First new small-capacity BMW expected to be naked 300

THE first of a range of new small-capacity BMWs will be a 300cc naked built in collaboration with Indian manufacturer TVS, according to several reports.

Indian bike websites say the machine will be a single-cylinder naked 300 to compete with Honda’s CBR300R, and that it will be in production by 2016.

A BMW-badged version of the machine is likely to go on sale in the UK.  

BMW and TVS signed a deal last year to make bikes together. All are to be sub-500cc, and sold in distinct BMW and TVS versions depending on the markets they’re going to.

In October BMW’s UK head of marketing, Lee Nicholls, told Visordown the deal would lead to a range of sub-500cc machines, including a naked model, built in India and sold both there and in Europe.

Nicholls said the range could also include an adventure model and would be introduced over the next three years.

That could suggest – and Indian websites are reporting – that the naked 300 will the first of a number of varied new models sharing the same engine and chassis, or ‘platform’.

TVS’ current line-up consists predominantly of scooters and 125 commuters but in February the firm unveiled a naked single-cylinder 250 concept called the Draken, allegedly making 38.5hp and 17ft.lb.

BMW's current lowest-capacity machine is the G650GS entry-level adventure bike, which has an engine built by Loncin in China.