THIS is the small-capacity naked bike which BMW has been developing to launch its assault on the sub-500cc market.
The spy shots show a water-cooled four-stroke single-cylinder machine being tested in Germany last week.
It's thought to be around 300cc and will be the first model from the German firm in its joint venture with Indian manufacturer TVS.
The test mule has a single headlight unit, upside-down forks, alloy wheels shod with premium Michelin tyres, a single-disc front brake and a side-slung exhaust.
According to the photographer who took the spy shots, it also has a back-to-front cylinder with the exhaust exiting from the rear, a design used by Yamaha on its YZ450F.
The new model go will up against KTM’s Duke 390 and Kawasaki’s Z300 in the growing small bike market.
As revealed recently by Visordown, it's codenamed ‘K03’ in shipping documents.
BMW said in 2013 it would develop a range of sub-500cc bikes. TVS said last May that the first model would be launched this year.
Sources suggest the K03 platform will form the basis of small-capacity GS Adventure and possibly a faired sports bike.
BMW test riders were also been seen putting a Duke 390 through its paces, presumably for comparison purposes.
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