 degrees, making it possible to position the intake tract at the front.

Power is a claimed 34hp (25kW) at 9500rpm and torque is 28Nm at 7500rpm. To put that into perspective, Honda's CB300F single produces 30.4hp/27Nm, Kawasaki's Z300 39hp/27Nm and the KTM 390 Duke pumps out 43.5hp/35Nm.

BMW Motorrad is expected to use the engine in a number of other motorcycles, including a fully faired machine and an adventure-styled bike — the latter the Bavarian company's bread and butter.

Unladen weight for the G 310 R is 158.kg, and BMW says it "has an unmistakeable visual kinship with athletic family members such as the BMW S 1000 R".

The bike, developed in conjunction with Indian manufacturer TVS Motor Company and manufactured in Bangalore, has 41mm upside-down forks, a tubular steel frame with a bolt-on rear subframe, and a long aluminium swingarm "for a high degree of ride stability, precise steering response and sound handling".

Suspension travel is 131mm at the front and 140mm at the rear.

Anti-lock braking is standard, a feature of all BMW Motorrad models, and there's a multifunction instrument cluster with LCD display. The display includes the following: engine speed, road speed, gear, total kilometres, engine temperature, fuel tank level, remaining range, average fuel consumption, average speed, time.

At the front, a 300mm disc with radially mounted four-piston fixed caliper handles braking duties, and the twin-piston floating rear caliper pinches a 240mm disc brake.

Tyre sizes are 110/7-17 front and 150/60-17 rear, wrapped around five-spoke, light alloy die-cast wheels.

Colours are Cosmic Black/PolarWhite non-metallic, Strato Blue metallic and the Pearl White metallic, while optional accessories include a low seat, comfort seat, luggage bridge, 29-litre topbox, 30-litre topbox, centrestand, LED indicators, 12-volt socket and heated grips.

The G 310 R will be on display at the EICMA motorcycle show in Milan from November 19-22, but no word on when it will make its public debut in Australia.