Ever since BMW unveiled the F 450 GS concept at EICMA, adventure bike riders have been asking the same question: is it a proper GS, or just a watered-down version of the real thing?
After riding the new machine on mountain roads, motorways, and dirt tracks around Mount Etna in Sicily, we came away convinced BMW has got this one right. It may be the smallest GS in the range, but don’t mistake that for a compromise. Here are five things we learned about BMW’s newest adventure bike.
1. Corners haven’t been cut
The first surprise comes before you’ve even ridden a mile. Climb aboard the F 450 GS and you’re greeted by the same familiar BMW layout found on its larger siblings. The TFT display, switchgear, thumbwheel controller, and riding modes all feel unmistakably GS, while the overall fit and finish is exactly what you’d expect from the German manufacturer.
From the signature beak and X-shaped headlight to the high-quality fasteners and braided brake lines, this doesn’t feel like BMW has cut corners to hit a price point. It feels every bit a member of the GS family.
2. There’s plenty of pep
Adventure bike buyers often focus on horsepower, but the F 450 GS proves there’s far more to enjoying a motorcycle than chasing big numbers.
Its new 420cc parallel twin produces the A2 licence limit of 48bhp, but because BMW designed the engine specifically for that output, rather than restricting a larger-capacity motor, it feels lively, responsive, and eager to rev.
Better still, the unusual 135-degree crankshaft gives the engine a distinctive character and exhaust note that’s anything but bland. It cruises comfortably enough at motorway speeds, pulls well through the gears, and never feels short of performance on the sort of roads this bike was built to tackle.
Sure, it’s no toll road mile muncher, but it has got plenty of pep.
3. Being lighter changes everything
Weighing just 165kg, the F 450 GS is on the lighter side of adventure bikes. That makes a huge difference.
On Sicily’s tight mountain roads, the BMW flicked eagerly from corner to corner with an agility that larger adventure bikes simply can’t match. And once the tarmac ended, that low weight made the bike feel even more confidence inspiring, especially when standing on the pegs or picking your way through technical sections.
It’s a reminder that, less can be more… sometimes.
4. The Easy Ride Clutch isn’t a gimmick
At first glance, BMW’s optional Easy Ride Clutch sounds like a feature nobody asked for. In reality, it’s surprisingly clever.
The centrifugal clutch lets you stop, start, and change gear without using the clutch lever, while still retaining a conventional clutch for those moments when you want complete control. The result is smoother riding on tricky trails, less chance of stalling, and one less thing to think about when the terrain gets technical.
It takes a few miles to adapt, but once you do, it’s hard not to appreciate what BMW has achieved.
5. Small adventure bikes are enormous fun
Perhaps the biggest takeaway from our first ride wasn’t about the technology or the specifications. It was simply how much fun the F 450 GS is to ride.
It’s playful on twisty roads, surprisingly capable off road (although it’s not enduro machine), comfortable and just about powerful enough for a weekend away, and encourages you to seek out the sort of roads and trails that bigger, heavier adventure bikes can sometimes make feel like hard work.
No, it doesn’t have the weather protection or motorway manners of an R 1300 GS. But that’s missing the point. The F 450 GS is about slowing down, taking the scenic route, and enjoying every mile.
Sometimes, good things really do come in small packages.
Read the full review
You can read the full in-depth review of the BMW F 450 GS inside the current issue of Adventure Bike Rider magazine. Get your copy today with FREE UK postage HERE.
