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    New Yamaha X Force 155cc Scooter Debuts – R15 Engine

    Yamaha X-Force gets some feature additions over the Aerox 155 that is on sale in India2022 Yamaha X Force 155cc ScooterJapan gets all the good stuff. We have been telling this for a long time now and it hasn’t made any difference at all. This is especially true when it comes to the automotive industry. The JDM (Japanese Domestic Market) vehicles are so good that they have a cult following. The modifying culture that these JDM vehicles enjoy are totally drool-worthy.Despite being one of the world’s largest two-wheeler markets, Japanese automotive manufacturers often don’t bring their entire product line-up to India. Same goes with Yamaha. The company’s motorcycle and scooter portfolio for JDM just got a new entrant.2022 Yamaha X Force 155cc ScooterYamaha has been making good use of its 155 cc engine in scooters. We’ve seen the NMax 155, we’ve seen the Aerox 155 and now, Yamaha has equipped the potent R15’s engine on a new maxi-scooter. In comes Yamaha’s new kid on the block, X-Force maxi-styled scooter.2022 Yamaha X Force 155cc Scooter is aiming to appeal to millennials and gen Z as reflected by its youthful and sporty styling. Just like Yamaha’s NMax maxi-scooter, X-Force is also based on the company’s successful Aerox 155 platform. This currently Japan-exclusive scooter lacks one thing from the Aerox 155 and NMax 155 that makes it more practical than those two. That is the central spine.2022 Yamaha X Force 155cc ScooterLack of the central spine has carved out a lot of foot space and due to the flat floor board, it also opens up a lot of luggage space too. Like Aerox 155, it gets the liquid-cooled, single-cylinder 155 cc engine with VVA (variable valve actuation) making 14.7bhp and 14 Nm. We can also expect similar fuel efficiency figures to the Aerox 155.2022 Yamaha X Force 155cc ScooterFeatures & LaunchIn terms of features, X-Force gets LED lighting all around and is coupled with a USB charging port for charging electronic gadgets on the go. It gets a fully digital instrument cluster with Bluetooth connectivity. This allows users to connect their smartphones to this LCD cluster and get call and SMS alerts and more such connected features.The headlamps get a split design with separate chambers for low beam and high beam. Front indicators are neatly integrated into the scooter’s body. Above the headlights, we see a Yamaha logo and a smoked visor to deflect wind blast away from the rider. It gets a 267 mm disc at front and a 230 mm unit at the rear and connecting the two, is a dual-channel ABS system.2022 Yamaha X Force 155cc ScooterIn terms of suspension, it gets telescopic units at front and twin shockers at the rear. This scooter rides on 13” wheels unlike the 14” wheels on Aerox 155. It is shod with 120/70 rubber in the front and 130/70 rubber in the rear.Yamaha is charging a price of JPY 3,96,000 (Rs. 2.3 lakh ex-sh) for the equipment X-Force gets. Yamaha is highly unlikely to bring this scooter to India as its sibling, Aerox 155 is priced at Rs. 1.38 lakh (ex-sh) over here. Yamaha would have a tough time justifying almost double the price for a similar platform. It mainly competes against Honda’s Vario 160 in Japan. More

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    New Lambretta Scooters Debut In The 300cc Segment

