How The New BMW F 450 GS Adventure Bike Will Look In The Flesh

Ever since BMW showed us the F 450 GS concept, we’ve all been head over heels in love with it. And now, we finally have our first look at the production-ready version. This is thanks to leaked patent filings and recent spy shots of the upcoming adventure bike. Fair warning: things are not as exciting as the concept, and they’ve been dialed down to keep costs down ahead of the global launch in a few months.

The BMW F 450 GS Will Look Like A Mini R 1300 GS

If you dig the new R 1300 GS, you’ll automatically like the F 450 GS. BMW has tried to mimic its flagship, evident from the headlights and its surrounding beak. It’s a similar story with the side panels and boomerang-type radiator shrouds. These join hands with a swooping fuel tank that blends into two wide saddles (one for you and another for your significant other). Everything becomes a lot sharper at the rear–just like the R 1300 GS–as the tail lamp and turn signals sit on the fender.

Matching the thoroughly modern design is an equally modern cockpit. This detail comes via leaked spy shots that show a large TFT instrument cluster as the centerpiece. It appears to be identical to the one seen on the F 900 GS, possibly equipped with basic rider aids and smartphone connectivity bits. We can also see ABS sensors on both disc brakes.

BMW F 450 GS Expected Features

Traction control
Ride modes
Switchable ABS
Ride-by-wire
All-LED lights
Adjustable levers

Adventure-Touring Underpinnings Elevate The Package

At its core, the R 1300 GS is an adventure-touring motorcycle. So it’s only fair the F 450 GS follows the same path. Accordingly, BMW has dialed down the off-road bias of the concept bike, and the production version appears to be a soft roader at core. Spoke wheels have made way for alloys, the bike has less ground clearance, and the suspension travel appears lesser. Even the tires are dual-purpose ones rather than the knobby-type setup on the concept.

Key Underpinnings

43 mm USD forks
Monoshock
19/17-inch wheels
Single disc brakes
Dual-purpose tires

A New 450cc Parallel-Twin Engine Will Power The F 450 GS

Finally, there’s the new engine. BMW has created a new 450cc, parallel-twin engine for the 450 GS. A peak output of 48 horsepower, thanks to special materials such as magnesium in the mill, makes this one of the most powerful engines in the class. Add to that the targeted curb weight of 385 pounds, and you have the best power-to-weight ratio in the sub-450cc space. A six-speed transmission will help you put all that power down, and BMW will sell an optional two-way quickshifter.