The video of the BMW F 450 R has been shared on YouTube by BMW motorcycle on its official channel. It starts off with shots of the new F 450 R finished in the menacing shade of Cosmic Black Uni, following which it shows the bike in the Snaefell White/M Sport colour scheme. The video then highlights the new naked streetfighter styling with sharp cuts, and it then starts mentioning the features and tech being offered.
In terms of design, BMW has taken design inspiration from the larger BMW S 1000 R. At the front, it gets a compact LED headlight with bracket-shaped daytime running lights. The motorcycle also gets a muscular fuel tank, sharp body panels and a raised rear section. The golden USD front forks and underbelly exhaust further add to its sporty appearance. The M Sport variants get a white frame and M Motorsport-coloured rim stickers, while the Base and Exclusive variants are finished in Cosmic Black.
Coming to the heart of this naked streetfighter, the BMW F 450 R comes powered by a 420cc liquid-cooled parallel-twin engine. It produces 48 bhp and 43 Nm and comes paired with a six-speed gearbox. The engine uses a 135-degree crankpin offset and gets a balance shaft for smoother operation.
BMW says around 80 percent of the available torque is produced at 3,000 rpm, which should help provide strong acceleration at lower engine speeds. Power is sent to the rear wheel through an X-ring chain. The engine has also been specifically tuned for the road-focused F 450 R rather than simply being carried over from the F 450 GS.
BMW Motorrad has also highlighted that although the F 450 R shares its basic technical foundation with the F 450 GS, the company has changed the chassis setup for road riding. It uses a tubular steel space frame, with the engine acting as a load-bearing element.
The motorcycle gets a short wheelbase and road-focused geometry designed to make it easier to turn and handle. At the front, it gets a 43mm KYB upside-down fork. Meanwhile, the rear gets a KYB central spring strut and an aluminium hollow-cast double-sided swingarm.
The Sport Suspension setup gets adjustable rebound and compression damping at the front, while the rear shock gets adjustable spring preload and rebound damping. The motorcycle rides on 17-inch cast-aluminium wheels, and braking duties will be handled by a 310mm front disc with a Brembo four-piston monobloc calliper and a 240mm rear disc with a ByBre single-piston calliper.
The product video of the F 450 R also highlights the 6.5-inch TFT display. This display supports connectivity functions including phone calls, music and navigation. A USB-C port is also provided in the cockpit, and LED lighting and heated grips are being offered as standard.
Speaking of standard equipment, it gets an electronic package that includes Rain, Road and Dynamic riding modes. It also gets ABS Pro, Dynamic Traction Control, Dynamic Brake Control and Engine Drag Torque Control.
Higher-spec versions with Riding Modes Pro add a Dynamic Pro mode along with additional Sport screens. These screens can display information such as braking force, DTC intervention and lean angle.
Another important feature of the motorcycle is BMW’s Easy Ride Clutch. It can be combined with Shift Assistant Pro, and this gives the rider the ability to move off, stop and change gears without manually operating the clutch lever.
Shift Assistant Pro is standard on all variants except the Base version and can also be retrofitted to the Base variant. The Easy Ride Clutch, meanwhile, is available with the range-topping M Sport variant with the Innovation Package. This feature will be useful for riders who spend a lot of time in traffic.
BMW Motorrad will offer the F 450 R in four versions. The Base variant is finished in Cosmic Black, while the Exclusive version adds Shift Assistant Pro and Sport Suspension. The M Sport gets the Snaefell White and M Motorsport colour scheme along with Riding Modes Pro, Shift Assistant Pro and Sport Suspension.
It also gets the white frame and M Motorsport-coloured rim stickers. The range-topping M Sport with Innovation Package gets the Easy Ride Clutch in addition to the equipment offered on the M Sport variant.