    Lambretta’s G350 and X300 scooters are designed in Milano and ooze Italian flair from every inch of their bodyNew Lambretta Scooter – X300Lambretta recently announced two new scooters, which have been redefining classic scooter design language. Of the two, G350 stays true to the classic lines and X300 follows a slightly edgy and futuristic approach. But both scooters get iconic Lambretta design elements like the front horn cast finished in chrome. Both designs look stunning, making Mr. Ferdinando Innocenti, founder of Lambretta’s parent company Innocenti, proud in his afterlife.  Even though they’re pitted as classic scooters, they get modern features like disc brakes, ABS, sophisticated suspension arm linkages and LED lighting all around with headlights shaped in typical Lambretta’s DNA. A weird quirk about these scooters is that the G350 with its more retro appeal gets a modern TFT display with multiple functions whereas the futuristic and edgy X300 gets a semi-digital display. Hey, whatever tickles their fancy.New Lambretta G350 ScooterG350 is a classic retro-styled scooter powered by a 330.1 cc single-cylinder, 4-valve petrol engine making 27 bhp @7500 RPM and 27 Nm @6250 RPM. It gets a large 9.5 litre fuel tank and weighs a healthy 173 kg. G350 rides on 12” wheels wrapped with 120/70 Pirelli rubber at front and 130/70 Pirelli rubber at the back.The scooter also gets other modern features like a USB phone charger adhering to modern lifestyle. It also gets beautiful and classic Lambretta branding showing its rich heritage.New Lambretta Scooter – G350Designed in Milano, Lambretta G350 comes in 3 beautiful shades. The White shade gets an Orange contrasting seat, Red shade gets a Dark Red seat and Black shade gets an orange seat too. The Black one looks the classiest as the intricately designed and tasteful chrome elements are contrasted more than in other colours.New Lambretta X300 ScooterX300 is a more futuristic approach to scooter design taken by Lambretta. It is powered by a 275 cc single-cylinder, 4-valve petrol engine making 24.8 bhp @8250 RPM and 24.5 Nm @6250 RPM. It gets a relatively small 7 litre fuel tank and weighs 165 kg. Just like the G350, X300 also rides on 12” wheels wrapped with 120/70 Pirelli rubber at front and 130/70 Pirelli rubber at the back.Lambretta has had a free hand in designing the X300. It is reminiscent of the scooter’s overall design. For starters, it gets a massive square LED tail-light with LED indicators. It is one of the biggest tail-lights we have seen in a while. Rest of the design takes an edgy theme over the more retro-looking G350. It gets very minimal chrome treatment too.New Lambretta Scooter – X300X300 comes in 4 futuristic shades and all of them get a Dark Green seat. But Lambretta has played with wheel rim colours with X300. Silver shade and White shade gets silver wheels, whereas Green shade and Black shade get Black wheels.India LaunchEven though Lambretta used to have ties in India, the company is not likely to launch these scooters in the country. Due to the higher engine capacity and performance, it is expected that the price will also be exorbitant. The Italian automaker would have a hard time justifying the price too. More

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    TVS Apache, Raider Prices June 2022 – Increased By Up To Rs 5k

    For select scooters and motorcycles, TVS had raised prices earlier this year in April and May as wellTVS ApacheDue to rising commodity prices, auto companies have been forced to increase prices at regular intervals. In June, TVS has revised prices of its Raider and Apache motorcycles.Prices of other motorcycles and scooters remain unchanged. Only exception is iQube electric scooter that has actually witnessed a price drop of Rs 1,647 (On-road, Delhi). iQube new on-road price in Delhi is Rs 99,130. This is because TVS introduced an updated iQube recently.TVS Raider, Apache price hike June 2022Price of Raider Drum brake variant remains unchanged at Rs 84,573. However, Raider Disc variant will now cost Rs 1,900 more. New price is Rs 90,989. Raider was launched last year in September at a starting price Rs 77,500. It comes with features such as a fully digital reverse LCD console with multicolour display, underseat storage, ride modes of Eco and Power, engine idle stop-start system, USB charger and side stand indicator with engine cut-off function.Prices of TVS Apache motorcycles have been increased in the range of Rs 1,200 to Rs 5,015. In percentage terms, the increase is marginal at around 1 percent. Price increase for Apache RR310 is relatively higher at close to 2%. The bike will now cost Rs 2,65,000, as compared to Rs 2,59,990 earlier.TVS Motorcycle Prices June 2022Apache 160 2V (drum / disc) price has been increased by Rs 1,200. New prices are Rs 1,12,940 and Rs 1,15,940, respectively. A price hike of Rs 1,350 is applicable on Apache 160 4V (Drum), Apache 160 4V (Disc), Apache 160 4V (Bluetooth) and Apache 160 4V Special Edition. New price of Apache 180 is Rs 1,19,890, an increase of Rs 1,200. Apache 200 4V Single ABS and Apache 200 4V Dual ABS have become costlier by Rs 1,500. New price is Rs 1,39,690 and Rs 1,44,740, respectively.Prices of Apache range were increased in April and May also. In April, a price hike of Rs 1,295 was applied for Apache 160 (drum / disc), Apache 180 and Apache 200 4V (single channel ABS / dual ABS). Apache 160 4V (drum / disc) prices were hiked by Rs 45. RR310 had not witnessed a price hike in April. In May, Apache motorcycle prices were increased by Rs 2,100 for all models. Only exception was Apache RR310 that had gotten costlier by just Rs 90.Scooter prices unchangedAs of now, TVS has not raised prices of any of its scooters. TVS scooter prices were increased earlier this year in April in the range of Rs 540 to Rs 2,535. TVS scooter portfolio starts with Scooty Pep, which is available in the range of Rs 60,334 to Rs 63,234. Next is Zest scooter, which is available at Rs 67,016 for Gloss variants and Rs 68,693 for Matte variants.TVS Scooter Prices June 2022TVS Jupiter 110 is currently being offered at a starting price of Rs 68,571. Top-spec Jupiter that comes with SmartXonnect connectivity platform is priced at Rs 82,346. TVS Jupiter 125 is available in the price range of Rs 78,175 to Rs 85,075. TVS Ntorq variants are priced in the range of Rs 77,106 to Rs 97,061. More

