Of the many things that the Chinese auto industry is known for, one of them is the blatant copy of automotive designs. Complete cars and motorcycles have been replicated in China by the local manufacturers with only the basic changes and the different badge, of course. While we've seen a number of examples in the past, the latest victim of what should be a copyright infringement is the BMW G 310 GS. The Indo-German motorcycle now has a Chinese replica in the form of the Everest Kaiyue 400X, and much like the G 310 GS, this too is a small-capacity adventure motorcycle.
Also Read: BMW G 310 GS Review
The BMW G 310 GS is made in India at the TVS plant in Hosur and exported globally
The Everest Kaiyue 400X has been specifically built for the Chinese market and will be sold in the same segment as the BMW G 310 GS. The resemblance is hard to miss right from the headlamp, fuel tank design, knuckleguards, raised front mudguard and even the BMW-inspired blue, red and white paint scheme. Also, that GY decal is mimics the GS badging on the BMW Motorrad range of adventure tourers.
On the mechanical front, the Everest Kaiyue 400X gets the bigger engine with power coming from a 378 cc twin-cylinder, 8-valve, liquid-cooled motor sourced from Chinese motorcycle manufacturer Zongshen. While little is known about the origins of the motor, the engine is tuned to produce 35 bhp and 35 Nm of peak torque, while paired with a 6-speed gearbox. Interestingly, the specs aren't too diffrent from the G 310 GS that uses a 313 cc single-cylinder motor churning out 34 bhp and 28 Nm of peak torque.
The Everest Kaiyue 400X also gets an identical pricing at 29,800 Yuan (approx. Rs. 2.98 lakh)
The Everest Kaiyue 400X is suspended by the long travel 41 mm USD forks up front and a monoshock at the rear, while braking performance comes from twin 296 mm discs at the front and a 240 mm disc brake at the rear. The ADV gets dual-channel ABS as standard. Other features on the G 310 GS Chines knock-off include an adjustable windscreen, 12-volt port, all terrain tyres, and a 20 litre fuel tank. The manufacturer also offers luggage panniers and a top case with the 400X. The Kaiyue 400X is priced at 29,800 Yuan (around Rs. 2.98 lakh).
The BMW 310 GS, meanwhile, is manufactured in India at the TVS facility in Hosur, Tamil Nadu and is exported to a number of markets globally. It is unclear if BMW Motorrad will be pressing charges against the Chinese manufacturer for copyright infringement. It is to be noted that the Chinese laws in this matter also make it difficult to win against such cases. Earlier this year though, Land Rover won a landmark case against Jiangling Motor Corporation after a court in Beijing ruled that the Chinese firm's Landwind X7 SUV bore too much of a resemblance to the Range Rover Evoque.
Source: Newmotor.com.cn
