First TVS-BMW bike snapped testing in Europe

Nearly two years after TVS Motor Co entered into an alliance with BMW Motorrad for technology and manufacture of motorcycles below 500cc for both OEMs, the first TVS-BMW motorcycle has been photographed by Visor Down while being tested in Europe.

This naked streetbike, which will soon be manufactured and sold by TVS Motor Co, will be built with BMW technology in the form of a four-stroke, single-cylinder engine which is believed to be an approximately 300cc unit. Clearly, TVS is keen to ride the slowly growing wave of consumer interest in midsized motorcycles in India and take their sporty Apache series to the next level.

Given that KTM and Bajaj Auto have already moved the goalpost in the segment, with their smartly positioned 390 Duke, it would be safe to estimate that this much-awaited Indo-German bike will match and deliver similar, if not better, performance. Expect healthy engine specifications including fuel injection, in addition to liquid-cooling. 

Visor Down has it from the photographer who captured these images that the snazzy TVS-BMW two-wheeler will lean its single-cylinder back a few degrees from the vertical, which although uncommon in India has been done and works to place weight closer to the bike’s centre of gravity, improving handling. There’s little doubting that the two partners will ride the extra mile to offer high-quality construction on the new motorcycle.

Although not near its final production guise as spied, the upcoming TVS-BMW streetbike gives away a distinctive looking fascia, including a purposeful-looking projector headlight and compact instruments readout. The new model looks like it will get edgy, minimal yet thoroughly contemporary body panels and tank bay, leading down into a neat pair of radiator shrouds. The belly and tail fairing aren’t in place on the bike pictured, although a sharply extended tail and neat, probably LED-lit turn signal indicators are.

TVS and BMW seem to be taking torrid Indian (certain to be the single biggest target market for this motorcycle) weather seriously, seen in the new bike’s sizeable radiator, over which sits a chunky looking and smartly crafted tank. There’s plenty of alloy on the new bike, seen used for its sleek wheels, steering clamps, footrests along with their mounts, as also the rear swingarm. The rest of the motorcycle frame isn’t clearly visible.

There are a pair of sturdy, fat upside-down telescopic front forks on the bike, in addition to a monoshock, placed in standard position close to the swingarm pivot section, and not in horizontal layout as on TVS’s Draken concept bike showcased at the 2014 Auto Expo.

The new TVS-BMW bike gets a slim, curvy stepped single unit for a rider saddle, which brings us to the most important takeaway from these photographs. A significant differentiating factor from near rivals seems to be rider comfort, something that the aggressive, 'ready-to-race' KTMs aren't engineered to offer. The tallish test rider seen in the pictures is seated in a not-so-aggressive, spine-upright posture, with his hands falling in relaxed angles to the wide, flat-set handlebar. His legs aren't extended too far back either, or high which puts stress on the rider’s knees. 

The TVS-BMW streetbike is shod with meaty radial and tubeless tyres front and rear and comes equipped with potent disc brakes front and rear, with the front caliper being a radial-mounted unit. ABS will be offered as standard, a given on every BMW bike.

The new TVS-BMW bike looks perfectly poised to meet its production deadline later this year, or latest by early 2016. More good news, thanks to information gathered by Visor Down sources, is that this model could become a platform for even more exciting motorcycle projects – a mini GS adventure bike and perhaps even a faired-up sportsbike in the time to come.