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    Yamaha Electric Scooter Leasing Business Starts In India

    Yamaha Motors’ Moto Business Service India (MBSI) invests in Zypp Electric to launch 250 Hero Electric scooter in DelhiImage for reference.Yamaha Motors 2-Wheeler Asset Management Services, Moto Business Service India (MBSI) has now commenced business in Delhi. The mobility solutions company caters to services for tech startup companies. This focuses on shared mobility space in India. The first investment in Zypp Electric caters to the launch of 250 Hero Electric scooters in New Delhi.Zypp Electric orchestrates last-mile delivery service to E-commerce segments. Applications are widespread including logistics, groceries, food and pharma sectors. The goal is to develop sustainable, attrition free and affordable delivery paths.Yamaha Electric Scooter Leasing Business focuses on increasing vehicles on shared/rental platforms. This in turn creates employment opportunities by supporting business growth of mobility platforms. And all roads lead to a cleaner and greener environment, which is why investing in the EV segment is the way forward.Electric scooters for last mile deliveryYamaha Electric Scooter Leasing Business MBSI explores avenues to work with last-mile delivery platforms. And their interest pivots around companies deploying e2Ws and e3Ws. A strong push for sustainable delivery channels encourages more delivery executives to rely on electric mobility.Zypp Electric ScooterDeliveries whether at business level or doorstep are now a part and parcel of urban living. And switching to sustainable mobility translates to substantial reduction in fuel emissions. Zypp currently deploys a fleet of 5,000 electric scooters. Following Delhi, expansion plans include Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Pune in 2022. Growth is being fostered by adding 1000-1500 EVs each month. Plans are afoot to add 1,50,000 EVs to its fleet by 2024. This will foster sustainable last mile delivery in India. The company is keen to customize its fleet as per delivery specifics, while providing IoT support.Switch Delhi EV charging portalDelhi Government policy updates mandate logistic companies and aggregators to go 100 percent electric by 2025. To support the goal, EV charging stations are being built in quick time. To promote EV adoption, the Switch Delhi portal can be used so users can opt for a private EV charging point installed. This includes at their homes, group housing societies, multistorey apartment complexes, RWAs’ offices and commercial shops through vendors.Such charging stations are also to be installed in government offices. This will enable employees and the general public to charge vehicles. With systemic changes being articulated, changes at the ground level are starting to take shape.Yamaha Leasing and Zypp ElectricShoji Shiraishi, Managing Director, MBSI says, “We are extremely excited to officially launch MBSI in New Delhi, by kick-starting our operations with Zypp Electric. The Indian electric vehicle mobility market is growing in line with the overall global trend and will see rapid traction and growth for shared two-wheelers and four-wheelers in the EV segment.We need to create an evolving ecosystem that can address all challenges and enable millions of businesses to adopt sustainable modes of transport. We plan to work with more environment friendly mobility companies in the future and to transform the overall shared mobility space in India by bringing our financial and strategic experience from our stakeholders.” More

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    2022 Honda CB250R Updated With New Features – 145 Kgs

