Big bikes might be all the rage thanks to their tech and power, but I believe that some of the biggest fun can be had on small machines. Case in point: dual-sports and supermotos. These lightweight, agile, and flickable bikes bring a raw and unadulterated riding experience that’s hard to beat. And when you add in the sheer hooligan energy of a supermoto, well, you’ve got the ultimate recipe for a riot on two wheels.
Anyone who rides knows just how badass a supermoto is. Ripping through tight corners, popping wheelies, and sliding the tail out are all part of the fun. And in the racing scene, supermotos just have to be among the most fun to watch, with riders gracefully dancing on the edge of control. Sure, it takes world-class skill to ride the way these guys ride, but hey, what’s to stop us mere mortals from having a blast riding supermotos, too, right?
And luckily, we’re seeing an influx of new supermotos enter the market—from brands that are both established and new to the sumo game. KTM just recently unveiled its 390 SMC-R, and not long after, Indian company TVS showcased its own concept of a supermoto, dubbed the RTS X Supermoto.
The latter made its debut at the Bharat Mobility Expo in India, and while it may not seem like such a big deal in the bigger scheme of things, it’s important to remember one thing: TVS develops and manufactures BMW’s G 310 range. So yeah, I may be getting ahead of myself here, but a BMW G 310 supermoto just might be on its way.
I mean, it just makes perfect sense, right? Pretty much the entire BMW G 310 range has its counterparts under TVS branding. The BMW G 310 RR gets the TVS Apache RR 310, and the BMW G 310 R gets the TVS Apache RTR 310. It’s just the G 310 GS, and yes, the upcoming supposed supermoto that we have yet to see in the TVS portfolio.
Hopefully, this could all be about to change. Let’s take a closer look at what we know about the upcoming RTS X Supermoto.
Well, for starters, it’s powered by TVS’ tried and tested RTR 310 platform, with a 299cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine called the RT-XD4 taking the spotlight. It’s light, peppy, and delivers 35 horsepower and 21 pound-feet of torque to the back wheel via a six-speed gearbox. The concept bike reportedly comes with a slipper clutch, and get this—an up-and-down quickshifter as standard. TVS clearly has KTM in its crosshairs with this thing.
When it comes to styling, the RTS X is every inch a supermoto. It gets long-travel suspension in the form of beefy inverted forks, and it rolls on 17-inch alloy wheels fore and aft with road-focused rubber, too.
Now, if we shift our focus over to BMW and how the RTS X fits in its lineup, we just might find a perfect match. There was a point in time—back from 2006 to 2009—that BMW actually had a supermoto: the G650X. And with the industry trending towards smaller-displacement machinery, now just might be the perfect time for a supermoto to once again grace BMW’s model range. And the name just works: G 310 X. It’s literally perfect, and it’s an opportunity that’s right in front of BMW’s face. Let’s just hope it jumps at it and flips the global supermoto market on its head.
Sources: PowerDrift, New Atlas
