BMW F 450 RR: The S 1000 RR's little sister has arrived.

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Nose down, tail up, 48 hp and genuine RR feeling: with the new F 450 RR, BMW Motorrad opens the door to the RR world for A2 licence holders for the first time. Take a second look and it quickly becomes clear that this is no stripped-down beginner's bike. The F 450 RR is a serious supersport machine in a compact format.

One look says it all: this is an RR

BMW makes no compromises on design. The F 450 RR adopts the styling of the current S 1000 RR almost one-to-one: the pronounced nose-down, tail-up stance, the typical RR flyline, winglets, asymmetric side fairings with gills on the right-hand side, and the split face. On top of that comes the daytime running light signature in the LED headlight, familiar from the S 1000 RR. For Head of Design Alexander Buckan, the F 450 RR is an independent, compact interpretation of the RR DNA, and that is exactly how it looks.

The heart: 420 cc with character

Under the fairing sits the in-line twin we already know from the F 450 GS, tuned specifically for supersport use: 35 kW (48 hp) at 8,750 rpm, 43 Nm at 6,750 rpm with 80% available from just 3,000 rpm, 72 mm bore × 51.6 mm stroke, a 13:1 compression ratio, twin overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder actuated by finger followers.

The real highlight is the crankshaft with a 135-degree crank pin offset, which BMW says is unique on the motorcycle market. The uneven firing interval delivers a distinctive sound and characterful power delivery, while a counter-rotating balancer shaft keeps vibrations low. The new stainless-steel underfloor silencer adds sound, lean-angle clearance and mass centralisation. Magnesium covers for clutch and gearbox are remarkable for this class.

177 kg: the power-to-weight ratio is right

Ready to ride, the F 450 RR weighs just 177 kg, good for 0–100 km/h in 5.6 seconds and a top speed of 177 km/h. With 3.8 l/100 km (WMTC) and a 14-litre tank, the calculated range is over 350 km; the service interval is 10,000 km. Of interest for Switzerland: at around 0.198 kW/kg it stays just below the 0.20 kW/kg limit of the restricted category A, with no throttling required according to BMW.

Easy Ride Clutch: supersport without a clutch lever

A centrifugal unit takes over clutch engagement depending on engine speed. Together with Shift Assistant Pro, the F 450 RR can be ridden, started and shifted entirely without the clutch lever. Unlike conventional centrifugal clutches, the ERC stays closed on overrun, so engine braking works until just before standstill; only at idle speed does it open to prevent stalling. The lever remains for deliberate intervention, and the ERC adds just 1 kg. It is available ex works in the M Sport Innovation Package and as a retrofit accessory for all other variants.

Chassis: made for corners and kerbs

The steel tubular frame from the F 450 GS uses the engine as a load-bearing element but gets its own supersport geometry: 1,405 mm wheelbase, 23.4° steering head angle, 110 mm trail and 140 mm suspension travel front and rear. Up front is a 43 mm KYB upside-down fork with gold stanchions, adjustable in rebound and compression with the sport suspension; at the rear a hollow-cast aluminium swingarm and a directly linked KYB shock adjustable in preload and rebound. A Brembo four-piston monobloc caliper on a 310 mm disc handles front braking, backed by ABS Pro, Dynamic Brake Control and a dynamic brake light. Tyres: 110/70-17 front, 150/60-17 rear.

Racetrack genes and everyday use

A reversible shift pattern, Rain/Road/Race modes with DTC and MSR as standard, the configurable «Race Pro» mode with Riding Modes Pro, Sport Screens and a lap timer on M Sport variants, plus forged aluminium levers and side stand underline the track ambition. For everyday riding there are heated grips, full LED lighting, a 6.5-inch TFT with connectivity, a USB-C socket and a 790 mm seat height adjustable from 775 to 810 mm with accessory seats.

Four variants and our verdict

Base (Cosmic Black), Sport (Racing Red, Shift Assistant Pro, sport suspension), M Sport (Snaefell White / M Motorsport, additionally Riding Modes Pro and a white frame) and M Sport with Innovation Package (additionally Easy Ride Clutch). With the F 450 RR, BMW fills a gap many RR fans have long seen: a genuine supersport bike for newcomers that neither feels cheap nor looks like a compromise, and one that experienced riders will find appealing for mountain passes and track days too. Prices and the Swiss market launch have not yet been announced.