BMW reveals upcoming F 450 GSBMW reveals upcoming F 450 GS
By Ben Purvis
Ignore the fact that BMW calls this the Concept F 450 GS - a nearly identical production model is destined for showrooms in 2025 and it shows BMW making a rapid response to changing market conditions that could see the all-conquering R-series GS models toppled from their best-selling spots in the sales charts.
For the last couple of decades R-series GS models have ruled sales charts in important European markets but across the globe there's a trend towards much smaller, sub-500cc bikes. That's down to increasing affluence in emerging markets, seeing customers trade up from small singles to mid-size machines, at the same time as aging rider demographics in established markets seeing customers swap their big bikes for smaller and more easily handled machines. And that's where the F 450 GS aims to succeed.
The Concept F 450 GS it indicates that BMW has an entire range of 450 cc parallel twin models in the pipeline, set to plug a longstanding gap in the company's range between the G 310 single-cylinder bikes and the much larger F 800 and F 900 twins.
With 35kW, the F 450 GS is aimed at A2 licence holders, but it's also likely to appeal to the sort of aging customer that's currently moving from big adventure bikes to machines like the Triumph Scrambler 400 X and Royal Enfield's Himalayan 450.
The engine is a completely new parallel twin, bolted to a steel tube frame with a cast alloy swingarm, with inverted forks and an adjustable monoshock. A bolt-on subframe suggests the same basic chassis could be adapted to suit a wide variety of bikes
With 35 kW, the bike can't weigh less than 175 kg while complying with A2 power-to-weight rules of 0.2 kW per kg, but BMW expects it to be close to that minimum. On board there's a large, 6.5-inch TFT dash with smartphone connectivity. Once the F 450 GS is in production, it will be a relatively small leap to create additional variants like an F 450 R or an F 450 XR.
BMW superbikes and super nakeds revised for 2025
After 15 years of trying, BMW has finally hit the WSB jackpot in 2024 with BMW M 1000 RR rider Toprak Razgatlioglu snatching the rider's title even though Ducati managed to retain the constructors' crown. In 2025 it's going to be easier to retain that championship because the M 1000 RR has been given substantial improvements - as have the S 1000 RR, M 1000 R and S 1000 R.
The M 1000 RR's improvements start with a 4kW power boost, taking it to 160 kW, via a higher compression ratio, new oval intake and exhaust ports, larger 52 mm throttle bodies instead of the previous 48 mm units and completely redesigned pistons, combustion chambers and valves - changes that indicate improvements in racing form could be even greater than those experienced by the bike in its road-going state. On the outside, the M 1000 RR gets a new front fairing shape and larger winglets that increase downforce from 22.6 kg to 30 kg at 300 km/h.
A new short-action throttle is added, too, along with revised electronics that add even more rider assistance systems including a slide control function and a brake slide assist feature.
The more affordable S 1000 RR superbike also gets the short-action throttle for 2025, along with engine tweaks to meet Euro5+ without affecting its 154 kW output. Again, it gets new, larger wings, upping downforce from 17.1 kg to 23.1 kg at 300 km/h, plus new brake cooling ducts.
Both the M 1000 R and S 1000 R roadsters are revised with a new-look front end that drops the single headlight of the previous models in favour of two, smaller lamps. The M 1000 R has the same engine as the S 1000 RR superbike, with 154 kW, while the S 1000 R has a less powerful version, lacking the ShiftCam variable valve timing and lift system used on its sister models, but for 2025 its peak power rises from 121 kW to 125 kW thanks to revised intake ports and a new ECU map.
