With the almost production-ready Concept F 450 GS, BMW Motorrad offers a look at a BMW GS for the A2 driving license class and what a whole new model series between the BMW G 310 and F 800/900 could look like.
While, say, 10 years ago the emphasis was still entirely on “the heavy is your true one”, the emphasis has now been placed entirely on light and agile. On the one hand, driven by the new generation of motorcyclists with an A2 driver’s license and, on the other hand, by experienced riders who have had it with those heavy bikes that you can barely get into the back of your shed in a residential area.
While in the early years of the A2 driving license, which was launched in 2013 as part of the third (European) driving license directive, there was still a jumble of models built with A2 in mind, in recent years it has increasingly moved towards a Developing 450 parallel twin. Honda was a pioneer in this with the 471cc CB500 platform, but Aprilia, CFMOTO and Kawasaki now also have a 450 model line.
BMW Motorrad also seems to have now recognized the advantage of a 450 platform, as evidenced by this new Concept F 450 GS, an A2 version of the BMW GS, which according to the Germans is already quite production-ready.
“What was particularly important for us when developing the new BMW Concept F 450 GS was to achieve the best handling for this segment and combine that with strong performance and optimal accessibility. Driving pleasure on and off-road is a top priority for this A2 BMW GS,” says Sepp Mächler, Product Manager.
“The BMW Concept F 450 GS carries the characteristic DNA of the GS family,” says Alexander Buckan, Head of BMW Motorrad Design. “We have succeeded in designing the Concept with the sporty dynamic appeal of our great off-road icon in a particularly compact form.”
As with the Trophy version of the BMW R 1300 GS, the color scheme of blue, white and red with Racing Blue metallic as the base color should not only represent the highest performance and quality, but also the highly dynamic and off-road-oriented character. According to BMW Motorrad, the BMW Concept F 450 GS must also technically deliver on the promise of premium quality.
The two-cylinder in-line engine was completely newly developed and, thanks to a special ignition interval never used before, is particularly characterful and eager to rev. BMW thus hints at a different interval than the 180° at Kawasaki (among others) and 270° at Aprilia (among others). In accordance with the A2 class, the engine delivers the full 48 hp and superior torque, even at low speeds. The question is to what extent that full power will have an impact on the weight, as in accordance with A2 the ratio between weight and power is limited.
This does not alter the fact that BMW Motorrad speaks of an “excellent ratio between cylinder capacity and power and low weight”, the result of innovative solutions and the use of lightweight materials, such as magnesium, and thanks to the “extremely compact dimensions” of the engine block. BMW also says it is setting new standards in this segment with the Concept F 450 GS with premium technology.
“We were able to start developing this vehicle with a clean slate. The aim was to enable excellent off-road capabilities and at the same time agile and precise handling on the road. That is why the BMW Concept F 450 GS is equipped with a fully adjustable upside-down front fork and a shock absorber with load-dependent damping, based on technology from rally and enduro sports. Through the targeted use of lightweight constructions and other state-of-the-art solutions, we can create a sensationally light car that comes close to the minimum weight of 175 kg in the A2 class,” says Marc Weber, chief engineer of the BMW Concept F 450 GS.
Inspired by its bigger brother, the BMW R 1300 GS, the Concept F 450 GS also sets new standards in terms of safety and functionality in its class. The relevant features range from BMW Motorrad ABS Pro (cornering ABS) to adjustable riding modes. With BMW Connectivity on board and a 6.5-inch TFT display, the motorcycle, smartphone and other accessories can be networked.
The question that arises when looking at the BMW Concept F 450 GS is: What can we expect in a production version? Johann Simon, project manager of the Concept F 450 GS, explains: “Certainly no compromises. Following the very sporty off-road focus of the Concept F 450 GS, we will implement the engine as close to this concept as possible. We only adjust the seat height for better accessibility and easier driving. As an alternative to the cross-spoke wheels (19 inches at the front, 17 inches at the rear), lightweight but very strong cast aluminum wheels with the same dimensions are also conceivable.”
BMW Motorrad plans to present the production version of the Concept F 450 GS in 2025.
– Thanks for information from Motorfreaks.