Earlier this year, BMW dropped the Concept F 450 GS. It was a near-production concept, and it foreshadowed bringing the entry-level G 310 GS more in line with the top-level R 1300 GS by giving it sleeker styling, a more off-road-oriented design and even a twin-cylinder engine to replace the 310’s small single. That concept got an enthusiastic response, so BMW is now giving us the real thing. The production specification F 450 GS is here.
BMW announced the F 450 GS ahead of the EICMA, the Milan motorcycle show. There are hardly any changes from the concept, with everything from the styling to the engine remaining largely as depicted. The production bike appears to sit a little lower to the ground than the concept, and the muffler sits much lower than the concept’s subframe bracket, but the overall bike looks like a fantastic way to get started with adventure motorcycling – or motorcycling in general.
Baby GS is having twins
BMW claims the new 420cc engine is good for 48 horsepower at 8,750 rpm and 32 pound-feet of torque at 6,750 rpm. The crankshaft deviation, however, is much less typical: BMW designed the engine with a 135-degree crankshaft, something I don’t recall ever seeing on a motorcycle before. It’s half the angle of a 270, which means the character should feel a little more like a single. I had to draw so many diagrams and mysterious signs to understand this firing order, and I can’t wait to try it out for myself.
Chassis upgrades
The F 450 GS also gets lean-sensing ABS and traction control to keep the chassis in check, although the bike has just one 12.2-inch rotor up front with a four-piston caliper and a 9.5-inch rotor at the rear with a single piston. The bike sits on a 43mm KYB upside-down front fork with adjustable rebound and compression, as well as a KYB rear shock that can be adjusted for preload and rebound. It doesn’t seem to be as remotely adjustable as its bigger brothers, so you’ll need to grab the keys if you plan on taking a pillion.
Technology too
I am very enthusiastic about the F 450 GS. I’m a big believer in adventure bikes as a first motorcycle, so that beginners can get a taste of everything the world of two-wheelers has to offer before purchasing something more specialized for their next bike. With the F 450 GS, it’s like BMW took my beloved G 310 GS and made everything better – and then added the wildest engine configuration I’ve seen in a while. I can’t wait for the press launch.
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