    Due to the presence of its bigger sibling CB300R, Honda CB250R launch in India is very highly unlikely2022 Honda CB250R – New updatesOne of Japanese Big Four (Japan’s largest motorcycle manufacturers Yamaha, Honda, Kawasaki and Suzuki, in no particular order), Honda is known to launch all sorts of motorcycles in its home country. Despite being one of the biggest motorcycle markets, India is not very fortunate to get all motorcycles Honda sells. One such motorcycle is the recently launched CB250R.CB series of motorcycles are quintessentially street motorcycles that consist of a wide variety of engines ranging in various displacements. Whereas CBR is a series consisting of fully-faired motorcycles. Some of the most notable CB motorcycles are CB150R, CB250R, CB300R, CB500F, CB650R and CB1000R.2022 Honda CB250R LaunchedThis quarter-litre cracker comes in the lower end of the CB range and has a decent balance between everyday rideability, touring and occasional track day. It replaces the CB250R that was sold before with some thoughtful changes and feature upgrades.It still gets front USD forks from Showa. But this time, they’re SFF-BP (Separate Function Fork – Big Piston) units that boast more bump absorption capability and are lighter in weight. That’s the whole theme with this 2022 Honda CB250R, weight. Or the lack thereof. Because, this 250 cc motorcycle has a kerb weight of a mere 145 kg. It is very impressive considering the fact that a KTM 125 Duke with a 125 cc engine weighs 159 kg.2022 Honda CB250R – New updatesOther upgrades include a slip and assist clutch ensuring smooth shifts and the fully-digital instrument cluster now gets a gear position indicator which was missing in the previous model. Other notable features of 2022 Honda CB250R are a 10.5 litre fuel tank and a very user-friendly 795 mm seat height. It also gets a single disc at both ends and comes with dual-channel ABS as standard. With a low kerb weight of 145 kg, we can say that the braking will be very impressive on this motorcycle.Engine & LaunchThis quarter-litre motorcycle comes with a, well, a quarter-litre engine. It is a single-cylinder, liquid-cooled 249 cc engine producing 26.8 bhp and 23 Nm. These are very good figures for a 250 cc motorcycle.If we factor in the low kerb weight of 145 kg, Honda CB250R has a very impressive power-weight ratio. This engine is mated to a 6-speed transmission and with the addition of slip and assist clutch on the new update, we can expect smoother gear shifts.2022 Honda CB250R – New updatesHonda is unlikely to bring this motorcycle to India. Even though Kawasaki India doesn’t have a single-cylinder street or sports motorcycle in India, we have the other two of the Japanese Big Four, Yamaha and Suzuki. From Yamaha’s stables, we have the FZ25 and from Suzuki stables, we have Gixxer 250.We have Honda’s own CB300R which is a bigger sibling to CB250R. From Bajaj’s stables, we have ‘The Fastest Indian’ Pulsar N250. With equipment like Showa USD forks, slipper clutch and Honda’s pricing strategy in India, it’s not a stretch to imagine the high price tag that 2022 CB250R would’ve borne. More

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    Bajaj Chetak Electric Scooter 1st Unit Rolls Out Of New Plant

