The last time BMW Motorrad released a 450 cc dirt bike, it was a wild off-roader that borrowed tech from the marque’s latest acquisition at the time, Husqvarna. The newly minted BMW Concept F 450 GS is nothing like that bike.
Unveiled just as EICMA is about to kick off in Milan, the “near-production-ready” BMW Concept F 450 GS is said to fill the gap between the Bavarian brand’s single-cylinder G 310 GS and twin-cylinder F 900 GS.
Styled like a scale model of the progressive new BMW R 1300 GS, it’s powered by a brand new engine from BMW; an inline twin that we’re guessing is in the region of 450 cc, capacity-wise. (We speculate because BMW has revealed precious few details.)
BMW claims that the new motor uses “a special, never-before-used ignition offset,” which is said to give the mill a rev-happy character. Output is listed as 48 hp, which puts the new 450 in the right bracket for Europe’s A2 license classification. BMW also says that the bike will weigh close to 175 kg [385.8 lbs], again, to keep the power-to-weight ratio compliant for A2 licenses.
According to the press material, the A2 class is a big target for the BMW Concept F 450 GS—but so is performance. The concept bike sports fully-adjustable upside-down forks, with a rear shock that’s adjustable for load-dependent damping.
The 19F/17R wheels look to be BMW’s proprietary cross-spoke tubeless tires, and while die-hard off-road riders will pine for a 21” front wheel, there does look to be a decent amount of ground clearance. Continental TKC80 tires hint at the 450’s dual-purpose usage.
A 6.5” TFT display dominates the cockpit, loaded with connectivity features, switchable rider modes, and ABS. But most of what the BMW Concept F 450 GS tells us isn’t in the press release.
For starters, we know that when BMW says “near-production-ready,” they really mean that we’re looking at a dolled-up version of the actual production bike. We also know that no company builds a new engine for just one bike, so you can count on seeing more 450 variants in the near future.
The biggest question is just how much of the BMW Concept F 450 GS spec will remain once it goes into production. BMW has hinted that it might lose a few inches in the seat height department, and that the laced wheels might be swapped for alloy hoops; neither option is particularly appealing.
It’s also unlikely that a bike with a fully loaded TFT dash, adjustable suspension, and an Akrapovič exhaust will make it to market at a price that’s appealing to anyone shopping for an A2 license-compliant bike. And given that the Concept F 450 GS already looks a bit toylike, removing its best features might kill its appeal.
On the flip side, if BMW specs and prices the 450 competitively, they might be onto a winner.
Source: BMW Motorrad
