Design filings give clear view of BMW F 450 GS
Design filings show that BMW’s upcoming F 450 GS may not look as cool as we originally thought.
Recently published designs have given us the clearest view yet of the forthcoming BMW F 450 GS and, compared to the bad-ass concept unveiled at EICMA last autumn, it’s a bit of a disappointment.
You can find a lot of things in filings with the UK Intellectual Property Office - everything from sex toys to electric folding wheelchairs. Occasionally, you’ll find motorcycles. Recently, internet sleuths uncovered a BMW moto that’s been eagerly anticipated ever since it was teased in November 2024.
The BMW F 450 GS is set to be powered by a 450cc parallel twin engine promising an A2-license-friendly 47 hp. That part hasn’t changed since we first saw the concept. The frame, suspension, and brakes also look to be untouched. But there are a number of changes in the bike’s overall look.
The rear subframe has more bodywork, and the exhaust lowered. The windscreen is completely different, and, of course the design - reflecting a production-ready machine - is equipped with all the accoutrements of a road-going motorcycle: indicators, mirrors, reflectors, etc.
Most notable are the five-spoke cast wheels, replacing the spoked wheels we saw in the concept. Perhaps this change more than any other transforms the bike from looking like a round-the-world weapon to simply being a reasonable commuter.
Which creates confusion about the purpose of the bike. The initial concept had suggested that BMW was keen to deliver a bike with more genuine off-road prowess than the G 310 GS. But - now sporting what appear to be the same wheels as those used by the F 900 R - it’s just a GS that’s a little bit more powerful than the G 310 GS (which claims 34 hp). Is this really necessary? Maybe.
Here’s what Sepp Mächler, BMW product manager, said about the F 450 GS back in November: "What was particularly important to us in the development of the new BMW Concept F450 GS was to achieve the best handling for this segment and combine it with strong performance and optimal accessibility. The riding pleasure on-road and off-road is a top priority for this A2 BMW GS."
It is widely assumed that the F 450 GS will be driven by a powerplant developed by India's TVS Motor Company - the same company that produces the G 310 GS.
In terms of when we’ll see the bike in the flesh, and learn all its details, most folks are guessing EICMA or Intermot - so November or December.
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Chris Cope is a fourth-generation journalist, originally from Texas. He has lived in the UK for roughly two decades and has been writing about motorcycles for most of that time. He has written for dozens of publications and websites in the UK, US, Canada, and Australia.
