The 450 cc fleet of BMW Motorrad could soon expand as the company has teased an all-new naked motorcycle ahead of its global debut on October 1. The teaser points to a compact roadster developed around the same architecture that the F 450 GS uses. The production name has not been announced yet but the upcoming motorcycle is expected to carry the F 450 R badge. It could also be produced at TVS’ Hosur plant just as its adv sibling.
The teaser shows a muscular fuel tank, sharp tank extensions and a compact rear section as BMW gives the motorcycle a distinct stance and it looks like a certain evolution of the G 310 R. The tail sits noticeably higher than the front and an underbelly exhaust seems visible beneath the engine. The handlebar, seat and footpeg arrangement also looks lower and sportier than the F 450 GS’ setup.
The mechanical connection should come from the 420 cc liquid-cooled parallel-twin engine with 135-degree firing order – shared with the F 450 GS. The existing unit kicks out 48 PS maximum power at 8,750 rpm and 43 Nm of peak torque at 6,750 rpm. The naked motorcycle could get different ECU calibration or gearing as BMW tunes it for roadster duties but the basic powertrain and 6-speed transmission will carry over.
The chassis should also draw heavily from the F 450 GS’ platform as the roadster may utilise more tarmac-based changes and it could be lighter as well. The teaser points to 17-inch alloy wheels at both ends, road-biased tyres and an upside-down front fork. The monoshock rear suspension, chain drive, radiator finish, etc will likely be shared but suspension travel and steering geometry should differ.
The electronics package could follow a similar route as the F 450 R is expected to get ride-by-wire throttle, multiple riding modes, traction control, ABS and a TFT instrument console. The screen could also support Bluetooth connectivity and navigation functions. The switchgear and software interface may stay close to the F 450 GS as BMW shares several electrical components across both motorcycles.
The roadster should also get full LED lighting and could offer a quickshifter on selected variants or as an option. The front braking appears to rely on a single disc while a rear disc will apparently be available as well. It will take on the likes of singles like the KTM 390 Duke while Aprilia’s Tuono 457 will be one of its main rivals and its price could be just over Rs. 4.2 lakh (ex-showroom).
