Home / Motorcycles / Adventure Vehicles

BMW’s Approachable, Affordable New Adventure Bike Could Be a Gate-Opening Game Changer

This highly anticipated, invitingly compact addition to the Gelände/Straße family boasts a host of modern rider-friendly qualities.

Close-up of a motorcycle seat with a white top, black sides, and three red rubber strips near the rear.BMW Motorcycles
Add Gear Patrol as a Preferred Source on Google

By Steve Mazzucchi

Published

·

Updated

If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more

It’s no secret that adventure motorcycles can be a ton of fun. But it’s also widely known that they can be pretty intimidating for newer riders.

If you didn’t grow up riding dirt, the notion of tackling it on two wheels may not feel natural. Throw in big engines and high seats — necessary for clearance over uneven terrain — and it may even feel impossible.

Blue, white, and red BMW GS adventure motorcycle parked on a dirt path near a river with trees in the background.
The BMW F 450 GS Trophy edition has all the makings of a capable yet approachable off-road beast.
BMW Motorcycles

That’s why the latest BMW moto is such a welcome sight. The German brand has long dominated the ADV space with its iconic GS line, which consists primarily of bikes with 900 or 1300 in their names. 

Taking a page from Royal Enfield’s playbook, the new BMW F 450 GS — revealed today at EICMA — could open up a world of adventure to a whole new crop of off-road debutantes.

Small thunder

BMW tapped India’s TVS — which also worked on the brand’s G 310 bikes — to help produce this dirt-ready dynamo.

That starts with an engine developed specifically for this bike, a 420cc parallel-twin making 48 horsepower at 8,750 rpm and peak torque of 32 lb-ft at 6,750 rpm.

Person wearing a helmet and jacket riding a blue and silver BMW motorcycle jumping over concrete steps outdoors.
The 450 GS is equipped to tackle tarmac, trail and everything in between. Just maybe don’t jump the stairs on your very first day.
BMW Motorcycles

Royal Enfield’s Himalayan 450, by contrast, makes 40 hp at 8000 rpm and peak torque of 30 ft-lbs at 5500 rpm.

According to BMW, the engine features a crankshaft with crankpins offset by 135 degrees that delivers  “strong emotional character” and minimal vibrations. 

Close-up of a BMW motorcycle engine with white frame, silver footpeg, and blue body panel.
BMW is invested enough in ERC to stamp it right on that punch-packing 420cc engine.
BMW Motorcycles

The relatively small size of the engine (versus the brand’s well-known 900 and 1300 variants) helps keep the overall weight low (393 pounds) and fuel efficiency fairly high. The 3.6-gallon tank offers a range well over 200 miles.

The seat height is also fairly approachable for an adventure bike: 845mm (33.3 inches) is standard, but 830mm (~32.7 inches) and 856mm (~34 inches) options are also available.

Clutch performer

Perhaps more notable is the presence of the Easy Ride Clutch (ERC), which comes standard on the highest trim level — and only version of the bike planned for the US market — the GS Trophy. 

Very much in line with current gas bike trends, the ERC combines with BMW Gear Shift Assist Pro to take manual operation of the clutch lever out of the equation. 

Close-up of a blue and white BMW F 450 motorcycle front with a tall tinted windshield and gold front forks.
The new GS retains the distinctive styling the line is known for, including the iconic beak.
BMW Motorcycles

The clutch lever is still there, however, and the rider can engage it when needed — lifting the front wheel over a log or navigating a slick descent, for example. 

Other tech that makes life easier includes three riding modes — Rain, Road and Enduro — plus ABS Pro, Dynamic Brake Control, Dynamic Traction Control and engine drag torque control.

The bike also boasts LED lighting, a cockpit-based USB-C port and a 6.5-inch TFT screen to help you monitor navigation and bike data, including your lean angle. 

Two riders on dual-sport motorcycles kicking up dust on a forest dirt trail.
Taking clutch operation out of the equation makes navigating technical terrain while standing up just a bit easier — OK, significantly easier.
BMW Motorcycles

From a suspension standpoint, you get a 43mm KYB upside-down telescopic fork and KYB central spring strut (adjustable for spring preload and rebound damping). 

Along with other traits, a 19-inch front wheel hints that you might not wanna hit the gnarliest terrain out there on this thing, but hey, now that the GS gate’s open, the possibilities are almost endless.

Availability and pricing

Get ready to … wait. The US launch of the 2027 BMW F 450 GS Trophy is expected in late 2026 or early 2027.

Pricing is not yet available, but the UK’s Trophy edition starts at £7,760, just over $10,100 USD.

About the Author:

Now managing editor, Steve has served in a variety of roles with GP since 2019. Having previously written and edited for such publications as Men’s Health, Men’s Journal, Esquire and ESPN, he enjoys covering a range of topics — but mostly those pertaining to cycling, snow sports, pocket knives and motos — and dreams of a utopian world in which everyone’s bike seat is at the proper height.

Read More

Want to stay up to date on the latest product news and releases? Add Gear Patrol as a preferred source to ensure our independent journalism makes it to the top of your Google search results.

add as a preferred source on google
, ,