    Bajaj’s new plant at Akurdi, Maharashtra is capable of manufacturing 5 lakh electric vehicles annuallyBajaj Chetak Electric Scooter – Production starts at new plant todayBajaj has been the largest three-wheeled vehicle manufacturer in the world for a very long time. It is one of the largest and most valuable motorcycle manufacturers in the world too. Bajaj has a stupendous global presence in the world with operations firmly set in 70 different countries.Bajaj is the largest exporter of motorcycles from India and also boasts that 2 of every 3 motorcycles sold internationally, proudly carry a Bajaj badge on them. The Indian 2 & 3-wheeler manufacturing giant has sold over 18 million motorcycles worldwide making them ‘The World’s Favourite Indian’.Bajaj is also the first two-wheeler and three-wheeler manufacturing company to have grossed Rs. 1 Trillion in market capitalisation. They have started increasing focus in the electric vehicle segment. Chetak Technology Ltd is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bajaj Auto Ltd set up with the ambition of shifting India towards a greener future.Bajaj Chetak New PlantCelebrating the 84th birth anniversary of late Shri Rahul Bajaj, Chetak Technology Ltd inaugurated their newly built manufacturing facility at Akurdi, Maharashtra. This is a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility with cutting-edge technology dedicated to manufacturing electric two-wheelers only.Mr Rajiv Bajaj, Chairman – Chetak Technology LtdBajaj considers this new manufacturing facility as a stepping stone towards Chetak’s rich heritage. Because it was at Akurdi, that the iconic Chetak brand was first formulated and took shape. It was from Akurdi, that the Chetak brand went on to redefine the Indian scooter industry for generations to come. For Chetak, this definitely is a homecoming and we couldn’t be more glad.After the fall of an iconic legacy, Chetak brand is reincarnated by Bajaj, but this time, in an EV avatar. Chetak made a comeback in 2019 as an EV after meticulous testing and has stirred the electric scooter market. Bajaj has sold over 14,000 units of Chetak EV and has yet to fulfill over 16,000 bookings. Chetak’s new plant at Akurdi is capable of quickly ramping up the production to accommodate 5,00,000 electric two-wheelers per year.Chetak’s new EV manufacturing plant at Akurdi spans over 5,00,000 sq/ft of land also incorporating a state-of-the-art R&D centre. With this move, Akurdi plant aims to be a manufacturing hub for design, development and production of EVs. Chetak and its vendor partners will be jointly investing a sum of around Rs. 750 crore into this new EV manufacturing facility. This facility is also expected to generate employment for 11,000 people when running at full capacity.First unit of Bajaj Chetak electric scooter rolls out of new Akurdi plantChetak Comes Home – Rajiv BajajMr. Rajiv Bajaj, Chairman of Chetak Technology Ltd spoke on the occasion and said that “Chetak is the original ‘Make In India’ superstar that won many hearts worldwide”. Chetak has now been reincarnated as an electric vehicle and is now the flagbearer of taking the OG Chetak’s legacy forward. It faces stiff competition from other electric scooter manufacturers like Ather, Ola and TVS.Bajaj has plans to launch new Chetak variants in the coming months. They also are making a new electric scooter under the Husqvarna brand, which will also be produced at this new plant that was inaugurated today. More

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    TVS Radeon To Get New Digital Speedo, Bluetooth – Splendor XTEC Rival

    Updated TVS Radeon is expected to stay mechanically similar to the model it will replaceImage – Biker Prakash ChoudharyTVS Radeon might not be on sale for decades like Hero Splendor, but it sure is a worthy competitor. Radeon is arguably TVS’ best commuter. It definitely is a cut above the rest of the company’s commuter lineup like Star City and the likes.But Hero MotoCorp recently launched the Xtec edition of Splendor Plus and it brings a lot of segment-first features. Some of those features also add value quotient to the bike like a fully digital instrument console, phone connectivity via Bluetooth, Xtec connectivity suite, LED DRL and many more.These feature updates make Hero Splendor Plus even more value for money as it only costs Rs. 1200 more than the top variant of the motorcycle. But TVS can’t just let Splendor Plus eat all the cake. To stay relevant, TVS has to tackle Hero in some way.TVS Radeon 2022 IncomingFor starters, TVS ain’t no slouch when it comes to loading their products with features. If we take a look at the company’s products like NTorq, Apache RR 310, Apache RTR 160 4V and the recently launched Raider 125, we can see how superior these bike’s features are to their respective competition.TVS Raider 125When we first heard that TVS was updating the Radeon, the first thing that came to our mind was the Raider 125. Because that motorcycle is closest to Radeon and it packs a lot of features. We can expect a lot of Raider 125’s features to trickle down and make it on the more budget-friendly commuter sibling.Radeon Vs Splendor PlusMost probable features Radeon could get from Raider 125 would be its fully digital instrument cluster, Bluetooth connectivity with call/SMS and even turn-by-turn navigation. It might even feature the Intelligo stop/start system too. Maybe even an LED DRL and an LED headlight too. If Radeon gets Raider 125’s LCD instrument cluster along with TVS Xconnect app, it would be vastly superior to the Xtec system of Splendor Plus as it has more information to offer.In keeping with the competition, we can expect TVS to equip Radeon with real-time fuel efficiency, side stand indicator, service reminder, tank range and low-fuel indicator. Right now, Radeon gets a USB phone charger as an option. With the update, we can expect it to be a standard fitment like on Splendor Plus Xtec.Hero Splendor XtecTVS has equipped the Radeon with a 109.7 cc engine making 8.08 bhp @7350 RPM and 8.7 Nm @4500 RPM. Whereas Hero Splendor Plus comes with a 97.2 cc engine making 7.91 bhp @8000 RPM and 8.05 Nm @6000 RPM. Both motorcycles are capable of delivering 60+ kmpl of fuel efficiency under proper riding conditions.Launch & CompetitionEven though Radeon has a bigger engine and makes more power and torque, it weighs 4 kg more than Splendor Plus’ 112 kg kerb weight. But TVS strikes back with a front disc brake option which is a glaring omission on Splendor Plus even as an option. 2022 Radeon new variant might be launched around the festive season. We expect a slight price bump with the updated Radeon. But even with the price hike, it will be a worthy competition to the Splendor Plus.Source More

