BMW Motorrad is set to launch its Himalayan contender, the F 450 GS, in India on April 23. It’ll be equipped with a new 420cc parallel-twin engine, KYB adjustable suspension, and BMW’s latest electronic suite. It will be available in 4 models: Basic, Exclusive, GS Sport, and the GS Trophy. And it will be made right here in India at TVS Motor Company’s Hosur facility.
Engine and drivetrain
Powering the new BMW F 450 GS will be a 420cc parallel-twin engine producing 47.3bhp at 8,750rpm and 43Nm of torque at 6,750rpm. The engine will feature a unique 135-degree crankshaft for better torque delivery. It gets a 6-speed gearbox with BMW’s Shift Assistant Pro, which is a bi-directional quickshifter. The top Trophy model will also get BMW’s Easy Ride Clutch, which is basically an anti-stall system to help in stop-and-go traffic.
The suspension duties will be handled by adjustable KYB forks up front and a KYB monoshock at the rear. The bikes will get a 19-inch front wheel and a 17-inch wheel at the rear, with the Trophy version getting tubeless spoked wheels, while the other versions get alloys. It will get a single 310mm disc up front with Brembo 4-piston calipers and a 240mm disc at the rear with a single-piston floating caliper.
Design and colours
The F 450 GS will be offered in 3 colours: Racing Blue Metallic, which will be exclusive to the GS Trophy variant, Cosmic Black, and Racing Red. It will get a design similar to the bigger GS 1300 models and will feature a signature headlamp design with integrated X-shaped LED DRLs. It will feature a 14-litre tank, and the seat height will be 845mm. It will also get a lowered and a rally seat to better suit the rider’s preference.
Features and tech
The BMW F 450 GS will come with a whole suite of electronics. It will get a 6.5-inch TFT display with smartphone connectivity, along with 3 riding modes: Rain, Road, and Enduro, with a special Enduro Pro mode that lets you switch off the rear ABS on all models except the base. Other features will include dual-channel ABS, Dynamic Brake Control (DBC), Dynamic Traction Control (DTC), and Motor Slip Regulation (MSR).
Prices and rivals
BMW India has yet to announce the price for the F450 GS, but it is expected to be around the ₹4 lakh mark, ex-showroom. Its main rivals would be the Honda NX500, Benelli TRK 500, Royal Enfield Himalayan 450, and the KTM Adventure 390.
