Is this BMW’s next twin-cylinder sportbike based on the F450 GS?
A new, faired version of the BMW F450 GS has been spotted testing in India, but could it come to Europe?
A faired version of the BMW F450 GS has seemingly been spotted testing in India.
The bike is shown in a video published by Bikewale, and when we say it’s shown, we mean: there is a motorcycle in the video that is claimed to be a faired version of the BMW F450 GS, but it’s under a black cover, which makes it hard to be completely sure.
What we can tell is that the shape of the cover around the front of the bike is quite similar to the TVS Apache RR 310, which can be of little surprise given the collaborative partnership between BMW and TVS in recent years.
The F450 GS itself, of course, is built by TVS in India, with production beginning last November, and the Indian company has already built its aforementioned Apache RR 310 as part of the collaboration between the companies; BMW following on later with its G310 RR.
Of course, for TVS, a new 450 Apache would be a step up in terms of performance from the 310, which produces around 38bhp. In comparison, the 450 – with the 420cc engine from the F450 GS – would be putting out around 48bhp as well as 31lb-ft.
Assuming there is a BMW to follow the Apache as there was with the 310s, its arrival in Europe is not guaranteed – the G310 RR, of course, has only ever been marketed in India, having also been built by TVS.
That said, the specifications of the 420cc engine that is thought to power the bike in Bikewale’s video makes it a prime candidate to slot into Europe’s A2 category. Of course, the F450 GS is already marketed in Europe, so the question for BMW would be about its own ability to market an A2 category sportsbike against competition from bikes like the Aprilia RS 457 and RS 660; the Honda CBR500RR; and the Kawasaki Ninja 500.