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    BMW G 310 RR Is The Official Name – Fairing Fully Revealed

    BMW G 310 RR comes with a design that is very similar to Apache RR 310 with subtle changes to create its own identityNew BMW G310RRBMW Motorrad has been one of the most popular premium performance motorcycle makers in the world. For a very long time, BMW has only been concentrating on the pricier end of the spectrum. To get more customers into the BMW family, BMW partnered with TVS Motors to co-develop a 310 cc platform beneficial for both.The result was a potent platform on which BMW based the G 310 R street bike and G 310 GS adventure-tourer. TVS took a different approach with this platform to create Apache RR 310, a fully-faired track-focused machine. Now, BMW is launching their 3rd bike on the platform which is a fully-faired motorcycle that is very close to Apache RR 310.BMW G 310 RR – Fairing RevealedFalling into RR series of BMW motorcycles, G 310 RR is a fully faired motorcycle with its main focus is to set tracks on fire. It has joined the ranks of other RR series motorcycles like S 1000 RR and M 1000 RR. BMW G 310 RR is the smallest and cheapest RR motorcycle in its lineup both here in India and globally.BMW India has been regularly teasing their upcoming motorcycle. Their latest teaser has fully revealed fairing design as well as the graphics. It also reveals the official name of the sports bike, which is G 310 RR. Hat tip to automotive enthusiast Vinod and Tanmoy for sharing the image. BMW India had announced a contest, where lucky fans were given the first official look at the G310RR.New BMW G310RRAfter seeing the photos of BMW G 310 RR, we couldn’t help but notice the similarities with Apache RR 310. It has the same wheels, exhaust, lower fairing and even the tyres. Instead of petal discs on Apache RR 310, BMW has equipped its motorcycle with conventional disc brakes.310 RR gets USD forks at front finished in a gold shade which looks very classy. At the rear, it gets a mono-shock that is adjustable for preload. These are the same non-adjustable unit found on TVS Apache RR 310. In terms of chassis, it gets a trellis frame where the engine is a stressed member. It also gets an aluminium swingarm for added lightness and rigidity.Engine & FeaturesBMW has equipped the 310 RR with the 313 cc engine co-developed with TVS. This engine is a liquid-cooled unit with a 4-valve head. Just like its TVS counterpart, it also gets 4 riding modes that alter the power, torque, throttle map, throttle response and traction. In Sport mode and Track mode, this engine is on full tap producing 34 PS @9700 RPM and 27.3 Nm @7700 RPM. In Urban mode and Rain mode, the performance is capped at 25.8 PS and 25 Nm.New BMW RR 310 and Apache 310This engine is mated to a 6-speed smooth shifting gearbox. It also gets slip and assist clutch to ensure a smooth transition between gears. Apache RR 310 boasts a top speed of 160 kph and an acceleration figure of 0-100 kph under 7.2 seconds. Since 310 RR is mostly similar, we expect the BMW to get similar numbers. BMW 310 RR also gets a fully digital instrument cluster with phone connectivity. It gets LED headlights, LED tail-lights and LED indicators. Apart from the riding modes, it also gets dual-channel ABS as standard.Even though most of the motorcycle is similar to Apache RR 310, BMW has trickled down its bigger RR series styling and colour schemes to make it stand out. Expect launch price of BMW G310RR to be at a premium over TVS Apache 310.  BMW is also likely to provide options for customisations in terms of an adjustable front USD suspension and sportier clip-on handlebars for good leverage on the race track. These addons could be similar to TVS’s BTO program where a customer can modify his/her motorcycle straight from the factory.  More