As revealed in spy pictures several months ago, the bike’s standout technology is a reverse-cylinder engine, with the 313cc single having its intake at the front of the cylinder head and the exhaust at the back. The cylinder itself is also canted backwards in a reversal of the usual practice.
Why? Because it moves the crankshaft and gearbox forwards, allowing for a longer swingarm without stretching the bike’s wheelbase.
In terms of performance, the new single makes a claimed 25kW at 9500rpm, which is a little more than the Honda CB300F’s 22.6kW but some way behind the larger KTM Duke 390, which claims 35kW.
The new engine will form the basis of a whole range of sub-500cc BMWs, which are designed in Germany but will be manufactured in Indian to cut costs. In this case it’s mounted in a tubular steel chassis with some surprisingly high-spec components including upside-down forks ending with a radial mount brake calliper complete with standard ABS in all markets.
At the back, the aluminium swingarm is similarly a step above the norm for this class of bike, with intricate bracing, and helps keep the weight down to a claimed 158.5kg.
The wheels, 17-inches at both ends, are also more sculpted than you might expect on a budget bike, and come with 110/70 front and 150/60 rear rubber.
BMW is claiming a 145km/h top speed and fuel economy of 3.33 l/100km – enough to give a 333km range from its 11-litre tank.
