BMW levels up its lightweight GS
Close observers might have noticed that BMW’s super lightweight G310 GS has been discontinued this year – the little Indian-made single didn’t meet 2025’s Euro 5+ regs, and the German firm obviously reckoned it wasn’t worth the investment to upgrade it. Rather, BMW has launched a whole new bike, with a bigger engine, full A2-licence compatible power and performance, and a more serious package of off-road options.
The BMW F450 GS, which was teased earlier this year, comes with a neat new 420cc parallel twin motor, making 48bhp@8,750rpm and 43Nm of torque at 6,750rpm. It’s a thoroughly modern water-cooled DOHC eight-valve unit, with a short-stroke 72×51.6mm bore and stroke, 13:1 compression ratio, finger-follower valve gear with chain/gear cam drive, and 29/24.3mm intake and exhaust valve sizes.
It also has an unusual 135-degree crankshaft journal offset, which together with a gear-driven balancer shaft in front of the crankshaft apparently gives smooth running with a characterful power delivery. Ride-by-wire fuel injection has 38mm throttle bodies, and it is of course fully Euro 5+ compliant.
The transmission is pretty conventional, with wet clutch, six-speed gearbox and chain final drive on the stock bike. But there’s an optional Easy Ride Clutch, which is a smart new centrifugal unit, giving semi-automatic operation.
You keep the normal clutch lever, but the centrifugal clutch works with the ride-by-wire throttle to pull away automatically (if you try in too high a gear, it won’t rev and gives you a warning before you stall). It remains closed during overrun too, and according to BMW, you get familiar and predictable operation, equivalent to that of a conventional clutch.
The clutch can be used as usual at any time while driving, if necessary and engine braking is fully maintained until the vehicle is almost at a standstill; only when the idle speed is reached does the clutch automatically open – just as you would otherwise do manually. Even when rolling with the vehicle in gear, for example when riding downhill, the clutch stays out, giving effective engine braking.
The clutch remains closed during overrun, ensuring maximum control. At the same time, the rider can intervene at any time using the clutch lever and manually override the system. Clever stuff.
The chassis is fairly standard stuff, based around a tough steel tube space frame, with KYB suspension front and rear. The 43mm USD fork is adjustable for damping on the higher-end variants, while the rear KYB monoshock has preload and rebound damping adjustment.
It’s operated by a sleek but stiff-looking aluminium swingarm. Standard wheels are cast aluminium, but there are optional wire-spoked fitments, and you get a 19” front wheel for decent dirt tyre options. Stock sizes are 100/90 19 front and 130/80 17 rear, and the launch bike has Metzeler Karoo 4 rubber fitted. Brakes use a single disc at each end, with a 310mm disc and Brembo four- piston monobloc fixed caliper up front, and a ByBre single piston caliper and 240mm disc on the back.
Wet weight is a decent 178kg ready-to-ride, and the bodywork looks good, with enough of a family GS look to stand next to the bigger bikes in the firm’s line-up, and nice touches like an optional chunky engine guard and adjustable offroad foot controls.
The electronics are also pretty solid for a bike like this, starting with a big old premium colour LCD dash, a beefy 6.5” in size. You get Rain, Road, and Enduro riding modes, as well as ABS Pro, DBC, DTC, and MSR, all as standard, with the fancy “Enduro Pro” riding mode available as an extra fit. Cornering ABS and traction, up/down quickshifter, LED lights, USB-C charge socket, and heated grips are also fitted as stock.
The new F450 GS will be out in the spring next year, and pricing is decent: starting at £6,990, with the Exclusive trim at £7,290, Sport for £7,440 and the top-spec GS Trophy costing £7,760. More info: www.bmwmotorrad.com
2026 BMW F450 GS TECH HIGHLIGHTS
- Development focus: excellent handling characteristics, strong performance, durability, and optimal accessibility.
- Outstanding power-to-weight ratio within the A2 class: 48 hp with a ready-to-ride weight of just 178 kg.
- Sporty adventure bike with a twin-cylinder inline engine producing 35 kW (48 hp) at 8,750 rpm and a maximum torque of 43 Nm at 6,750 rpm.
- Characterful engine with extremely smooth running thanks to a balance shaft and 135-degree crankpin offset.
- Easy Ride Clutch (ERC) for significantly improved operating and riding comfort, as well as dynamics, as standard in the GS Trophy trim level; it can be retrofitted to all other F 450 GS model variants.
- Six-speed transmission and left-mounted secondary drive. Shift Assistant Pro for quick upshifts and downshifts without using the clutch.
- Right-side stainless steel exhaust system with two catalytic converters.
- “Rain,” “Road,” and “Enduro” riding modes, as well as ABS Pro, DBC, DTC, and MSR, are standard features for a high level of riding enjoyment and safety. Additional “Enduro Pro” riding mode is available starting with the Exclusive trim level.
- Newly developed chassis with a tubular steel frame for optimal rigidity, robustness, and handling precision. Short wheelbase and compact packaging.
- Wheel control at the front via a KYB upside-down telescopic fork and at the rear via a hollow-cast aluminium double-sided swingarm with a KYB central spring strut, adjustable for spring preload and rebound, and with travel-dependent damping.
- Wheels and tyres tailored to the typical BMW GS applications.
- Powerful Brembo (front) and ByBre (rear) braking system in conjunction with BMW Motorrad ABS Pro for safe braking, even when leaning. Dynamic Brake Control (DBC) and Dynamic Brake Light are additional safety features.
- Optimum ergonomics and equipment for relaxed yet dynamic motorcycling on and off-road.
- High-performance touring and travel capabilities.
- Footrests with adjustable gearshift and footbrake levers for optimal grip on and off-road.
- Adjustable hand levers as standard.
- Heated grips as standard.
- Powerful LED headlights and lights as standard.
- Connectivity with extensive options and exemplary functionality in the form of a large, perfectly legible 6.5-inch TFT display.
- Practical USB-C socket in the cockpit area.
- Tailor-made customization options as part of the Original BMW Motorrad
Four attractive equipment variants:
– BMW F 450 GS Basic.
– BMW F 450 GS Exclusive (incl. off-road foot pegs, hand guards, engine guard, Riding Modes Pro, Shift Assistant Pro and clear windshield).
– BMW F 450 GS Sport (incl. off-road foot pegs, hand guards, engine guard, Riding Modes Pro, Shift Assistant Pro, clear windshield and sport suspension).
– BMW F 450 GS Trophy (incl. off-road foot pegs, white hand guards, Riding Modes Pro, Shift Assistant Pro, tinted Rallye windshield, sport suspension, aluminium engine guard and Easy Ride Clutch).
Accessories range includes:
– Cross-spoke wheels.
– Comprehensive wind and weather protection with various windshield variants.
– Luggage systems.
– Handlebar risers.
– Various seat variants (Rally seat, low seat).
– Aluminium engine guard.
Available in spring 2026, priced at:
Base – £6,990
Exclusive – £7,290
Sport – £7,440
GS Trophy – £7,760