A New BMW Model Addition (Maybe)?

[darrell]

Copied from advrider.

https://advrider.com/new-bmw-sport-tourer-spotted/

[Lee]

When I saw the spy shots the end of October I thought we would see a XR at one of the shows in Europe this month.
Not much mention of it this month.
Maybe in 2020.
Add a belt drive and it will make a nice GT.

[Grumpy Goat]

If this bike in the spy shots is based on the 9cento then I think that BMW might be onto something. Here is a nice video of the concept bike which shows a lot of the detail that may make it into the possible middleweight sport tourer.



"Middleweight" I think is going to be the operative word here because according to the BMW Press Release the concept is designed to be light and agile, which supports light, shorter distance touring where all one is bringing is a couple changes of clothes. The bike in the spy pictures has what appears to be our panniers instead of the ones on the concept bike so that much better supports carrying capacity that a long distance tourer may need and that is a good thing.

Whether or not it is a viable middleweight sport tourer for the North American market is yet to be seen. I think that it would be a better fit as a roadster than would put a heck of a lot of pressure on the little 310R, and I would not be surprised if that bike is killed off in NA in favour of this bike.

[darrell]

Grumpy Goat comment - Whether or not it is a viable middleweight sport tourer for the North American market is yet to be seen. I think that it would be a better fit as a roadster than would put a heck of a lot of pressure on the little 310R, and I would not be surprised if that bike is killed off in NA in favour of this bike.
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There is some likeness this potential model could be built on the G310 frame. Exhaust appears much like the G310 has right now. Might not knock off the 310 but allows it to use excess factory space they may have in India. They certainly did not build that new plant for just one or two models. Probably not a model for current boxer engine owners but it might draw a different group of riders to the mix of BMW riders.

[Lee]

I don't see a F850XR or F850GT competing with the 310.

[AZGeek]

I had the opportunity to test ride the G310GS while my R9T was being serviced. Build quality was great, with the breaks being very impressive. However, the power performance was underwhelming. I laughed when I hit 5th gear and was only doing 35mph. Once I got used to the high revs and shifted around 10k then I was able to have a bit more fun on the bike. Having something with so little power takes a lot of adjustments in riding behavior when coming from a 1200 boxer. Definitely not the bike to pull away from traffic, and definitely not one to dart out into traffic.

[Grumpy Goat]

I had the opportunity to test ride the G310GS while my R9T was being serviced. Build quality was great, with the breaks being very impressive. However, the power performance was underwhelming. I laughed when I hit 5th gear and was only doing 35mph.

I also laughed during my test ride video. It is a fun little bike for a beginner, but if you have some experience (and ride something more powerful, as you said) then it is a bit of a waste of time.

That said, it is a brilliant bike when it comes to balance of build-quality, features and price, especially considering the market demographic - experience and geography.

[Grumpy Goat]

No pictures of course.

Read more at: https://www.drivespark.com/two-wheelers/...28019.html

[Blackshirt]

The MCN spy shots show a bike that seems to borrow a great deal from our favorite Boxer.