The wait is over, ladies and gents. The all-new BMW F450 GS has officially landed in the Philippines, and we were actually one of the first lucky riders to get first dibs on this bike.
This new model is set to make a lot of noise, not only because it’s the smallest GS BMW has ever built, but also because it arrives as the newest rival to the likes of the CFMoto 450MT and Royal Enfield Himalayan 450. It positions itself as an ‘entry-level’ GS that, unlike the G310, is expressway-legal.
Now, I know what you’re thinking: How much is it? The all-new BMW F450 GS starts at an introductory price of P498,000 for the Exclusive variant (black), while the higher Sport trim (red) stickers for an introductory SRP of P548,000. Let’s talk about their similarities and differences later—first, let’s talk design.
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The F450 looks undeniably like a GS, with the new signature X-shaped headlight up front to go along with the iconic beak and tooth of the popular adventure bike. There’s a hunch on the 14-liter fuel tank that, along with the rider and pillion seats, complete that undeniable GS silhouette. There’s also a windscreen up top to note that this is, in fact, an ADV.
The bike sits on 19-inch front and 17-inch rear cast aluminum wheels derived directly from the R1300 GS. Interestingly, these wheels are lighter than that of the G310 GS. As standard, these are shod in Maxxis Maxxplore tires.
Of course, the biggest highlight here is the all-new engine. This 420cc liquid-cooled, parallel-twin engine was developed by TVS in India, but under the direct supervision of the Germans. The powertrain produces 48hp at 8,750rpm and 43Nm. It gets a six-speed manual gearbox with BMW Shift Assistant Pro that allows clutchless shifting.
This engine is packaged with a myriad of tech, starting with the instrument cluster taken directly from the 1300. It’s got the exact same interface and features as the one on the flagship GS, with the same control knobs and buttons on the handlebars to go along with it.
There’s ABS Pro which prevents wheels from locking even when braking at an angle, as well as Dynamic Traction Control with front-wheel lift detection. All these and more can be tweaked by selecting among the four different ride modes: Road, Rain, Enduro, and Enduro Pro. Obviously, the last two modes are geared towards off-road riding.
Speaking of which, BMW also properly built the F450 GS with off-roading in mind, as the manufacturer has managed to keep the bike lightweight at 178kg. The bike also has an impressive 220mm of ground clearance. The top-of-the-line Sport also gets a fully adjustable sport suspension to enable a more tailor-fit riding experience.
We’ll be able to talk more about the all-new BMW F450 GS in the separate article we linked out to at the start of this article, so head on over there if you want to learn more. Do tell us, though—what do you think of this new GS? Is it a hit or miss from Munich this time?
